Mark Twain called it a gilded age, an era that seemed to glitter with promise on the surface, but that teemed with problems and poverty just below. Unprecedented economic growth thanks to the Industrial Revolution, coupled with further westward expansion and new resources, fueled a modern, capitalist economy. The Second Industrial Revolution made the American economy one of the greatest in the world, but it also increased the divide between the haves and the have-nots and raised serious questions about whose interests the federal government should and did serve.
Rise of Industrial America/Gilded Age overview reading or HW assignment
Gilded Age intro Gallery Walk with handout (I print the Google docs, single-sided, and then spread them throughout the room.)
Creating a Transcontinental RR with documents and powerpoint
Impact of Westward Expansion stations with handout (stations are in powerpoint and doc format)
Native Americans and US policy in the West stations/jigsaw with presentation
Gilded Age Industrialists (includes explanations of monopolies, trusts, etc)
Captain of Industry or Robber Baron research (to use for debate, Socratic Seminar, research paper/project, etc)
Responses to Big Business Document Scramble (I blow up the docs to about 1 per page, scramble them around the room, and have students complete the organizer. You could also make it a station or jigsaw activity)
The Populists (combines clips from American Experience's The Gilded Age, with primary source readings/discussion. Clips are linked in the doc)
Populist Party Analysis (background reading + source analysis)
Populism powerpoint (also has connections to Wizard of Oz, for fun!)
New Immigration Political Cartoon analysis; Political Cartoons; Teacher presentation