Essay About Gilded Age

Essay about Gilded Age
The Gilded Age refers to a time in American History where there was massive economic growth, technological advances, and developments in pop
culture. Even so many Americans felt that these developments were pretentious and that underneath all this change and prosperity laid the harsh
realities of urban cities, political corruption, and the exploitation of laborers. However there were attempts to better those that obstructed the jewel–like
aspect of America. There was an immense growth within the urban population. This was due to the rise of immigration as well as American prospects
of a better living in urban areas because of all the jobs available. The rich aspects of living in an urban setting however did not meet its high...show more
content...
Many urban reforms emerged as an effort to improve the status of American cities. Cities mimicked New York with their establishment of a proper and
professional police department. Before then, the police were inexpert volunteers. New technology was also introduced to improve conditions like steam
pumpers. Transportation improved and health departments were also established. All these advances help to better improve the quality of water, waste
removal, and the cleanliness of the streets. Public education was also expanded with mandatory attendance. Parks were also made to beautify the city.
Central Park was the first to be created and influenced other cities to do the same.
Immigrants were greatly persecuted during this time as well. Americans believed that these newcomers were stealing jobs and were the cause of the
slums and increased poverty in the states. Americans who strongly disapproved of immigrants were nativist. Gilded nativist was strongly opposed to
the southern and eastern European migrants. Feeling pressured Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act that banned any new Chinese immigrants.
This was not enough for the nativist and they soon created the American Protective Association to lobby for immigration restrictions. As a result
congress made legislation that allowed the federal government to have complete control and responsibility of immigration. This legislation leads to
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Essay On The Gilded Age
During the Gilded Age, around 1860 to 1910, Unions, in an attempt to improve working conditions, were created, and while strikes from union workers
"have been known in America since the Colonial Age... their numbers grew larger in the Gilded Age": creating a numerous amount of issues that
needed to be resolved (USHistory). One specific incidence that demonstrates the problems created was when workers of the Homestead Steelworks, that
had unionized, were locked out in an attempt to break the union; however, these workers, recognizing the attempt to hire scabs, blocked the entrance to
the steelworks (KhanAcademy). This, in turn, shut down production and angered management, thus a private police force was hired to arm themselves
and to "push past...show more content...
Subsequent to the massive influx of immigration, different cultures were presented to America; immigrants from Europe especially differed from "the
typical American because they were overwhelmingly Catholic or Greek Orthodox... and unfamiliar with democratic government", which substantially
challenged the United States' devout Protestant and democratic ideals (USHistoryScene). Due to this extreme challenge of ideals, religious practices,
and political stances, came an even more radical form of solution, known as nativism: a subvariant of both xenophobia and ethnocentrism. Nativism,
however, was not just found in the ghettos and slums of cities, but also with bills passed and proposed; as one political figure, Lodge, wrote to
President Roosevelt about the threat that immigrants were thought to pose to the United States: "I think if you could see the Dillingham [commision]
and urge the necessity of taking up the report the very first thing tomorrow and pressing it to a vote would do good" (Lodge). Demonstrating that the
view on immigrants at the time was not only seen as an immediate necessity, but was also vile, portraying the immigrants

Gilded Age Analysis
During the Gilded Age, Americans tended to focus more on what to do about the poor people rather than how their life is benefitting from economic
development. They wondered what they should do in order to help the suffering class, or if they should even help them. Three authors took a stand
about economic inequality and formed their own opinion on how it affected society. William Graham, an author during the gilded Age, believed that
poverty was the best policy; If you get wealth, you will need to support other people, but if you do not get wealth, other people will support you.
Graham did not view inequality between the classes as a huge problem, but he rather saw it as a result of the different degrees of success that men
have created for...show more content...
Carnegie argued that the wealthy actually understood how to use their riches for public welfare, whereas the poor community would not know how
to handle such issues. He believed that it was the duty of the wealthy to set an example or provide for the people whom depend on them. This belief
also included that the wealthy would support the struggling class better than they could do themselves. He concluded that this would solve the
problems between the rich and the poor because the wealthy would help guide those who need help and help increase the wealth of their community.
These three people, William Graham, Henry Demarest Lloyd, and Andrew Carnegie, may have all felt differently about the topic on economic
inequality but they all had good reasons to why. In conclusion, economic inequality can be seen many ways and there are ways to solve these issues.
To some, the more compelling argument would be that social classes will always be unequal due to many factors, but they is not much one can do to
change

