Gilded Age Overview

Why did the innovations and technological advancements of the Gilded Age playa crucial role in transforming the United States into a modern industrial nation? This lesson and activity examines the background and impact of the Gilded Age. Students will analyze documents and answer corresponding scaffolding questions. They will answer the final summary question to apply their knowledge.

Included in this resource:

Do Now - Mark Twain’s The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today, 1873 excerpt analysis with questions
The Gilded Age reading passage with scaffolding questions
Document analysis with graphic organizer scaffolding questions
Document #1 - Industrialization
Document #2 - Urbanization
Document #3 - Immigration
Document #4 - Labor Movements
Document #5 - Wealth Inequality and the Social Gospel
Document #6 - Political Corruption
Document #7 - Innovation and Technology
Document #8 - Cultural Developments
Document #9 - Environmental Exploitation
Document #10 - Rise of Monopolies and Trusts
Application/Closing/Higher-Order Thinking Assessment: How did the Gilded Age’s economic transformations and social developments impact the daily lives and future prospects of American workers and immigrants?
Answer key for teachers (suggested)
★Please make an executive decision whether or not this lesson can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you!

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