From 1870 to 1920, America’s cities exploded with immigrants, factories, skyscrapers, and streetcars—but also corruption, poverty, and fierce social tensions. Political machines thrived, progressives pushed for reform, and new technologies reshaped daily life. Discover how this urban revolution forged the modern U.S. and sparked debates on labor, fairness, and the true meaning of freedom that still echo today.

Taking AP US History and struggling with multiple-choicequestions? Check out ⁠AP US History Multiple Choice Strategies on Amazon⁠.

List of Sources:

Urbanization and The Gilded Age

AP® US History - Urbanization | CollegeBoard
The Journal of Urban History | Sage Journals
H-Urban Web Site | H-Net
How The Other Half Lives | University of Washington
Trade Cards Exhibit | Baker Library, Harvard University
Digitized Trade Cards | Tradecards.com
Marketing in the Modern Era Exhibit | Baker Library (Harvard Business School)
Plunkitt of Tammany Hall (Version 1) | University of Pennsylvania
Plunkitt of Tammany Hall (Version 2) | Project Gutenberg
Plunkitt of Tammany Hall (Version 3) | Marxists Internet Archive
HarpWeek | HarpWeek
Thomas Nast Political Cartoons | Nevada Observer
The American Commonwealth | Liberty Fund
U.S. Political Machines vs. Hungary Politics | Americana - University of Szeged
HarpWeek - 1872 Election | HarpWeek
Biographical Directory of the United States Congress | Bioguide

Gilded Age Overview

Gilded Age | Wikipedia
The Journal of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era | Cambridge
American Antiquarian Society | AAS
Historical GDP and CPI Data | Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
PBS - The Gilded Age | PBS
The Age of Acquiescence | Archive.org
The Price of Inequality | Archive.org
Religion in America | Archive.org
Historical Dictionary of the Gilded Age | Archive.org
Historical Statistics of the United States | U.S. Census Bureau
Banking Panics of the Gilded Age | Cambridge
Historical Census Statistics | U.S. Census Bureau
"A Little Deviltry" | Indiana University
Documenting the Gilded Age | NYARC
Journal of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era | JSTOR
H-SHGAPE Discussion Forum | H-Net
Digital History Overview | Digital History
Gilded Age - Library of Congress | Library of Congress
Khan Academy: Period 6 | Khan Academy
Gilding the Gilded Age | Frick Collection
WWW-VL History: United States: The Gilded Age | WWW-VL
Illinois During the Gilded Age | Northern Illinois University
Harper's Weekly Cartoons | HarpWeek
American Political Prints | Library of Congress
HarpWeek 1872 Election | HarpWeek
Thomas Nast | ThomasNast.com
Thomas Nast Cartoons - HarpWeek | HarpWeek
Tusche, Tone and Stone | Tuschetonestone.wordpress.com
Graphic Witness Caricatures - Nast | GraphicWitness.org
Gilded Age & Progressive Era Cartoons | Ohio State University
Slum Life Photographs | Library of Congress
Photographs of Prominent Politicians | Library of Congress

Labor and Industrialization

Labor Movement | History.com

Technology, Invention and Railroads

The Linotype | Library of Congress Blogs
Chronicling America | Library of Congress
Thomas Edison | Library of Congress
Early Cinema | Library of Congress
Early Electric Cars | Library of Congress
Bicycle Craze | Library of Congress
Nikola Tesla | Library of Congress
Invention of the Telephone | Library of Congress
Philadelphia’s World Fair | Library of Congress
The Typewriter | Library of Congress Blogs
Emile Berliner and the Birth of the Recording Industry | Library of Congress
Chronicling America on Twitter | Twitter
USA.gov | USA.gov

Railroads

The Impact of the Transcontinental Railroad | PBS American Experience