Mark Twain referred to the late 1800s as the "Gilded Age." Do you agree with his label of this time period? Explain. What do you think would be a more appropriate name for this period of time? Be sure to answer all parts of the question and respond to a classmate by Monday, February 15th.
30 Comments
Taylor D.
2/11/2010 07:22:47 am
I really like the late 1800s being referred to as the "Gilded Age". It really fits this time period quite well. Between all of the corruption and bad things going on in our country, it really fits. I guess if I had to rename this time period, it would have to be The Forgettable Time. Not only to go along with the Forgettable Presidents, but this is just another part of US history that we would all be better without. Maybe things like sewer systems and landfills did come of this time, but I don't think it was worth all of the corruption in politics thanks to people like "Boss" Tweed or the corruption in big corporations with John D. Rockefeller and J.P. Morgan. This was just another negative time period in our nation's history.
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Molly G
2/12/2010 05:44:54 am
I agree with Mark Twain’s phrase the “Gilded Age” for the late 1800s. This phrase truly represents history during this time. Although America looked “peachy keen” it was not, especially for the minorities and even the common people. There were numerous millionaires popping up in America, such as J.D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, and J.P. Morgan. New inventions and the building of National Railroads were also great improvements, but under the surface of this wealth everything was not as glorious as it seemed. Men, Women, and Children often had poor working conditions. Immigrants were not welcomed and they were faced with much discrimination. “Old immigrants” disliked the “new immigrants” and did nothing to help ease their assimilation into American society, nor did the government. Also, living conditions, as America moved to the city, were horrible. Public water systems did not exist and therefore America was unsanitary and filled with much disease and filth. Although America may have looked wonderful during this time, it was not the case, and Mark Twains term the “gilded age” accurately describes this time period. Another name for this time period could be the “Awfully Good Era.” This is an oxymoron, something can’t be good and awful at the same time, but this time period was.
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Molly G
2/12/2010 05:46:52 am
I like Taylor’s name for this time period, “The Forgettable Times.” As she said, the presidents were the “forgettable presidents” and many of the events in this time period would be better off if they were forgotten. There was wealth and new inventions, but there was also poverty and poor conditions. Many of the wealthy men and big corporations during this time were also robber barons, and they corrupted American society.
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Taylor D.
2/12/2010 06:18:14 am
I love Molly's title of "Awfully Good Era". That's pretty creative and the oxymoronic title fits the oxymoronic time period. Most people wouldn't expect America to have so much corruption in our government and economic issues, but as we've proved time and time again, we do and I think we will continue to have issues. I also like Molly's justification for her title. It couldn't be good and bad, but we had great inventions and awful corruption.
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Ashley C
2/13/2010 02:02:14 am
I do agree with Mark Twain calling the time Gilded Age. I was a time of confusion and greedy people. Politicians were shady and ripping off people. I would of called it "the time of befuddlement". No one knew where to turn. Politicians didn't know what platform to take, people didn't know they were being scammed, and everyone thought that this was a way of life. Finally the government put a stop to some of the conspiracies and people started to demand honesty from their American leaders (as much as you could).
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Ashley C
2/13/2010 02:17:39 am
I agree with Taylor saying that is a time worth forgetting. It was a time that nothing great came of it. The politics were worth forgetting, the economy, the society, all of it. No great inventions were made, not mant famous people came of it, with the exception of Mark Twain of course.
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Brian W
2/14/2010 12:02:57 am
I agree with Mark Twain calling this period of time in U.S. history the Gilded Age. This period of time in American history was a time of forgettable presidents and big buisnesses. I think a good name for this age should be called the "Forgotten Age."
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Brian w
2/14/2010 12:05:35 am
I agree with Taylor also due to the fact that i also believe that this period of time is worth being forgotten, and that nothing reallygreat came out of this age.
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Bobby C.
2/14/2010 03:23:28 am
I think the Gilded Age completely is a fitting name for this time period. Everything seemed to fine when other countries looked at America, but other countries could not see the corruption that lay in the cities. The name I would come up with for this time would be the "Useless Era" because nothing really happened to move America forward.
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Bobby C.
2/14/2010 03:28:07 am
I agree with Ashley about everyone in this time seemed to be lost. They was no direction for immigrants, politicians didn’t know what to stand for, and some others didn’t know they were even being scammed.
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Ryan h
2/14/2010 12:18:39 pm
I agree with Mark Twain. The guilded age is the perfect name for this time period. Guilded means looking good on the outside but not on the insde. That was exactly what was happening. The big companies making tons of money hid the hardworking conditions and the discriminations of blacks and immigrants. If I were to rename this age, I would call it the stepping stone age because this is where the troubles were recognized. Changes began at this point which eventually led to a decent living style for the majority, and not just a few.
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Ryan h
2/14/2010 12:21:00 pm
I disagreebwith Bobby. This was he time that everyone recognized that changes needed t be made. Even though it didn't happen immediately, it all began at this point.
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Zain B
2/14/2010 01:06:34 pm
I think mark twain was spot on when coining the "gilded age". As many have already pointed out on the surface things looked great but under it was bland and poor. I think this name also fits in the fact that something gilded is coated in gold meaning only a small percentage of the object is actually gold. This represents the time period; the wealth was separated from the poverty with the majority of the wealth in the minority of the people. In a gilded object the gold stays untarnished and shines throughout history, while the wood below decays and is eaten by corruption. This is exactly the case with this time period, today many of the corporations that took control still shine with the structure that holds up the gold still in decay. I would rename this age the pyramid age, like the pyramids the corporations of the time were built by the many even when the cost to the people was devastating. Also like the pyramids the gilded age was looked back upon for its greatness, the pyramids are a marvel as well as the amazing feats of corporations.