The Gilded Age Essays
When you are young and even well into your adult years people will tell you there will always be somebody who is smarter, faster, happier, or better
at something than you are. This is true for all periods of time but in the Gilded Age those who were better gained more and more crushing the people
below them with unprecedented greed, corruption, and power. The few exploited the many by way of opportunity. Something our nation was built on,
yet the avaricious elite used it for evil methods.
In the years that followed Reconstruction many issues came up including whether laissez–faire was the correct system to follow. Because of problems
like that remained unsettled for some time industrial leaders began to pop...show more content...
Rockefeller was obsessed with controlling the oil market and used many of undesirable tactics to flush his competitors out of the market. Rockefeller
was also a master of the rebate game. He was one of the most dominant controllers of the railroads. He was so good at the rebate that at some times he
skillfully commanded the railroad to pay rebates to his standard oil company on the traffic of other competitors. He was able to do this because his oil
traffic was so high that he could make or break a section of a railroad a railroad company by simply not running his oil on their lines. Another one of
Rockefellers earlier mentioned but not explained tactics was his horizontally integrated monopoly. Rockefeller used this horizontal monopoly to set
prices and force his competitors to merge with him. (All with Doc. J) Document J shows that Rockefeller had his tentacles, or his influence and power
around every piece of the oil industry. That, also, includes the politicians and their support.
Rockefeller was an intelligent man who sought for better means in order to increase productivity. He used the opportunities of the time to take
advantage of a free system. One of his best characteristics was that he lowered the cost of oil across the word by his largest scale production. To see
that his oil was top quality at minimum cost he also hired specialist managers, this was a revolutionary concept at the time.

Effects Of The Gilded Age In The Great Gatsby
Society is considerably the unbeatable illusionist as what we want to see is not consistent to what is truly their. Sometimes when you think you are
looking at the affluent with their lavish gold life,underneath that it is a counterfeit as there is a rusty iron soul which is confined by the fraudulent
gold .The Gilded Age was a seamless time in history as everyone was living in new luxuries and life just seemed magnificent and majestic for what
has been seen in the past decade. All of this was just a whitewash on what true society actually was which was a crumbling economy and a hidden
poverty rate. What hid the genuine but poverty–stricken society was that mainstream society itself was becoming more risque and unlawful.the new
culture found drinking illicit boozes and carousing with false loves more pleasurable. Due to this new culture many things were lost in this simulation
of lust and a bootlegged society such as intimacy and loyalty . In the story " The Great Gatsby" written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald wrote the truth
of the gilded age into his story. The effects of the gilded age are seen throughout the book in Gatsby's mansion, Gatsby, and Daisy. As soon as the
golden gleam tarnishes and the cheap metal once looking swank disappears it shows that all they want is wealth and corruption....show more content...
Nick explains how enormous Gatsby's mansion is in the quote "The one on my right was a colossal affair by any standard–it was a factual imitation of
some HГґtel de Ville in Normandy, with a tower on one side, spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy, and a marble swimming pool, and more
than forty acres of lawn and garden" (9). Gatsby was famous in the city for two things, his sudden uprising of wealth and to a higher extent was his
vast stravigent parties as seen through

