Gilded Age Newspaper Project/Camelio: Home

The Gilded Age: Thirty Years of (fill in the blank)

In the spirit of the Gilded Age, you will create a one- to two-page newspaper (six sections total for a solo project, ten for a pair) identifying with either the "Gospel of Wealth" concept or the "Social Gospel" concept (both are further explained below) and commemorating the three-decade period of the Gilded Age. Using your knowlege of "yellow journalism" from studying the Newsies and Pullman strikes, adjust your headlines, coverage of stories, and artwork in your paper to convey your specific point of view.

"Gospel of Wealth"

• Supports capitalism and the idea that hard work and perseverance lead to wealth
• Wealthy should redistribute surplus means responsibly

"Social Gospel"

• Provides a Protestant rationale for action to address social and economic inequalities
• Supports labor reforms and the labor movement, as well as an end to crime, racial tensions, slums, child labor and poor schools

The newspaper will be worth 20 points, broken up as follows:

• Use of class time (effective use of library time to conduct research and plan layout) 4 points
• Required elements (see above) 3 points
• Quality of writing (technically sound, utilizes persuasive and academic language) 6 points
• Creativity (unique perspectives, profound writing and/or creative artistic elements) 4 points
• Research and Works Cited (at least 3 credible sources, proper MLA Works Cited) 3 points

At least three...(approx. 100-200 words apiece)

• Business Supplement News
• Science and Technology
• Politics
• International Affairs (this could include the West)
• American Society

At least two...(approx. 50-100 words apiece)

• Editorial Page
• Obituaries
• Letters from the Reader

At least one...

• Political Cartoon (an ORIGINAL, though you may borrow ideas and techniques)
• Map (an ORIGINAL including lots of detail and clarity, though you may borrow ideas)

If you are working with a partner, your paper must include ALL sections listed above.

• Second Industrial Revolution
• The West in the late 1800s
• Rise of Big Business/Corporations
• Urban Life
• Consumerism
• Machine Politics (Boss Tweed, e.g.)
• Labor Unions (Pullman Strike, etc.)
• Yellow Journalism
• Populism
• Social Reform--> Booker T. Washington & W.E.B. Dubois
• America as a World Power (Spanish American War)

Amanda Camelio

Reserve cart of library books selected for this project

Below are links to some of PDS' databases which can be of particular use to you for this project. For ways to maximize use of these databases, click on the blue tab above next to the HOME tab, called Database Tips for suggestions on how to best search each one.