Gilded Age Urbanization

The period between 1870 and 1900 is often referred to as the Gilded Age. It was a period that consisted of rapid economic growth, an increase of immigrants, and an infinite growth of large cities. The tremendous urban growth came with all its accompanying problems and benefits. One system that was benefitted by the Gilded Age was the economic system. There were two main aspects that were enhanced by the growth of cities. The Growth of cities allowed the U.S. to expand their Economy and to become one of the leading industrial countries in the world and the wages were changed as well. The growth in cities made it possible for the U.S economic system to expand infinitely. After the end of reconstruction to the panic of 1893 the American economy almost doubled in size. This was because when cities grew the economy expanded allowing for people to gain more money. Along with the growth of the economy, new technologies and the newly created ways of controlling businesses, allowed the economy system to be dominated by three people. These three leaders were Rockefeller, Carnegie, and J.P Morgan. Rockefeller dealt with standard oil, Carnegie with steel, and Morgan with banking. These people were big names in the Gilded Age because they controlled the majority of each of these industries and helped lead the country to be one of the most powerful industrial countries in the world. Along
with this fast paced expansion came competition between industries. Nevertheless, the economies quickly broadened to meet the demands of customers. During this time the wealth of the country grew at a 4% annual increase. By 1914, the small nation once seen as a playground for European empires had now surpassed them all. During the extensive growth of major cities in the U.S. wages were greatly affected. The industrial growth brought workers more money and influenced more immigrants to come into the country. Between 1870 and 1890 both the value of money and the wage increased while the cost of owning land went down more than thirty percent. Although this might seem like a great increase in wealth, a person that worked 60 hours a week usually earned eight hundred dollars a year, which kept them in poverty. Most of the time the worker did not receive the actual amount that they earned as well. This was due to the wage inequality during these times of depression. White-collared workers received the highest amount of money, males received more the half of the money that females earned. This type of wage labor was widely used throughout the U.S. It was often referred to as Industrial slavery. Because the workers were pretty much slaves to the industrial owners. During the Guilded Age workers also began to be seen as parts of a machine, that when broken they are replaced. For example, if a worker was sick or a woman got pregnant they would lose their job to a healthier person. The overall effect on the wages might have appeared as good, but the real effect on the people worsened every day as more and more immigrants came in to get jobs.
The Growth of cities effected the wages badly because the people began to suffer worse even though the wages were increased, while it allowed the economic system to grow rapidly creating many more jobs and allowing for new technologies and inventions to be invented by scientist.
The inequality in wealth remained relevant throughout the Guilded Age and the people referred to the industrial system as a new and revamped slave program, since the people were treated as dispensable items. Overall the growth in cities allowed for many benefits while it also created problems throughout the
country.