The Progressive Era,

INSTRUCTIONS:

After reading Eric Foner’s “America’s Gilded Age, 1870-1890” The Populist

Challenge and Redrawing the Boundaries in “Freedom’s Boundaries, at Home and Abroad, 1890-

1900” (pp. 639-648 & 658-664), & “The Progressive Era, 1900-1916” address the following

prompts:

1. The Gilded Age was an era of rapid transformation in America. Students will address the

following prompt in the context of one assigned category of transformation in the Gilded Age

based on their last name (see break down under the prompt):

For what reasons, and in which ways did the Gilded Age transform America? Reference the text

(in-text parenthetical citations with page numbers only will suffice) for full credit.

 The Second Industrial Revolution (Last name A-D)

 The Expansion of the Railroad (Last name E-I)

 Consolidation of Big Business (Last name J-M)

 Collectivization of Labor (Last name N-R)

 Urbanization and the Rise of the American City (Last name S-U)

 Immigration in the Gilded Age (Last name V-Z)

IN THIS CASE MY LAST NAME STARTS WITH A, SO I EXPECT YOU TO USE THE

FIRST CATEGORY (The Second Industrial Revolution (Last name A-D)

2. In your own words, what was the Progressive Era? The Progressive Era witnessed many

pushes for reform, which two would you categorize as the most important? Why? Finally, to

what extent did the Populist Omaha Platform (Check the attached pdf to answer this part)

influence the reformers during the Progressive Era? Reference the text (in-text parenthetical

citations with page numbers only will suffice) for full credit.

The Fine Print:

Answer each question in no less than 150 words, substantive in nature, drawing from the

readings and course materials, using specific examples to illustrate your points and to explain,

justify, and defend your position(s).