Essay Topics For the Gilded Age

Essay Topics For the Gilded AgeMany students, perhaps most, think that essay topics for the Gilded Age need to be novel. It is not necessary for them to be. Students can explore some of the more important themes of the time in their essays as long as they do not fall into the trap of choosing topics that will be too familiar to the rest of the class.The Gilded Age can be defined in many ways. One of them, which is more accurate, is that the period was a time of great social upheaval and some tremendous events. Many people, who had been successful in previous eras, fell from their pedestals, largely due to the new government regulations and the resulting economic instability. This is certainly true in many cities in the United States during this time.These events were often covered by magazines, books, or even newspapers, as well as television and radio news. The Gilded Age also brought forth a great many other changes, including mass production, for example, which also affected every one.These changes, in turn, led to a period in history when many great authors were published, books were considered an art form, newspapers were the only way to get news, and people no longer had the luxury of time to read anything other than what they needed to know to make a living. These changes are the themes which are quite appropriate for a good essay. However, one should choose subjects which will be unique, and which will allow the student to express themselves.One can spend a whole semester writing on the difference between Henry Ford and Abraham Lincoln, or on the differences between our world and the earlier days of the French Revolution. Or one can concentrate on the events in Europe, such as the Spanish Civil War, that started after Napoleon's defeat. There are hundreds of examples of both. One can also talk about the similarities, such as Thomas Edison's work and William Jennings Bryan's political career.There are many more, but these are some of the most important th emes which are well known by those who are studying in high school or college. Students will do well to research these themes and to try to write about them in the course of their essays.Students will also need to realize that as they become involved in the real life of the era, they will encounter people who have very different backgrounds, views, and perspectives. Students who fail to take advantage of this fact will find themselves struggling to make sense of what is going on in their own society.