Monday, October 15th

Advanced American History

The transition to an industrial economy in the late 19th century generated great wealth, but also a fair amount of economic, social and political upheaval.  We have already discussed how this change generated great wealth for industrial titans and a fair amount of difficulty for many of the new industrial workers of the era.  It also had a great effect on farmers of the midwest, who felt they were being crushed by a combination of falling commodity prices and increasing costs and debt.

To deal with these changes, farmers organized politically, generating a populist movement that culminated in the nomination of Democrat William Jennings Bryan in the presidential election of 1896.

Thursday, October 11th

Advanced American History

Homestead mill courtesy psu.edu

As we culminate our viewing of the documentary on the Homestead Steel Strike of 1892, consider the questions that arose from this clash between industrialists and workers.  Many are still relevant today.

• Carnegie owned the steel works.  It was his property.  Did the workers have any right to take over the steel mill.
• Employees always retain the right to quit.  Should they have more rights than that singular right?
• What was the legacy of the steel strike?

Reminder:  Quiz on Chapter 4 (Industrialization in the Gilded Age) Thursday.

Wednesday, October 11th

Advanced American History

After a review of the changing nature of work and the conflict produced in the Gilded Age, we began viewing the documentary 10 Days that Unexpectedly Changed America:  The Homestead Strike. This account of the actions of steelworkers at Andrew Carnegie's Homestead Steel Works would do much to shape the balance of political and economic power in America for the next few decades.


Assignment:  Read Text pages 114-121 The Labor Movement.

Tuesday, October 9th

Advanced American History

The focus of class today was on the transformative effects of industrialization in the late 19th century Gilded Age period.  Understand elements of the following slideshow and complete the assignments below:

Assignments:  Read text 107-111.  Read Andrew Carnegie's Gospel of Wealth and answer associated questions.

Monday October 8th

Advanced American History

Our study of the Gilded Age begins today with an analysis of both the explosion of technical innovation that happens in the United States after the Civil War and the reasons for it.  Developments such as steel, railroads, the telephone, electric grids and lights, recorded sound, motion pictures, airplanes etc. create a modern industrial age and thrust the US to the forefront of the global economy for much of the 20th century.  Abundant natural resources, a steady stream of immigrants, capitalism, and a system of patents and legally binding contracts all create a fertile environment for innovation and industrial expansion.

Thomas Alva Edison courtesy wikipedia.org

Assignment:  Read text 100-106.

Thursday/Friday October 4-5

Advanced American History

Thursday:  Civil War Exam.  If absent, please make up the exam within 3 days.

Friday:  Civil War DBQ.  Please submit this essay utilizing google docs.  Do not turn in a paper copy!

Use the distributed documents to evaluate the following statement:

By the 1850's, even the Constitution, framed as a document of national unity, was failing to hold the nation together.

Wednesday, October 3rd

Advanced American History

The objective Civil War exam is slated for tomorrow and your first Document Based Question Essay will be composed on Friday.  Use the study guide below to help in your test prep.