The Gilded Age, And The Gilded Age
In science, we have been taught that for every action there is a reaction. However, this can also be applied to history. For example, after the French
and Indian War, Britain had enforced the navigation laws and taxes in order to pay for the war debt. This had caused a huge reaction from the colonies
from as simple as boycotting British goods all the way to declaring their independence in 1776. Individuals can also help bring forth these dramatic
changes such as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. who help fought for civil rights. Thus, throughout the United States history, the nation has gone
through a variety of changes. Although presidents have played a significant role in the nation's changes, many individuals have also brought changes to
the nation's economy, government, and society. In addition to heroes like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr, another individual includesUpton
Sinclair and his contribution to consumer protection. The Gilded Age, a phrase coined by Mark Twain, was used to describe the government and its
corruption. Like its name, the nation looked glamorous from the outside, but was full of corruption and political scandals on the inside such as the
Credit Mobilier scandal and Boss Tweed scandal. Government at this time did little to help the nation, for its own congressmen were involved in the
mix of these corruptions. The government supported laissez–faire, which believed that the government should not regulate business and Social
Darwinism – "survival of the fittest." As a result, this had led to the suppression of individual rights, for there were no laws to limit the power of
monopolies. Therefore, the Gilded Age became known as corrupt, for the government had favored big businesses and focused less on the working
class. However, this would all change during the Progressive Era.
In contrast of the Gilded Age, the Progressive Era was a response to the problems that were created by the Gilded Age. Unlike the Gilded Age, the
Progressive Era did not support laissez–faire and rejected the idea of Social Darwinism. Thus in 1901, Theodore Roosevelt was elected president and
came into office with his Square Deal policy. Included in this policy were Roosevelt's three C's– control

Gilded Age Essay
Gilded is defined as having a golden appearance concealing something that has little to no worth underneath. During the Gilded Age, the wealthy
companies were able to accumulate a surplus amount of wealth and large profits. Since companies are trying to make as much profit as possible. Often
times, companies will try to cut corners and not spend money towards its' employees that way the industry can reep most the benefits from the profit.
Although, this can usually make matters worse and be counterproductive to solving the issues at hand regarding the employees. Many people were
dramatically affected by the changes made to ensure companies obtain the most profit. When an individual person informed their employer of an issue
it was often overlooked thus leading to the creation of unions. These unions gave individuals the power of numbers. Laborers began standing together
to fight for their rights. The unions created specific strategies pertaining to each member to help protect the laborers rights. The American Federation of
Labor and the Industrial Workers of the World created strategies to help their members obtain better treatment from the companies.
In 1886, the American Federation of Labor was created by combining 25 craft unions filled with only skilled workers. The significance of only
allowing skilled workers within the group was to ensure that workers could keep their identity. The skilled workers identity was that they brought a
skill to the table that no one else

What Is The Gilded Age Essay
The Gilded Age
A successful economy is perhaps the most key ingredient leading to a successful nation. An economy is a delicate balance of many different conflicting
and coexisting elements. Naturally, an economy's success can often be measured by the amount of wealth it contains, not to mention the effectiveness
or ineffectiveness of its distribution of the wealth. Effective distribution of wealth is no easy feat. Wealthy and poor people will always need to
coexist– this is an inescapable truth. The government's job in many cases becomes that of a referee. Naturally, perfect peace and harmony between two
totally different classes would be a utopia, and probably will never be completely achieved. A government must, therefore,...show more content...
The market model of economy, developed by Adam Smith entails a freely flowing economy that places little or not restriction on occupation
allowing individuals utmost rights. America took on an ethos of a mixed economy of market and command that struck a successful economic
equilibrium. American economy also changes with different periods of history. The Civil War had lit the spark of industrialization needed to
enhance the American economy. Technology advanced by leaps and bounds and free labor was done away with to make room for Industrialization
and Adam Smith's market model of capitalism. Capitalism was a promoter of the entrepreneur and individual success. It was only natural that during
this time of private interest the gap between rich and poor would be greatly widened and a state of disorder might arise. Capitalism was a new
ideology and drastic labor problems and social disorder arose because Americans were simply adjusting to (and taking advantage of) the new system.
Although the gap between rich and poor during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century was unquestionably large, the nation was also prospering
through large economic gains. Although it may have seemed like a nation in which the rich were detached from the poor, the US was actually
harvesting a new breed of self–accomplishing individuals. With the end of free labor, the US had sought a new ideology, and found it in Adam

