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The Gilded Age was characterized by an unusually rapid growth of railroads, small factories, banks, stores, mines and other family-owned enterprises, together with the start of millions of new farms, especially in the prairie region. Very rapid economic and population growth made the U.S. economy the largest and richest in the world.
The Gilded Age was characterized by an unusually rapid growth of railroads, small factories, banks, stores, mines and other family-owned enterprises, together with the start of millions of new farms, especially in the prairie region. Very rapid economic and population growth made the U.S. economy the largest and richest in the world.
Cities grew enormously in size and importance--and offered new political opportunities for corruption in the form of ward-based party machines and powerful bosses who controlled city contracts and city jobs. Reform efforts centered on civil service reform and, at the local and state level, prohibition of the sale of whiskey, beer and wine.
Cities grew enormously in size and importance—and offered new political opportunities for corruption in the form of ward-based party machines and powerful bosses who controlled city contracts and city jobs. Reform efforts centered on civil service reform and, at the local and state level, prohibition of the sale of whiskey, beer and wine.
Ethnic diversity increased dramatically as millions of new immigrants arrived from Europe drawn by the promotions of steamship and railroad companies which emphasized the availability of jobs and farmland.
Ethnic diversity increased dramatically as millions of new immigrants arrived from Europe drawn by the promotions of steamship and railroad companies which emphasized the availability of jobs and farmland.
The wealth of the period is highlighted by the American upper class's opulent self-indulgence, but also the rise of the American [[philanthropy]] (Andrew Carnegie called it the "Gospel of Wealth") that endowed thousands of colleges, hospitals, museums, academies, schools, opera houses, public libraries, symphony orchestras, and charities. The "Beaux-Arts" architectural idiom of the era clothed public buildings in [[Neo-Renaissance]] architecture.
The wealth of the period is highlighted by the American upper class's opulent self-indulgence, but also the rise of the American [[philanthropy]] (Andrew Carnegie called it the "Gospel of Wealth") that endowed thousands of colleges, hospitals, museums, academies, schools, opera houses, public libraries, symphony orchestras, and charities. The "Beaux-Arts" architectural idiom of the era clothed public buildings in [[Neo-Renaissance]] architecture.
The end of the Gilded Age coincided with the [[Panic of 1893]], a deep depression. The depression lasted until 1897 and marked a major political realignment in the election of 1896. After that came the [[Progressive Era]] and the [Fourth Party System]]. The end of Reconstruction in 1877, race relations deteriorated as African Americans lost their voting rights in the 1890s and became second class citizens legally. Racial violence escalated with lynchings peaking in the 1890s.
The end of the Gilded Age coincided with the [[Panic of 1893]], a deep depression. The depression lasted until 1897 and marked a major political realignment in the election of 1896. After that came the [[Progressive Era]] and the [[Fourth Party System]]. The end of Reconstruction in 1877, race relations deteriorated as African Americans lost their voting rights in the 1890s and became second class citizens legally. Racial violence escalated with lynchings peaking in the 1890s.
The term "Gilded Age" was coined by [[Mark Twain]] and [[Charles Dudley Warner]] in their book, ''The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today'' (1873). The term comes from Shakespeare: "To gild refined gold, to paint the lily... is wasteful and ridiculous excess."
The term "Gilded Age" was coined by [[Mark Twain]] and [[Charles Dudley Warner]] in their book, ''The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today'' (1873). The term comes from Shakespeare: "To gild refined gold, to paint the lily... is wasteful and ridiculous excess."
=== Chinese immigrants ===
=== Chinese immigrants ===
The construction of the [[Central Pacific Railroad]] in [[California]] and [[Nevada]] was handled largely by American engineers and Chinese laborers. In the 1870 census there were 58,000 Chinese men and 4,000 women in the entire country; these numbers grew to 100,000 men and 4,000 women in the 1880 census. <ref> See [http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0029/twps0029.html]
The construction of the [[Central Pacific Railroad]] in [[California]] and [[Nevada]] was handled largely by American engineers and Chinese laborers. In the 1870 census there were 58,000 Chinese men and 4,000 women in the entire country; these numbers grew to 100,000 men and 4,000 women in the 1880 census.<ref>[http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0029/twps0029.html See]
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Labor unions such as the [[American Federation of Labor]] strongly opposed the presence of Chinese labor, by reason of both economic competition and race. Immigrants from China were not allowed to become citizens until 1950; however, their children born in the U.S. were full citizens.
