Gilded Age free essay sample

The era following the civil war, the gilded age, modernized the nation with new technological advances. Women’s social status improved with the up and coming government policies and intolerance of Native Americans became more prominent due to westward expansion. Segregation laws oppress African Americans and violate their rights as American citizens. Women gained suffrage in the gilded age which significantly improved their social status. Previously, women were viewed as inferior to men and incapable of having the same responsibilities. The cause of women’s suffrage was carried by middle class women and was launched in 1848 at Seneca Falls. Many women believed a major cause of poverty for immigration and working-class families was the excessive drinking by male factory workers. Women successfully advocated for total abstinence from alcohol. Many women had leisure time as a housewife, so they got more involved in politics and social issues. Middle class women did most of the shopping for their families so they became the prominent consumers. g. Hull House by Jane Adams) to help immigrants Nativism Unions Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) Question of leadership for blacks Booker T. Washington vs. W.E.B. DuBois The Great West and Farming Problems for Indians: Broken treaties, railroad, diseases, alcohol, killing of the buffalo (from 15 mil to less than 1,000 by 1885) Dawes Severalty Act (1887) – forced assimilation   Carlisle Indian School   Mining in the West – gold and silver attract settlers (Pikes Peak, Comstock Lode) The Long Drive – Texas cowboys driving cattle to â€Å"cow towns† to put cattle on railcars Homestead Act – 160 acres – promises and realities Dry farming – needed to confront the challenging climate Wheat flourished in the West   1890 census declares the frontier â€Å"closed† – significance? (Turner’s Thesis) Cash Crops – due to technological advancements, e.g. the combine Vulnerability – unprotected, competitive world markets vs. TARIFF protected manufactured goods 1870s lack of currency forced crop price down – hard on DEBTORS (farmers have mortgages) Droughts – starting in summer of 1887