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Zain B
2/14/2010 01:10:58 pm
I disagree with bobby. the usless age is not a very accurate definition of the age. America did move forwarard in technology population and expanse. this change may not have been good but it was a step forward that brought our society where it is today.
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Amberleigh V.
2/14/2010 10:44:13 pm
The “Gilded Age” is an okay term for the late 1880s time period. It proves how when we look back it looks nice due to the technological advances, but then when we dig a little more under the surface we find corrupt politicians and businessmen working hand in hand. Another term for this age could be the “Jelly Filled Doughnut Age.” The bite of a doughnut is a wonderful taste, but when you take the second bite, and you realize you chose the jelly filled doughnut, you regret it. The first bite would be all the technological advances of this time, and the second bite would relate to “Boss Tweed” because he was so big, im sure he filled up on some sweets… and with him being a part of the corruption issue of the late 1880s it only makes sense that he would fall within the jelly part of the doughnut. :]
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Amberleigh V.
2/14/2010 10:53:58 pm
I like Ashley’s term “The Time of Befuddlement.” It is true that people didn’t really know what to do or how to handle things. Big businesses and corporations were fairly new and so there wasn’t much time for the politicians to slap down a whole new book of rules and regulations. There were holes and a lot room for errors, which were definitely made and taken advantage of.
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Craig J
2/15/2010 12:15:40 am
Yeah, I do agree with Mark Twain referring to the time period as the "Gilded Age". It accurately describes
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Craig J
2/15/2010 12:19:48 am
I agree with Zain in calling the period the Pyramid Age. The time period, just like the pyramids were built by many even when the cost to the people was devastating. It makes sense on a level that my simple mind coundnt even begin to compete with. I am a simpleton, Zain is a mighty intellectual hero.
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Ted S.
2/15/2010 04:01:33 am
The late 1800's is proper dubbed as "The Gilded Age." If you were outside of the United States, it would seam as though the economic status of the States was golden. However, from the inside, the citizens of the United States of America knew the truth. Much like a gilded ceiling or statue, the inside was dull and cheap, but the outside was very shiny, flashy, and expensive.
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Ted S.
2/15/2010 04:11:54 am
I think that Zain is a clever young buck. I am jealous of his creative ability, yet at the same time I appreciate the way his brain works. The Pyramid Age is a very intuitive look at the late 1800's and I agree completely with it.
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Paige L.
2/15/2010 09:15:12 pm
I also agree with Mark Twain in calling this time period The Guilded Age. This was an era of peacefulness even though the economy wasn't at its best. I would rename this time period The Peaceful Age just for this reason. Among this era not a lot of major events occured. It was a time of content among the people.
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Paige L.
2/15/2010 09:16:43 pm
I agree with Ted in renaming this era "The Era of Pyrite." "Much like pyrite (fools gold) America's economy and citizens were very impressive looking, but were virtually useless." I stongly agree with this statement and the creative name change.
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Brianna Gaston
2/21/2010 09:31:00 am
HAHA oh my! "looks refreshing and white" like it Craig! and I agree I think the title "The Gilded Age" is a very fitting name.
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Brianna Gaston
2/21/2010 09:38:02 am
I agree with Mark Twain in naming the period of the 1800's the Gilded Age. It is a well fitted name for the time period and makes a lot of sense with all that was going on. If I had to name that time period of the U.S. History I would call it the stocking up age! First off the immigration was out standing! and in a way I feel that a lot of the people in America back then were all trying to stock the country with the kind of person THEY wanted. For example a Christian.
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Sunshine....yeah
2/23/2010 02:38:07 am
I agree with Mark Twain that the period in the 1800s should be referred to as the gilded age. A lot of new technologies and industries arose from this time period, making it seemingly industrious and forward moving. But at the same time, there were things not so visible that said the very opposite. Slums in big cities, pollution, wage laborers and their working conditions. The Gilded Age is a good name for a time period like this because it's golden on the outside, but on the inside it's pretty crappy. Another good name for it would be
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Sunshine does not like blogs.
2/23/2010 02:42:39 am
Mark Twain was accurate for calling the late 1800s the Gilded Age. New technologies and industries flourished and the U.S. seemed to be moving forward. But at the same time, there were some really bad things going on. The slums in the big cities, pollution or wage laborers and their conditions are a few examples. The Gilded Age was a time period that looked golden on the outside, but on the inside it was crappy. Another good name for it would be Poo on a Stick. It may be on a stick, but it's still crap.
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sunshine
2/23/2010 02:45:37 am
oh yeah my response :P
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Austin fixed his computer Tanner
3/2/2010 06:13:21 am
The Gilded Age: A time of revolution, but not quite as wonderful as people think. I believe that this time in history was aptly named however. Something gilded is something that is coated with a metal. It can be anything, even a turd. So what I am saying is that the Gilded Age was pretty much a gold covered turd. Everything looks great in perspective, there was major technological advancement and business booms, but on the inside everything was a smelly, brown, slightly runny mess with corn in it. The living conditions in big cities and especially in the slums where immigrants lived were terrible. Working conditions were meager at best, with no thoughts of health care and no way to regulate safety and health in the workplace. So when Mark Twain says 'gilded age', he phrased it perfectly. He recognized that this time in history was a big, gold covered, glorious dookie. The man was a master of ironic comedy after all.
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Austin 'The Crusher' Branchaud
3/2/2010 06:16:13 am
I agree with Mr. Judy, because he is the closest to me in his answer. He sees that the Gilded Age looked hunky dory on the outside and was actually a truffle with rotten pee inside. Good Job Craig Judy.
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Turd
3/7/2019 09:11:38 am
Yeah basically i agree that it is a HUGE turd covered in gold
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