Summary Of The Gilded Age
"The Glitter of the Gilded Age Covered a Multitude of Sins" The late 19th century experienced the birth of a modern society dubbed the Gilded Age
by writer Mark Twain. America witnessed the growth of big business, a population explosion of immigrants and the creation of labor movements.
However, the Expansion and transformation of America often came at a cost to the American Citizen. It has been said, "The glitter of thegilded age
covered a multitude of sins." Evidence supports the validity of this statement. Although The Gilded Age (1870–1900) produced economic prosperity
due to the growth of big business, extreme individual wealth, and increased immigrant population, it was littered with big business greed and
corruption, unreasonable...show more content...
Immigrants were pulled to America from Europe and Asia in hopes of prosperity leaving behind religious and political prosecution that had pushed
them out of the country. In the 1880s, old immigrants from Northern and Western Europe easily assimilated to American customs and were welcomed
into the melting pot of America. In 1907, new Immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe faced much more difficult challenges. They did not speak
the English language, resisted Americanization and had to pass through immigrations stations; Ellis Island and Angle Island. New immigrants did not
assimilate and often lived in urban locations called ghettos where their ethnic group dominated. They were part of a salad bowl America rather than
melting pot. American people became threatened by immigrants and feared they would take their jobs away. Many Americans believed in the policy of
nativism and that government should protect the interest of the native population over the interests of immigrants. The Asian immigrants suffered
extreme prejudices. The Chinese Exclusion Act was passed in 1882 prohibiting Chinese laborers from entering the country unless they could prove
residency. The Gentlemen's Agreement Act promise to end its Japanese segregation policy as long as Japan stopped issuing passports to their laborers
to come to America. Big Business also took advantage of the growing

American History: The Gilded Age Essay
The Gilded Age was the last three decades of the nineteenth century, when America's industrial economy exploded generating opportunities for
individuals but also left many workers struggling for survival. With the many immigrants, skilled and unskilled, coming to America the labor system is
becoming flooded with new employees. During this period, the immigrants, including the Italians, were unskilled and the skilled workers were usually
American–born. There was also a divide in the workers and the robber barons. Robber barons were American capitalist who acquired great fortunes in
the last nineteenth century, usually ruthlessly. There was much turmoil throughout the business and labor community. Two major organizations, the
Knights of...show more content...
These benefits were greatly needed as seen in the working conditions experienced by the Italian immigrants of this time. These groups were organized
locally which also led to their downfall because of too much local power rather than a form of national leadership. The American Federation of Labor,
founded in 1185, was unique in that it restricted its membership to only skilled workers and was also organized by trade instead of locality. For this
reason it "became known as the "aristocracy" of labor" (Additional Links: The War between Capital and Labor). The Italian immigrants, for example,
were not commonly found in the American Federation of Labor because they were unskilled and were not unionizing. President of the American
Federation of Labor, Samuel Gompers believed in the power of the strike and most importantly the belief of the eight–hour workday. In Chicago, over
one thousand people gathered at the West Randolph Street Haymarket, where people bought hay for their horses. Originally it was a peaceful
gathering until someone threw a bomb into the crowd. The police responded by shooting into the crowd. An unknown number of demonstrators were
killed or wounded. "Sixty police officers were injured and eight eventually died. Politicians and the press blamed radicals for the violence, although
there was no evidence linking specific people to the bomb" (Lecture

