Bill of Rights Institute
The Gilded Age, Robber Barons and the Rise of Big Business
Survival of the fittest! Scholars investigate an AP review video to discover the era of big business during the Gilded Age. Viewers examine the place of Robber Barons in society and its impact on the workforce in America. This is the...
Student Handouts
Compare and Contrast: American Business Leaders
Gather information about various business leaders in this graphic organizer. Pupils fill in information about Andrew Carnegie, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Frank Woolworth, John Jacob Astor, John Rockefeller, and William Randolph Hearst in...
Curated OER
Entrepreneurs in History
Students examine the contributions of American entrepreneurs. In this industrialization lesson, students complete the provided handouts to determine how Vanderbilt, Carnegie, Hill, and Rockefeller impacted American society. Students...
Curated OER
Thomas Edison
In this online interactive history worksheet, students respond to 10 short answer and essay questions about the accomplishments of Thomas Edison. Students may check some of their answers on the interactive worksheet.
Curated OER
Trial at the Turn of the Century
Learners examine and explore various aspects of change at the turn of the century including economic, political, civil and others. Students then locate and analyze various primary sources to write an essay that demonstrates their...
Curated OER
Chapter 5 - Cram Jam Session
Explore new vocabulary words which cover a diverse array of concepts from the world of business, immigration to the U.S., and immigrants who became famous inventors and business people in our country with your class. This is a great...
Curated OER
1876-1920 Word Search Puzzle
In this literacy instructional activity, students look for the words in the puzzle that are related to the theme of the word search. Spelling skills are worked on.
Curated OER
American Industry Growth
Eleventh graders explore the economic growth from 1878 to 1893. In this social studies lesson, 11th graders discuss how the improvements lead to an inequality in wealth and the problems that it caused.
Curated OER
Chapter 6 and 7 Unit Test
In this Progressive Era and Big Business test worksheet, students respond to 15 matching, 3 multiple choice, and 4 short answer questions.
OpenStax
Open Stax: Industrialization 1870 1900: From Invention to Industrial Growth
This section of the textbook describes how new inventions spurred industrial growth in the 19th century and discusses the business methods and models of Andrew Carnegie, John Rockefeller, and J. P. Morgan.
Vassar College
Vassar College: 1896: Trusts and Monopolies
As part of a large site dealing with the election of 1896 is this article on Trusts and Monopolies. Although the focus is on the Republicans' anti-trust sentiments in the election, you can read about the rise of big business, monopolies,...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Robber Barons and Captains of Industry
A very thorough lesson plan from EDSITEment that explores the role of the robber barons in American industry in the 19th century. It explores the question of whether the robber barons were harmful or "Captains of Industry." You'll find...
CPALMS
Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: Captains of Industry: Second Industrial Revolution
This tutorial looks at the Second Industrial Revolution in the United States and the most famous and successful industrial entrepreneurs of that time. A PDF file of the tutorial is available.
Department of Defense
Do Dea: Ap Us History: Unit 5: A New Order
This extensive learning module examines the impact of the Gilded Age upon new cultural and intellectual movements, expansion of foreign trade, and political debates over economic and social policies, as well as the impact of the rise of...
Other
U.s. History Scene: The Second Industrial Revolution, 1870 1914
Between 1820 and 1860, the visual map of the United States was transformed by unprecedented urbanization and rapid territorial expansion, facilitated by the railroad system. These changes mutually fueled the Second Industrial Revolution...
![Digital History: The Industrial Revolution [Pdf] Website](https://d15y2dacu3jp90.cloudfront.net/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/FPO-knovation.png "Digital History: The Industrial Revolution [Pdf] Website")
Digital History
Digital History: The Industrial Revolution [Pdf]
This site covers both the initial Industrial Revolution in the United States in the late 18th and early 19th centuries and the second revolution that highlighted new inventions and the businessmen who financed industry. Read brief...
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Gilded Age (1878 1889)
After a brief description of the economy in the Gilded Age, find links to stories about many cultural events of the age. Read about Jim Thorpe, the Johnstown flood, and the first Coca-Cola, among other stories.
Tom Richey
Tom Richey: The Gilded Age (1877 1900)
As Reconstruction came to an end in the United States the country began to evolve into an industrial nation through the perseverance and ingenuity of masterminds like Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller. Through a collection of...