Transcript 2012 DBQ Exercise

2012 DBQ Exercise
In the post-Civil War United States,
corporations grew significantly in
number, size and influence. Analyze
the impact of big business on the
economy and politics and the
responses of Americans to these
changes. Confine your answer to
the period 1870 to 1900.
2012 DBQ Exercise
• The impact of big business on
• the economy
• and politics
• and the responses of Americans
to these changes
Confine your answer to the period
1870 to 1900.
2012 DBQ Thesis Statements
The extended period that came to be
known as the Gilded Age was largely
centered around and influenced by
big business and corporations. The
newfound efficiency of resources and
mass production resulted in a wide
variety of available products but also
a wide divide between classes and a
misdistribution of power that led to
the forming of unions and passing of
anti-trust legislation.
2012 DBQ Thesis Statements
In the United States from 1870 to
1900 during the period
commonly referred to as the
“Gilded Age,” the powerful
presence of big business caused
sharp economic and social class
divisions and political corruption
that led to the widespread push
for progressive reform
.
2012 DBQ Thesis Statements
Big business, started in the United States by
the Second Industrial Revolution, created a
larger disparity of wealth between the
aristocracy and the impoverished, and
created widespread bribery that would
forever tie business and politics together .
Several activist such as the Muckrakers and
the Progressive Party aimed to curtail the
negligence and injury wrought by the
corporations.
Great thesis. The time period (1870-1900) would be the only issue. The
Progressive Era may start around 1890, but the Progressive Party
typically is considered to start around 1912. Therefore, it would be
better to state something like, “reform measures leading to the
Progressive Party” or “progressive measures.”
2012 DBQ Thesis Statements
Big business employed money and power
to control and manipulate the economy
and politics to their own advantage
through dishonest means and
exploitation of poor immigrants.
Americans such as Samuel Gompers
worked on the creation of different labor
unions to protect the common people and
authors such as Jacob Riis and Stephen
Crane published literature to expose the
ills of society.