Presents alphabetical articles on major events, documents, persons, social movements, and political and social concepts connected with the Gilden Age and the Progressive Era.
Perry (history, Saint Louis U.) and Smith (ethnic and gender studies, Emporia State U., Kansas) mark the beginning of the Gilded Age at 1877, the end of Reconstruction, and the end of the Progressive Era at 1921, the end of Wilson's term as president. Generally these are later in the range scholars choose. They also see the two periods as very connected, with the progressive ideas developing out of the earlier economic, political, and social conditions. Articles of a page or two discuss people, events, trends, institutions, disciplines and professions, technology, and other facets. Each is cross-referenced and includes a list for further reading. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
This Companion is an alphabetical encyclopedia of the Gilded Age & Progressive Era (GAPE) in the United States, beginning in 1877 with the end of Reconstruction and extending to 1919-20, the end of World War I and the beginning of the Harding administration. Combining materials from traditional political history with newer materials from social, ethnic, and cultural history, the book reflects historiographic trends that have influenced the writing of Gilded Age and Progressive Era histories in recent years. These include revisiting major events with gender and race at the center; asking new questions about the role of economic change and social movements; using literary and critical race theories to read traditional evidence, such as court records and military and diplomatic reports, in new ways; understanding the growing connections in this period of the United States with other parts of the world (globalism); and emphasizing the connection between labor and economic trends and social and political movements.
The Gilded Age and Progressive Era: A Student Companion includes articles on overall trends (immigration, education, music, sports), social movements (anarchism, child labor movement, consumer movement, conservation movement), terms (armistice, chain store, chautauqua), organizations (American Expeditionary Force, Knights of Labor, Republican party), issues (gender relations, race relations), events (Haymarket Square massacre, Palmer raids, Pullman strike), legal cases (Lochner v. New York), laws (Chinese Exclusion Act, Meat Inspection Act, Selective Service Act), ethnic groups (Mexicans, Chinese), economic issues (trusts, scientific management), and biographies. The articles are cross-referenced and have sources for specific further reading. Backmatter consists of chronology, general further reading and websites, and index. Black-and-white illustrations--including photographs, maps, fine arts, and graphics--complement the text.
