Periods of economic growth and technological innovations often had significant impacts—both positive and negative—on social conditions and the very landscape of the United States, the landscapes often reflecting and further contributing to social stratification. Some of these periods of economic growth included the Gilded Age (ca. 1870s-1900), the 1920s, and the Post-World War II era. How did these economic and technological booms contribute to urbanization and suburbanization? What social conditions did each of these periods result in for Americans of different classes, races, ethnicities, and genders? How did Americans react to the drastic social and economic changes during the Progressive Era (ca. 1896-1916), the Interwar period (ca. 1918-1939), and the 1960s? Consider both reform-minded approaches aimed at addressing inequalities as well as more conservative backlash towards changes in American society and landscapes. Analyze and support your essay with specific evidence from the reading assignments and the lectures.
