Gilded Age (1877-1896)
The Gilded Age was continuing the early 19th century ideas of manifesting destiny. Railroad tracks would be the key factor of the Gilded age, similar to the Cotton Gin in the early 19th century. Railroads brought people, politics, and the economy to the West, making traveling on all fronts quicker and easier accessibility. Many immigrants and people from North and South America would move west in hopes of better opportunities. However, The Gilded Age was also a time that decreased the influence of farmers. The Native Americans were also hit in the Gilded Age with the Dawes severalty act, which diminished the say of Native Americans.The emergence of factories and trust helped create a boom of economic prowess, but reduce the amount of influence farmers had. Farming became the lower end jobs, while politicians and bosses of big business were the intellectuals. Despite, the decrease of influence, farming still prospered as the Transcontinental railroad, new farming techniques and use of farming techniques helped production of crops to be faster.
Key Terms: The Sherman Silver Purchase Act - initiated in 1890 to help farmers fight against capitalism by requiring the government to purchase silver every month.
Farmer's Alliance - Formed in 1870 to socialize, but also to fight against railroad trust. Farmers rose together in the Gilded Age to fight monopolies.
Grange Movement - organized by farmers who collaborated against railroad companies. Farmers came together to attempt to control the the economy and weaken monopolies.
Dawes Severalty Act - Destroyed Native American tribes and divided them up into individual farm owning landowners. This was an attempt to americanize native americans.