Labor unions such as the [[American Federation of Labor]] strongly opposed the presence of Chinese labor, by reason of both economic competition and race. Immigrants from China were not allowed to become citizens until 1950; however, their children born in the U.S. were full citizens.
* * Calhoun, Charles W. ''Minority Victory: Gilded Age Politics and the Front Porch Campaign of 1888''. (2008). 240 pages, 978-0-7006-1596-4
* * Calhoun, Charles W. ''Minority Victory: Gilded Age Politics and the Front Porch Campaign of 1888''. (2008). 240 pages, 978-0-7006-1596-4
* Cohen, Nancy; ''The Reconstruction of American Liberalism, 1865-1914'' (2002); history of ideas [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=100740379 online edition]
* Cohen, Nancy; ''The Reconstruction of American Liberalism, 1865-1914'' (2002); history of ideas [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=100740379 online edition]
* De Santis, Vincent P. "The Political Life of the Gilded Age: A Review of the Recent Literature" ''The History Teacher,'' Vol. 9, No. 1 (Nov., 1975), pp. 73-106 [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0018-2745(197511)9%3A1%3C73%3ATPLOTG%3E2.0.CO%3B2-W in JSTOR]
* De Santis, Vincent P. "The Political Life of the Gilded Age: A Review of the Recent Literature" ''The History Teacher,'' Vol. 9, No. 1 (Nov., 1975), pp. 73–106 [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0018-2745(197511)9%3A1%3C73%3ATPLOTG%3E2.0.CO%3B2-W in JSTOR]
* Faulkner, Harold U.; ''Politics, Reform, and Expansion, 1890-1900'' (1959), scholarly survey, strong on economic and political history [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=8541336 online edition]
* Faulkner, Harold U.; ''Politics, Reform, and Expansion, 1890-1900'' (1959), scholarly survey, strong on economic and political history [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=8541336 online edition]
* Fine, Sidney. ''Laissez Faire and the General-Welfare State: A Study of Conflict in American Thought'', 1865–1901. (1956). History of ideas
* Fine, Sidney. ''Laissez Faire and the General-Welfare State: A Study of Conflict in American Thought'', 1865–1901. (1956). History of ideas
* Garraty, John A. ''The New Commonwealth, 1877-1890,'' (1968)scholarly survey, strong on economic and political history
* Garraty, John A. ''The New Commonwealth, 1877-1890,'' (1968)scholarly survey, strong on economic and political history
* Jensen, Richard. "Democracy, Republicanism and Efficiency: The Values of American Politics, 1885-1930," in Byron Shafer and Anthony Badger, eds, ''Contesting Democracy: Substance and Structure in American Political History, 1775-2000'' (U of Kansas Press, 2001) pp 149-180; [http://www.uic.edu/~rjensen/rj0025.htm online version]
* Jensen, Richard. "Democracy, Republicanism and Efficiency: The Values of American Politics, 1885-1930," in Byron Shafer and Anthony Badger, eds, ''Contesting Democracy: Substance and Structure in American Political History, 1775-2000'' (U of Kansas Press, 2001) pp 149–180; [http://www.uic.edu/~rjensen/rj0025.htm online version]
* Josephson, Matthew; ''The Robber Barons: The Great American Capitalists, 1861- 1901'' (1934), business history from the Left
* Josephson, Matthew; ''The Robber Barons: The Great American Capitalists, 1861- 1901'' (1934), business history from the Left
* Kleppner; Paul. ''The Third Electoral System 1853-1892: Parties, Voters, and Political Cultures'' U of North Carolina Press, [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=24451028 (1979) online version]
* Kleppner; Paul. ''The Third Electoral System 1853-1892: Parties, Voters, and Political Cultures'' U of North Carolina Press, [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=24451028 (1979) online version]