The Gilded Age : The Gilded Age
The Gilded Age, which got from one of Mark Twain's books, The Gilded Age: A Taleof Today, depicts a period in the United States with genuine
social issues. Taking after the Civil War, the United States hopped to the front of the world in industrialization. Because of America's monetary
development, the rich got wealthier and poor people, well got poorer. The Labor Movement was a significant point amid this time, and most likely
changed the way America works today. As indicated by, today, theGilded Age depicts the huge social, political and financial change that the US
experienced from the last third of the nineteenth century to World War I. The Gilded Age did not just impetus industrialized power inside the United
States, it additionally stamped basic in setting up the New York Art world in the worldwide workmanship advertise(Kresser, 2013). American art got
to be to some degree a need amid the Gilded Age. Moguls frantically coveted to outfit their homes with costly things, opening the entryway for
specialists to convey what needs be. Painters portrayed the glories and hardships of this new age, while essayists outlined life at its finest and nastiest.
Be that as it may, numerous specialists refuted to demonstrate the "urban life" of this time and concentrated exclusively on the well–off. John Singer
Sargent is an incredible case for this sort of craftsmanship. He was by and large known for his extravagances picture works of art, for the most part
of ladies, for example, the Portrait of Madame X or Morning Walk. It was amid this period that ladies turned out to be to a greater extent a point of
convergence in craftsmanship. It didn't make a difference whether dressed or exposed, living in agreeable insides.
Amid the 1920s, American craftsmen scanned for a more prominent significance inside society. The nearness of Mexican muralists Diego Rivera and
Jose Clemente Orozco in New York City, together with the across the board lessons of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin, served as motivation to the
rising craftsmen. Later, with the waiting impacts of the Great Depression of 1929, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Work Progress Administration
(1933) furnished many battling specialists with support, a feeling of

To be gilded is to have an appealing quality which covers an unappealing quality. Throughout the late nineteenth century, several economic, social, and
political advancements occurred, such as a rapidly expanding railroad industry, wealth spread throughout the country, and all time high voting turnouts.
Meanwhile, the lower class expanded, children endured grueling working conditions, and political corruption occurred. The latter issues were
overshadowed by the former economic, social, and political advances, causing the late nineteenth century to be called the Gilded Age. Throughout the
Gilded Age, the United States economy prospered and grew. Over 200,000 miles of new railroads were created. The national wealth grew by over
seventy million...show more content...
10% of the nation's population owned 90% of the nation's wealth. Despite this tremendous wealth growth, serious social issues developed from the non
wealthy, such as child labor. Instead of attending school and getting a proper education, children worked long, grueling shifts at dangerous facilities.
One of the most notable tasks employed children endured was their role at underground mines. Since children were generally the smallest employees at
mines, they were forced to work in the deepest areas due to the crowded workspace's small size. In a like manner, African Americans suffered socially
as well despite the abolition of slavery. Racism was still extremely prominent, and communities became more and more segregated. Whites would not
employ the blacks. Select states even went to the extent of passing laws which prohibited the African American race from having the ability to practice
their civil rights. Like African Americans, women suffered in the time of the Gilded Age. They still did not have the right to vote and were not
commonly found in the industrial workplace. In the same way as children, African Americans, and women, immigrants found themselves struggling at
times. As the immigrants came to America, they found themselves needing to learn to speak the English language. New children could not speak or
understand anything at school, and adults could not find work because they could not communicate with any

Gilded Age Essay example
AP U S History Document Based Question The years after the American Civil War have been characterized by Mark Twain and others as "The Gilded
Age." Generally, historians have emphasized the decline of human values, the low state of public morality, greed, corruption and crass materialism. Do
you feel this characterization presents an accurate overall picture of the years 1865–1890? If so, what caused this marked departure from the past in a
nation with such strong religious and moral cultural traditions? Use the documents and your knowledge of U S History to answer the question.
Document A "Our agricultural products have been abundant for the last few years. The crops of cotton, four–fifths of which have been raised by the
...show more content...
Document E President Chester Arthur issued these rules [1881]: "First: No person in civil service shall use his office, his official authority or
influence, either to coerce the political action of any person or body to interfere with any election. Second: No person in the public service shall for
that reason be under any obligation to contribute to any political fund or render any political service, and he will not be removed or otherwise
prejudiced for refusing to do so." Document F ". . . . .Many of the calamitous efforts of the tremendous revolution which has passed over the southern
States still remain. The immeasurable benefits which will surely follow, sooner or later, the hearty and generous acceptance of the legitimate results of
that revolution have not yet been realized. . . . . The people of those States are still impoverished, and the inestimable blessing of wise, honest, and
peaceful local self–government is not fully enjoyed. But it must not be forgotten that only a local government which recognizes and maintains inviolate
the rights of all is a true self–government. . . . .With respect to the two distinct races whose peculiar relations to each other have brought upon us the
deplorable complications and perplexities which exist in those States, it must be a government which guards the interests of both races carefully and
equally. . . . ." Rutherford B. Hayes, Inaugural Address, March 5, 1877. Document G "Under this

