Unit 2: The Gilded Age
LESSON 1:
HOW THE GILDED AGE GOT ITS NAME
Introduction to the Gilded Age
The famous American writer, Mark Twain, lived during this time and coined the name of the time - The Gilded Age.
LESSON MISSION
Activity 1: Write the Lesson Mission Statement below in your Lesson Chronicles under the Lesson Mission header of your Unit 2 Lesson 1 Chronicles - How the Gilded Age Got Its Name.
- I can explain how the Gilded Age got its name.
READ ABOUT IT!
Activity 2: Read the Unit 2 Lesson 1 Text below. Match the vocabulary words and their definitions in your Lesson Chronicles under the Lesson Vocabulary header of your Unit 2 Lesson 1 Chronicles - How the Gilded Age Got Its Name.
How The Gilded Age Got Its Name
The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today is an 1876 novel by the famous writer Mark Twain and co-author Charles Dudley Warner. The novel is set in the period of the late 19th century; a time when greed and political corruption ruled the land. The term “Gilded Age” was used to show the contrast between the other “Golden Ages” in history, and the time in which these men lived.
Periods called Golden Ages around the world were usually times of peace, during which advancements in art, architecture, trade, technology, or other fields occurred. While there were certainly achievements during the Gilded Age, they brought serious ill-effects. The word “gilded” refers to jewelry or other metals on which a thin layer of gold covers over tin, iron, or other less-costly metal.  Mark Twain
In the late 1800’s the nation underwent tremendous change. The West was tamed and settled, the U.S. developed a thriving economy based on industry and trade, and railroads and telegraphs crossed the land. Those who oversaw these changes grew very, very rich, along with members of local, state, and national government who worked to pass laws to help the growth and their cronies. In addition, powerful political machines who supported big business and enriched themselves ensured that political offices were filled with people who did their bidding.
PRACTICE IT!The Survey Says Game
Activity 3: In this activity, you will practice the major concepts of the lesson by playing a class game called, "Survey Says." I will read a survey question to the class. When I say vote, choose the answer you believe is the correct answer to the survey question. We will discuss each question after each question's survey results are revealed. After class discussion of each survey question, you will write the correct answers in your Lesson Chronicles under the Survey Says header of your Unit 2 Lesson 1 Chronicles - How the Gilded Age Got Its Name.
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TOOLBOX
The Toolbox contains all the definitions of bolded words in today's lesson.
The Gilded Age: a period of great change in U.S. history spanning from roughly 1865 until 1900 including American Westward Expansion, industrialization, immigration, and urbanization where there were many changes in lifestyles, developments in technology, and a good amount of political corruption
economy: the way a country manages its money and resources to produce, buy, and sell goods and services Golden Ages: peaceful periods of time when a nation's economy thrives, and great accomplishments are made in art, science, and technology gilded: a cheap or inexpensive substance coated in a thin layer of gold Mark Twain: the famous American author who coined the term, "Gilded Age" political corruption: dishonest or illegal behavior by one or more government officials political machine: a group that controls the activities of a political party |
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APPLY IT!
Epic Rap Battles of U.S. History
Activity 4: In this activity, you will apply what you have learned about the Gilded Age so far and create 2 goals for yourself. I will show you a video of high school students that created a spoof on the series called, Epic Rap Battles of US History. Listen to the Rap. In your Lesson Chronicles, under the Epic Battles of U.S. History, write two things you heard in the rap that you would like to know more about. We will share these with each other as a whole class after the rap.
Gathering Clues
Activity 5: You will again apply what you have learned about the Gilded Age so far in Activity 5 called Gathering Clues.
In this activity, you will work with your group to gather clues about the Gilded Age. Read each stanza of four lines below. What clues does each stanza give you about the Gilded Age? As a small group discuss what you think the stanza is telling you about the Gilded Age. In your Lesson Chronicles, under Gathering Clues, you will see a response section for each stanza. Write down one thing you think the stanza may be telling you about the Gilded Age.
In this activity, you will work with your group to gather clues about the Gilded Age. Read each stanza of four lines below. What clues does each stanza give you about the Gilded Age? As a small group discuss what you think the stanza is telling you about the Gilded Age. In your Lesson Chronicles, under Gathering Clues, you will see a response section for each stanza. Write down one thing you think the stanza may be telling you about the Gilded Age.
An Extreme Rap
by: Maria Garriott
Robber Barons
Presidents Grant through Wilson
Washington and DuBois
Building the Brooklyn Bridge
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If you listen up, a story will be told
Of people and power, greed and gold Railroads, Robber Barons, Carnegie Steel Morgan's got money, Ford's got wheels Gold in the Yukon, gold in the cross
Oil in Texas, and Rock's the boss These dudes had the House in those days Grant was a general, and then there's Hayes Garfield drops, Arthur steps in
Cleveland is followed by Harrison Cleveland is back, then McKinley (like the hill) TR and Taft, Wilson hates to kill Muckrakers, Magazines, Sam McClure,
Squealed on Rockefeller's Standard Oil Mark Twain, Jack London, Ida Tarbell And Old Mother Jones says raise more... well..... Jim Crow is jumping, but Booker's got voice
Black Folk, soul folk, Mr. DuBois Geronimo, Custer, a man named Horse A Wounded Knee will hurt, of course Sweatshops, doors locked, Triangle Fire
Twelve hour days and children for hire Haymarket, Homestead, Pullman Strikes Edison brings us electric lights Skyscrapers, backbreakers, Brooklyn Bridge
Gompers, Wobblies, Eugene Debs Immigrants, tenements, No Chinese Populists rise up, farmers get the squeeze Down in Havana, blow up the Maine
Teddy's Big Stick and war with Spain A canal in Panama, two brothers that float Ladies still fussing for the women's vote The Gilded Age was full of extremes,
Recite this rap you'll know what I mean 
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Gold in the Yukon
Sam McClure and McClure Magazine
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
TR & Big Stick Diplomacy
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MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
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Activity 6: Did you accomplish your mission for this Lesson? Are you able to say the following I can statement?
Yes? Great! Prove It! Take the Mission Check Challenge by clicking on the icon to the right - Mission Check - and see if you're right. When you are finished submit it. Your score will come back immediately. I will print it for you and you need to glue it |
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HOMEWORK
FAMILY DISCUSSION TIME
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Remember, you have homework in Social Studies every night. Your homework is to tell your family what you learned in class today. This is an excellent way to keep a good line of communication open with your parents and it is a great way to make sure you are studying a little every night. Just use your I can statement to get you started:
Hey Mom and Dad. Guess what? I can tell you how the Gilded Age of U.S. History got its name.
Your parents will be delighted that you are actually telling them what you learned in school and its a chance to show off by telling them something they might not know!
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LESSON COMPLETE
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Congratulations! This is the end of Unit 2 Lesson 1: How the Gilded Age Got Its Name. You have completed the Module! 
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