Gilded Age Social and Economic Issues

The video tutorial explores the PEGS framework to define historical eras, focusing on the Gilded Age. It covers political corruption, economic growth, geographic expansion, and social changes. Key topics include political machines, industrial boom, transcontinental railroad, and social stratification. The video encourages students to reflect on these themes and share their interests.

What does the acronym PEGS stand for in the context of defining an era?

• Political, Economic, Geographic, Social

• Political, Environmental, Geographic, Social

• Political, Economic, Global, Social

• Political, Economic, Geographic, Scientific

What characterized the political landscape of the Gilded Age?

• Strong government intervention

• Political corruption and machines

• Democratic reforms

• Peaceful political environment

What was a significant economic feature of the Gilded Age?

• Industrial boom and monopolies

• Rise of small businesses

• Decrease in technological innovation

• Decline in industrial activity

Who were the industrial capitalists of the Gilded Age often referred to as?

• Philanthropists

• Robber barons

• Socialists

• Union leaders

What major infrastructure development connected the east and west coasts during the Gilded Age?

• Transcontinental railroad

• Interstate highways

• Air travel routes

• Canal systems

What was a geographic impact of the transcontinental railroad?

• Enhanced national and regional connections

• Increased isolation of regions

• Decreased national unity

• Limited resource transfer

What social issue was prominent due to westward expansion during the Gilded Age?

• Significant Native American tensions

• Rise of a strong middle class

• Decreased urbanization

• Decline in labor unions

What was a key social change during the Gilded Age?

• Decrease in urbanization

• Rise of labor unions and urbanization

• Increase in agricultural society

• Decline in social stratification

What concept justified the wealth gap during the Gilded Age?

• Capitalism

• Communism

• Social Darwinism

• Socialism

What was the societal view of poverty according to social Darwinism?

• Poverty was inevitable

• Poverty was due to economic conditions

• Poverty was a result of personal choices

• Poverty was caused by government policies