The GROWTH of the Middle Class in the Gilded Age [APUSH Review]

Emergence and Growth of the Middle Class in the Gilded Age

Overview of the Middle Class Development

• The Gilded Age saw a significant increase in wealth disparity, with industrialists growing richer while the working class struggled. However, this period also marked the emergence of a distinct middle class.

• This new middle class earned more than the working class but less than elite industrialists, positioning them between these two groups economically.

Historical Context and Differences

• The middle class did not originate during the Gilded Age; it began to rise in the first half of the 19th century due to earlier market revolutions. However, there were notable differences between these two periods' middle classes.

• Earlier middle-class professions included doctors, lawyers, clergy, and business people; by contrast, late 19th-century middle-class jobs were predominantly management roles created by industrialization.

Factors Leading to Middle Class Expansion

Corporate Structure Changes

• Large corporations required new management positions and clerical workers as they grew more complex. This need was driven by scientific management principles introduced by Frederick Taylor that emphasized efficiency and productivity.

• Managers became known as "knowledge workers," focusing on intellectual tasks rather than manual labor, leading to their classification as "white collar" workers compared to "blue collar" laborers.

Increased Access to Education

• The expansion of education was crucial for creating knowledge workers within the middle class; many new colleges emerged during this time thanks to government initiatives like the Morrill Act of 1862 which funded public universities focused on agricultural and mechanical skills.

• A second Morrill Act in 1890 aimed at combating racial discrimination in education but ultimately led southern states to establish separate institutions for Black Americans instead of integrating existing ones. Despite this setback, historically black colleges emerged from these efforts, contributing to a small Black elite's formation despite ongoing racial discrimination challenges.

Lifestyle Characteristics of the Middle Class

• The majority of middle-class workers were men; women typically managed domestic responsibilities while men earned income for their families. This division highlighted societal norms regarding gender roles during this era.

• With higher disposable incomes than working-class families, middle-class households could afford necessities plus additional spending on consumer goods—this shift contributed significantly to an expanding consumer culture among them.

The Transformation of Identity and Consumer Culture

The Shift from Production to Consumption

• Kevin's identity is initially tied to his role as a metal worker, but the rise of consumer culture shifts this identity towards what he purchases, illustrating a broader societal change.

• Middle-class individuals began to distinguish themselves from the working class through their consumption choices, marking a transition in how identity was formed during the Gilded Age.

The Role of Department Stores

• Department stores like Marshall Fields transformed shopping from a mere errand into an extravagant experience, particularly targeting middle-class women who were primary shoppers.

• By 1900, 21% of American women entered the workforce, challenging gender norms and embracing new identities as "new women," which included engaging in activities like cycling despite societal pushback.

Leisure Activities and Cultural Shifts

• Increased leisure time for the middle class led to popular pastimes such as vaudeville shows and visits to amusement parks like Coney Island, reflecting changing social dynamics.

• These entertainment venues provided spectacle and fun, indicating that leisure was becoming an integral part of middle-class life beyond mere consumption.

Philanthropy vs. Charity: A New Perspective on Wealth

• Despite perceptions of greed among wealthy industrialists, figures like Andrew Carnegie promoted philanthropy as a moral obligation to invest in society rather than hoard wealth.

• Carnegie distinguished between charity (direct aid to individuals) and philanthropy (investing in societal institutions), believing that hard work should lead to wealth and that poverty indicated laziness.

Investments in Education and Urban Improvement

• Philanthropic efforts focused on education included Carnegie's funding for libraries aimed at empowering citizens through self-improvement opportunities.

• Notable contributions also came from Biddy Mason, who improved urban environments by establishing community institutions such as schools and churches for African Americans.