Big Business and Industrialization


U.S. History Gilded Age Big Business and Industrialization
Students read an excerpt from Twain and Wagner’s satiric novel, The Gilded Age, and predict characteristics of this period. Then they learn about the rise of big business and define related economic terms and create a concept map of characteristics. Next they learn about four leading industrialists—Carnegie, Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, and Morgan—reflecting on why critics called them robber barons and examining Carnegie’s philosophy on philanthropy. Finally they analyze the Sherman Antitrust Act and the break up of the Standard Oil monopoly.

This learning experience is designed for device-enabled classrooms. The teacher guides the lesson, and students use embedded resources, social media skills, and critical thinking skills to actively participate. To get access to a free version of the complete lesson, sign up for an exploros account.

1:1 Devices
Preview - Scene 1
Exploros Learnign Experience Scene Navigation


Engage


Overview

In this experience, students read an excerpt from Twain and Wagner’s satirical novel, The Gilded Age, and predict characteristics of this period. Then they learn about the rise of big business and define related economic terms and create a concept map of characteristics. Next they learn about four leading industrialists—Carnegie, Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, and Morgan—reflecting on why critics called them robber barons and examining Carnegie’s philosophy on philanthropy. Finally they analyze the Sherman Antitrust Act and the break up of the Standard Oil monopoly.

Objectives:

  • Explain the characteristics of the second Industrial Revolution.
  • Analyze the rise of big business.


The Gilded Age is probably best remembered for the rapid economic development that occurred during this period. As the economy expanded, the nature of business in the United States was changing. In this experience you will learn about some of these changes brought about by the second Industrial Revolution.

Objectives:

  • Explain the characteristics of the second Industrial Revolution.
  • Analyze the rise of big business.


illustration showing two men in business suits facing each other in discussion

The name for this historical time period, the Gilded Age, originated from the title of a satire by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner, published in 1873. If you don’t remember the definition of the word gilded, look it up in a dictionary.


The adjective gilded has two main meanings:

  • covered with a thin layer of gold
  • having a pleasing appearance that covers something of little value


Read a short excerpt from the novel. In this chapter, a small businessman who uses various get-rich-quick schemes is trying to secure a loan to save his failing coal mine.


Beautiful credit! The foundation of modern society. Who shall say that this is not the golden age of mutual trust, of unlimited reliance upon human promises? That is a peculiar condition of society which enables a whole nation to instantly recognize point and meaning in the familiar newspaper anecdote, which puts into the mouth of a distinguished speculator in lands and mines this remark:—“I wasn’t worth a cent two years ago, and now I owe two millions of dollars.”


Based on the definition and the brief excerpt, predict characteristics of this period that Twain and Warner chose to call “the Gilded Age.”

Post your answer

The term Gilded Age defines the period between Reconstruction and the beginning of the twentieth century. It was a period of significant economic development in the United States, but not everyone shared in the wealth. In the eyes of many, the rich got richer and the poor got poorer. Twain and Warner’s novel also satirizes the widespread corruption of big business, the political machine, and financial institutions.


When everyone is ready to continue, unlock the next scene.

End of Preview
The Complete List of Learning Experiences in Gilded Age Unit.
Would you like to preview the rest of this learning experience, and get access to the entire functioning US History Since 1877 course for your classroom? Sign up using your school email address below.
Back to top