Since the creation of the United States, the meaning of freedom has changed to accommodate changing attitudes. Throughout our nation's history, there have been significant periods of racial, economic, and civil rights inequities. There are several meanings of the freedoms that have been established throughout the historical period of the United States. During this modern era, the United States has experienced some periods of time that lived up to the ideals of freedom, such as the Gilded Age. Conversely, the United States has also had periods where our ideals of freedom have failed to meet the needs of our nation, a prime example being the late 1940s when the United States entered the Cold War and brought to the anti-communist period of McCarthyism which ultimately limited freedoms. Historic moments like these have brought monumental changes to our nation's history and changed our fundamental ideals of freedom. In the late 1870s, the nation experienced a pivotal period known as the Gilded Age. It was a period that brought many economic freedoms in a variety of industries and was seen as the second industrial revolution that catapulted the United States into the global arena of mass production of goods. During this period, many commercial empires and ideals were created. Ranging from Carnegie, Rockefeller, JP Morgan and Vanderbilt. These famous entrepreneurs became titans of their industries and controlled vast areas of railroads, oil, banking, and steel. The meaning of freedom during this time period was more industrial freedom and freedom for these entrepreneurs to create and expand. This time period transformed the United States from a rural society to an urban society (lesson 9/4/2013). Corporations have created opportunities for low-income workers and they… middle of the paper… this nation. During these eras, ideals of freedom shaped certain periods of time, while oppressing these same freedoms during times when the nation deemed it crucial to national security. As Foner states “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance” (Foner, xxv). During this “vigilance” the nation can still prosper, but only at the expense of realistic and achievable freedoms. Without the nation's long struggle to achieve equal liberties for all, our country would not be as prosperous and successful as it is today. Works Cited Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty!: An American Story. New York: W. W. Norton, 2012. Print.Heller, Darryl “The Gilded Age” A History of Modern America. University of Illinois at Chicago. October 4. 2013. Conference.Heller, Darryl “The Cold War” Modern American History. University of Illinois at Chicago. November 4th. 2013. Conference.