A new middle class began to form, but nevertheless the gap between the rich and poor was enormous.Īndrew Carnegie played a key role in the industrialization of America as he dominated the steel industry. However, jobs were created for both skilled and unskilled workers, and the wages of both groups grew. For the first time, the need for skilled labor decreased as the popularity of unskilled factory work soared. The growth of factories changed the dynamic of the American work force and created a need for the rise of labor unions and other forms of organized labor. The Second Industrial Revolution, beginning between 18 and continuing until World War I, created a rapidly growing set of industries in America including steel, rail, and coal mining. The visibility of the extremely wealthy created an image of a thriving United States painted in gold, but looking beyond the surface revealed a state of social chaos and exploitation of the working class. However, despite the economic growth and illusion of Americans becoming wealthier, serious labor problems arose, and society was cut through with corruption. At this time, wealthy “captains of industry” and “robber barons” manipulated the growing steel, railroad, and gold markets and became astronomically rich. The Gilded Age was an era of rapid economic growth. The name was coined by author Mark Twain, and refers to the glamourized “gilded” layer of wealth that tried to hide America’s serious social problems.
The Gilded Age is the period of United States history spanning roughly the 1870’s until 1900 (It is important to understand different time periods on the APUSH test, so make sure you know this). There are three main concepts that help contextualize Andrew Carnegie’s work: the Gilded Age, industrialization, and Social Darwinism. Historical ContextĬultural and economic context is especially important to understanding the Gospel of Wealth for the AP® US History exam.
These buildings were simply modeled,but provided the public with the tools they needed to expand their own knowledge, skills, and suitability in society. One of his main channels of wealth into the public was the creation of Carnegie libraries. He embodied this philosophy thoroughly, giving away about 90% of his wealth during his lifetime. In other words, the richest Americans should actively engage in philanthropy and charity in order to close the widening gap between rich and poor.Ĭarnegie explained that the common trend of leaving all of one’s money to their heirs was disgraceful, and that instead the wealthy should use their money to benefit society while they were still alive. In “The Gospel of Wealth,” Carnegie argued that extremely wealthy Americans like himself had a responsibility to spend their money in order to benefit the greater good. Rockefeller) by dominating the growing steel industry. Carnegie became the second-richest man in American history (after John D. The term “gospel of wealth” refers to the 1889 article of the same name by Scottish immigrant Andrew Carnegie. In this AP® US History crash course, we will give you the answers to all these questions about one frequently-tested topic: the Gospel of Wealth. The most vital things to review about a particular event, policy, or movement are the answers to the following questions: What is it? What else was happening at the time? Why is the Gospel of Wealth important to United States history? This might sound impossible, but success on the APUSH test is really all about studying smarter. The AP® United States History exam covers hundreds of topics, all of which you need to be familiar with in order to get a high score.