When we apply a social justice framework to our examination of the past, we look to respect the sorrow and pain of the experiences of those who are marginalized. However, we seek to understand and highlight the resistance, resiliency, and empowerment narratives of those who are often painted as historical victims.
You will notice that as we examine the Gilded Age, our readings focus on the impact of westward expansion on various groups. The rise of the Second Industrial Revolution also led to increases in immigration from Europe, but those newly arriving populations were demographically different from earlier immigrants. This will lead to a sharp increase in nativism and anti-immigrant sentiment right here in Massachusetts. These same sentiments had long-term consequences for Chinese immigrants as well. Meanwhile out West, some groups found the lack of a strong governmental presence made room for challenges to social norms related to identity and sexual orientation.
So what does it all mean? Try to synthesize this content into a cohesive explanation of what "American" freedom looked like during the Gilded Age. What factors determined how this concept was defined for different groups?
What are some of the empowerment narratives that you have noted in this week's content and/or your own research on the topic?