How is US imperialism in the progressive era connected to the Gilded Age?

Answer: The connection between US imperialism in the Progressive Era and the Gilded Age lies in the economic, political, and social developments that occurred during the Gilded Age, which essentially set the stage for the expansionist policies of the Progressive Era.

During the Gilded Age (roughly the 1870s to the early 1900s), the United States experienced rapid economic growth driven by industrialization and the development of railroads, mines, and factories. This period saw the rise of powerful industrialists and financiers, often termed "robber barons," who accumulated great wealth and influence. The Gilded Age also witnessed growing urbanization, immigration, and social change, along with widening economic inequality and often harsh working and living conditions for many.

The wealth and productive capacity built up during the Gilded Age led the United States to seek new markets for its goods. As domestic markets became saturated, business leaders and politicians alike started to look abroad for opportunities to sell American products, secure raw materials, and invest capital. This economic imperative was one factor driving US imperialism in the Progressive Era.

Additionally, the Gilded Age laid ideological and strategic foundations for the Progressive Era's imperialist endeavors. It was a time when ideas of Social Darwinism and the notion of the "White Man's Burden" gained popularity. These ideologies suggested that it was the duty of "superior" nations to civilize and lead "inferior" ones, providing a moral justification for expansion.

During the Progressive Era (the 1890s to the 1920s), these dynamics culminated in a more assertive foreign policy. The United States expanded its influence by acquiring territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines following the Spanish-American War in 1898. The construction of the Panama Canal (completed in 1914) was another significant example of American imperial ambition, reflected in the drive to control trade routes and assert US power globally.

Thus, the Gilded Age's economic growth, along with corresponding ideological and strategic shifts, directly influenced the expansionist policies of the Progressive Era, marking a clear connection between the two periods in the evolution of US imperialism.