Growth Of The Gilded Age
America's "Gilded Age" took place towards the end of the nineteenth century from 1870–1890 during and after the Reconstruction of 1870–1877 and is
regarded as the Second Industrial Revolution. The Gilded Age was a time of great economic growth, a rapid increase in industrialization, the
construction of transcontinental railroads, and scientific breakthroughs in technology. According to Eric Foner, "The rapid expansion of factory
production, mining, and railroad construction in all parts of the country except the south signaled the transition from Lincoln's America –– a world
centered on the small farm and artisan workshop –– to a mature industrial society" (Foner 592). This example mentions the advantages the gilded age
provided for the economy in all parts of the country as it was becoming more industrialized. However, despite the highs, that the gilded age underwent
it also had its lows. Each of these events represents America's progression for the future even though in its early beginnings it was built on the
suffering of those who contributed or had nothing to do with it. As mentioned by Beatty, "The Gilded Age began with reconstruction and with the
promise that there would be more opportunity for blacks in rising up in status and be included in the nation's civic life ... Yet by century's end,
sharecropping had replaced slavery as a way to keep blacks working in penury, and the voting rights so recently granted were taken away. The
industrialization of the country,

Society During The Gilded Age
The Gilded Age was a time of industrial development, new immigrants and labor unions. Industrial developments led to monopolies, which helped men
like Vanderbilt and Rockefeller prosper, but exploited the poor, often immigrant, workers who were willing to work for cheap money. Though the
robber barons were a minority of the population, they still held a majority of the country's wealth. This unequal distribution of wealth and poor working
environments led to the formation and rise of labor unions, such as the Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor. Theses changes
shaped the social, economic and political atmosphere during the Gilded Age and led to changes for future ages.
Society during the Gilded Age was greatly affected by

American's freedom was transformed in many ways by the economic development of the Gilded Age. The Gilded Age was also known as the second
industrial revolution because of the rapid growth in the economy between the end of the civil war and the bringing of the 20th century. This growth in
the economy came from "abundant natural resources, a growing supply of labor, an expanding market for manufactured goods, and the availability to
capital for investment" (589). From this growth in all the resources the factories and rail roads also expanded so this brought in even more money into
the country. The rail roads are a big reason why the second industrial revolution was even possible because of how many miles they traveled around the
united states. Foner stated "by 1913 the united states brought in one–third of the worlds industrial output–more than the total of Great Britain, France,
and Germany combined" (590). There was so much growth that even the Americans of the late 19th century was amazed by the new economy.
Where things started to...show more content...
The Industrial Workers of the World or called the Wobblies is a great example of protesters. But they did not take the violent route like many
others. The IWW did it in a peaceful manner by singing songs to get their point across. IWW goal was to get all of the workers in one big union
and to sing. "The labor culture of the IWW was developed through its creation and utilization of songs, poetry, cartoons, jargon, jokes, posters,
pamphlets, and newspapers all of which promoted the ideology for the ONE BIG UNION" (Olwig, 2013). The IWW was most known for their
materials in the "Little Red songbook" the sold for 10 cents. The protesters would sing the songs in the streets and halls, sometimes even jails when
they got arrested. This was a big step for the working class people because this let everyone know that they will not settle for

