Final answer:
The Gilded Age and Progressive Era saw urbanization and industrialization shape city life, and rural America experienced significant agricultural changes. Urban dwellers faced new cultural activities and segregation by wealth, while rural individuals grappled with the decline of small farming and the rise of agrarian resistance movements like the Grange.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the Gilded Age and Progressive Era (1870-1920), significant changes occurred in both urban and rural America. In urban America, rapid urbanization occurred due to industrialization, leading to the growth of cities and the migration of individuals seeking factory jobs. This period saw widespread development in infrastructure, housing, and cultural life. Amusement parks and baseball games provided affordable leisure to the working poor, while the middle class and wealthy enjoyed suburban life and arts and culture respectively.
In rural America, the advent of new farming technologies and the consolidation of agricultural businesses led to the decline of the traditional small farm, as rural Americans struggled to compete in the changing economy. Agrarian organizations like the Grange arose to resist the domination by these larger industrial-agricultural power structures.
Two reputable sources that discuss these topics include:
- 'Urban America and Popular Culture' - A scholarly text examining the transformation of cities during this era.
- 'National Politics and the Gilded Age' - A historical analysis that offers a nuanced view of the Gilded Age's complexities and resistances against corruption and powerful industrialists.
Both sources are credible, as they provide historical analysis backed by evidence and are often peer-reviewed, ensuring accuracy and reliability.