Research Paper On The Gilded Age
Post-Civil War Era
Student’s Name:
Institution Affiliation: Gilded Age was a term used by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley to represent the time after the civil war. The Gilded Age was a time of great economic growth and social change in the United States. The period experienced rapid industrialization, innovations in science and technology, urbanization, the rise of many businesses, and the construction of transcontinental railroads. However, a lot of inhuman dealing and greed were noticed (Twain, 2016). The fast pace of the economic growth led to the concentration of wealth in the hands of few people. It was an age that looked perfected on the face value while underneath it was rotting in corruption, crime, and poverty. The period saw America transform into an industrial power from an agrarian nation. Gold mining during the Gilded Age is an event that best represents Mark Twain’s ideology. It was the activity that led the United States to the path of prosperity, but also condemned many people to suffering and poverty. The discovery of gold was good news for many people with most of them migrating to the urban centers in search of wealth …show more content…
(Riker, 2014)). The economy was booming with wealth in the hands of a few people. Mining was the major activity accredited for the growth of the Western states’ economy. Gold mining led to the growth of new social groupings of Union members, immigrants, and Urbanites. By 1890, the population was double that of 1860. New urbanites came from the countryside. However, between 1893 and 1897, the west experienced serious economic depression. Gold mining led to the growth of values of capitalism where wealth was concentrated in the hands of a few people.
They took everything for themselves. The growth of the economy did not trickle down to the poor workers. It was only the company owners who grew rich. The benefit of mining was felt by a few rich people. Despite the massive suffering by the American Indians, Southern Sharecroppers, and the industrial workers, the nation was possessed by a mood of optimism (Twain, 2016). There was exploitation of natural resources and industrialization. During this period, ambitious capitalist moved from one place to the other looking for opportunities. The industrial base of the country grew rapidly. Mines and factories labored heavily to provide finished products and raw materials needed for the expansion of the
infrastructure. Political corruption was a norm during the Gilded Age. There was acceptance of scandalous events as a routine. Businessmen openly bribed public officials at the national, state, and local level while politicians turned elections into an exercise of manipulation and fraud (Riker, 2014). The narrow division between Democratic and Republican voters made politicians hesitant to take stands on any issue. A few serious legislations were passed during this period and only five bills made it to the president’s desk. There was a lot of division in the political process. Urbanization and industrialization were met with confusion and passivity. In conclusion, Gilded Age had a negative influence on technology, politics, and industry. Greed and corruption became a norm during this period. While political and economic elite capitalized on the rapidly growing wealth in the nation, many workers struggled to survive. Farmers and industrial workers did not have a share in the developments with most of them working for long hours and with poor pay. The factories were typically unhealthy and dangerous. However, the economic forces of the Gilded Age were significant in the development of the American society.
References
Twain, M. (2016). The Gilded Age. Dinslaken: Anboco.
Riker, D. (2014). The 2nd Industrial Revolution, the Gilded Age, Laissez Faire capitalism &Social Darwinism. Retrieved on January 26, 2018 from http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/08/11/1320673/-The-2nd-Industrial-Revolution-the-Gilded-Age-Laissez-Faire-Capitalism-Social-Darwinism
Student’s Name:
Institution Affiliation: Gilded Age was a term used by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley to represent the time after the civil war. The Gilded Age was a time of great economic growth and social change in the United States. The period experienced rapid industrialization, innovations in science and technology, urbanization, the rise of many businesses, and the construction of transcontinental railroads. However, a lot of inhuman dealing and greed were noticed (Twain, 2016). The fast pace of the economic growth led to the concentration of wealth in the hands of few people. It was an age that looked perfected on the face value while underneath it was rotting in corruption, crime, and poverty. The period saw America transform into an industrial power from an agrarian nation. Gold mining during the Gilded Age is an event that best represents Mark Twain’s ideology. It was the activity that led the United States to the path of prosperity, but also condemned many people to suffering and poverty. The discovery of gold was good news for many people with most of them migrating to the urban centers in search of wealth …show more content…
(Riker, 2014)). The economy was booming with wealth in the hands of a few people. Mining was the major activity accredited for the growth of the Western states’ economy. Gold mining led to the growth of new social groupings of Union members, immigrants, and Urbanites. By 1890, the population was double that of 1860. New urbanites came from the countryside. However, between 1893 and 1897, the west experienced serious economic depression. Gold mining led to the growth of values of capitalism where wealth was concentrated in the hands of a few people.
They took everything for themselves. The growth of the economy did not trickle down to the poor workers. It was only the company owners who grew rich. The benefit of mining was felt by a few rich people. Despite the massive suffering by the American Indians, Southern Sharecroppers, and the industrial workers, the nation was possessed by a mood of optimism (Twain, 2016). There was exploitation of natural resources and industrialization. During this period, ambitious capitalist moved from one place to the other looking for opportunities. The industrial base of the country grew rapidly. Mines and factories labored heavily to provide finished products and raw materials needed for the expansion of the
infrastructure. Political corruption was a norm during the Gilded Age. There was acceptance of scandalous events as a routine. Businessmen openly bribed public officials at the national, state, and local level while politicians turned elections into an exercise of manipulation and fraud (Riker, 2014). The narrow division between Democratic and Republican voters made politicians hesitant to take stands on any issue. A few serious legislations were passed during this period and only five bills made it to the president’s desk. There was a lot of division in the political process. Urbanization and industrialization were met with confusion and passivity. In conclusion, Gilded Age had a negative influence on technology, politics, and industry. Greed and corruption became a norm during this period. While political and economic elite capitalized on the rapidly growing wealth in the nation, many workers struggled to survive. Farmers and industrial workers did not have a share in the developments with most of them working for long hours and with poor pay. The factories were typically unhealthy and dangerous. However, the economic forces of the Gilded Age were significant in the development of the American society.
References
Twain, M. (2016). The Gilded Age. Dinslaken: Anboco.
Riker, D. (2014). The 2nd Industrial Revolution, the Gilded Age, Laissez Faire capitalism &Social Darwinism. Retrieved on January 26, 2018 from http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/08/11/1320673/-The-2nd-Industrial-Revolution-the-Gilded-Age-Laissez-Faire-Capitalism-Social-Darwinism