The historical time period in the United States preceding the Progressive Era, often called the ôGilded Ageö was a time of growing industrialization and conglomeration of corporate interests into trusts. Many grew rich during this period, and many more were left poor. As immigrants moved into the country from Southern and Eastern Europe, filling cities and factories and bringing their old-world ways to America, many among the ôblue-bloodö upper and middle classes who had ôpulled themselves up by their bootstrapsö to economic success in America took stock of the new times. For these independent-minded economically established citizens, the rise of trusts and the expansion of working class America, especially in cities, spelled a call to action. The actions taken by upper and middle class Americans in response to turn-of-the-century social and economic changes, dubbed ôthe Progressive Movement," were motivated by a mix of charitable nobility and fear of the upheaval of the status quo. The results set a precedent for individual involvement in social change, which both achieved immediate gains for Americans of the day and have had a lasting impact on American consciousness.
As both an historical and lyrical account of the turn of the changes taking place in America at the turn of the century, E.L. DoctorowÆs Ragtime takes the reader on a journey through the consciousness of different societal sectors during a time of transformation. Ragtime, a form of music prevalent at the time that is considered an early form of jazz, underscores the lyrical timing and circuitry of the bookÆs storytelling. The reader is led on a journey of intermingling paths taken by the main characters, composing three familiesù-a WASP family who are not given formal names, a Black family, and an immigrant family. These characters lead lives that cross paths with real historical figures such as Booker T. Washington and Emma Goldman to create a storyline ...