The Gilded Age : The Gilded Age
The Gilded Age was a time where new prosperities and opportunities were forming after the end of the bloody American Civil War. The United States
was able to rebuild itself after philanthropists started to help change the country into something superior and steered it away from the dreariness of the
last few years. The ultra wealthy entrepreneurs of the time primarily were John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, and J. Pierpont Morgan. These men
were given the name "captain of industries" coined by Thomas Carlyle in his book, Past and Present, to describe compassionate and important men who
made significant impacts on the nation and people of America. The wealthy industrialists of the late 19th century were "captain of industries" because
they created new enterprises, they provided jobs for countless citizens, and donated to charitable causes. The industrialists of the late 19th century
were "captains of industry" because they created new industries that further flourished the United States and its economy. Railroad tycoons such as
"Cornelius Vanderbilt, James J. Hill, and Jay Gould" created the "transcontinental railroad [that] would allow for settlement of the west, new markets
for eastern manufacturers, and relief to overcrowded eastern cities" ("Binding the Nation by Rail" 1). The railroad system connected those who are
thousands of miles away and allowed goods to reach parts of the United States that it could not previously. As a result, the prices of goods dropped a

Simply peering into a factory during the Gilded Age of the 1800's would cause one to witness sights that could disgust and shake them to the core,
with horrific child labor and sickening food production being only a couple. This Gilded Age allowed the U.S. to view itself in a positive light,
despite the fact that it's lower class was in a despairingly bad condition. The industrial advancements that were occuring overshadowed indescribably
bad health and poverty that plagued the poorer people. However, the Progressive Era of the years that followed attempted to alleviate the problems the
country was facing. During this time, not only were these problems brought to light, but social reformers and other individuals who advocated for
change were...show more content...
With the wave of immigration occuring in the years before the Gilded Age, many factories created jobs for all these new immigrants. However, as all
of these jobs were for unskilled laborers that immigrated to the U.S., they didn't pay extremely well, and led most of these workers into poverty.
Sometimes, this poverty got so bad that even children of the family between ages 10 to 15 had to begin working for their families. Several
problems arise when children of too young age are forced into working, especially when there are no laws correctly restricting the amount and
extent of the work minors should be allowed to do. As seen in Document 3, Jane Addams paints the picture of child labor in in Chicago in 1912, in
which only one child labor law existed, which only applied to children working in mines to protect them. Although this is great initiative, it does not
accomplish much in other fields of work that minors were forced to work in. Because of the lack of child labor laws in other fields, Addams
specifically describes a few children injured by a machine at a factory in Chicago. She continues to portray the point that

The Gilded Age Essay
The Gilded Age
Mark Twain collaborated with Charles Dudley Warner on The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today. Published in 1973, as Twain's earliest work of extended
fiction, The Gilded Age gives a name to the period of opulence and corruption at the end of the 19th century. Portraying the superficial luxury of
Washington and high society, the authors describe "The general laxity of the time, and the absence of a sense of duty toward any part of the
community but the individual himself" (Twain 203). Twain's The Gilded Age, like Wharton's TheAge of Innocence focuses on high society. Yet, the
imperfections in the gilding betray the dramatic change of the period. Forces of corporatization, unionization, immigration, urbanization, populism,
...show more content...
The Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor soon followed, organizing strikes and negotiations as leverage against the powerful big
business. However, big business worked around labor unions with "yellow dog contracts" requiring employees not to join a union and with armed
"Pinkerton Detectives" hired to combat strikes (Kingwood College Library).
Immigration and Urbanization
The manufacturing jobs promised by large corporations brought many people to the cities and effected widespread immigration and urbanization
during the Gilded Age. Living conditions were harsh and the familiarity of small towns disappeared in the crowds of the cities. Technological
advances in architecture allowed for taller buildings and higher concentrations of people. Upper and middle class families escaped to suburbs as an
influx of immigrants and lower class workers flocked to the cities to find employment. The flood of "new immigrants" from southern and eastern
Europe resulted in the creation of many anti–immigration groups (Digital History).
Populism
While the cities urbanized, the financial crisis of rural farmers fueled the populist movement. The populists campaigned for a bimetallic standard to
back American currency with hopes of creating inflation to diminish the growing debts of farmers. Regulation of railroad monopolies on shipping was
also a major concern (Morgan 149–170). Democrat

Essay About Gilded Age

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Essay About Gilded Age