Table of Contents
Alterations in the economy
Alterations in society
Changes in Government and Politics
Technological changes
Sources
The Gilded Age, also known as the American Civil War period, was the period after the Civil War that lasted until 1896. The term Gilded Age first appeared in the writings of American author Mark Twain. But it was popularized by the book The Gilded Age. The Gilded Age was a symbol, as items gilded are usually made from cheaper metals and covered in a thin gold layer to make them look more expensive than they are.
Many people in this period made large fortunes thanks to newly discovered technology. The rich exhibited their wealth while their workers were starving and living in tenement homes or slums. Industrialization was rapid, there were large-scale changes in corruption, mass immigration and other areas. The Gilded Age saw a massive change in the social, political, and economic landscape that led to reforms and progress. By the end of the Gilded Age, the United States was a world-class industrial power. The Gilded Age saw the United States undergo major economic, social and political changes. The development of railroads at this time allowed for the transportation of goods over greater distances. In addition, demand for mass-produced products increased. Workers from rural settlements could move to other cities to find better-paying work. A greater need for factory workers attracted rural and foreign workers.
These workers and foreigners were unskilled and performed repetitive, routine tasks in assembly lines. Since they did not have much training or experience, their wages were low. These workers also worked long hours without overtime pay, in hazardous conditions and often at their own risk. Texas Gateway”, 2019). These entrepreneurs were lauded as well for their entrepreneurial skills, contribution to the American economy and increased productivity. They also enhanced the American industries and increased employment.
During the Gilded Age some of these financiers, industrialists, and “captains”, as they were called, made fortunes that could not be imagined. Andrew Carnegie was the owner of U.S. Steel as well as companies involved with constructing railroads and bridges. He also extracted and sold oil. J.P. Morgan, a successful banker and financier, reorganized U.S. railroads and bought the steel company of Carnegie. He also had interests in steel, railroads and shipping. His ability to monopolize industries made him extremely successful. John D. Rockefeller established Standard Oil, invested in oil and created a market monopoly. Rockefeller, Carnegie and others gained wealth unlike any other. They also gave large amounts to charities around the country.
Social ChangesThe movement of immigrants to move from Europe to Asia and from rural America to the cities contributed to the change in the racial makeup, class composition and ethnicity of U.S. city. Newcomers to the city settled in areas that had a majority of people who were from the same ethnicity.
As the number of strangers increased, locals started to feel threatened. They published propaganda in newspapers against immigrants. The group opposed immigration and immigrants, but ostensibly supported American rights. The nativists used stereotypes to caricature immigrants, claiming that they were “radicals or culturally inferior”, that their actions and presence would destroy American institutions and culture.
Because there were not enough safe, clean and affordable housing options in the city, many workers ended up living in tenement-style houses that were unsanitary, poorly ventilated, and had poor lighting. Later, these areas became slums or ethnic ghettos. The sweatshops were places where factory workers would work up to 10 hours every day for six days. The factory workers earned little money and were not protected or insured if they lost or got injured at work.
The first labor unions were formed by many workers. They carried out strikes, and they negotiated with the factory owners. The Knights of Labor were formed in the 1880s. They united workers and fought for their rights and to “counter the power of capitalism”. Workers confronted big business owners, and demanded a living wage and better working conditions. Some reforms were made, but the majority of paid work did not change much.
Political and governmental changesThe Gilded Age’s politics was run according to a system called Third-Party System. The Democrats or Republicans won many votes, but sometimes political campaigns by farm and labour unions were also successful. The majority of eligible voters were white men and partisans. Most of the issues in politics were cultural and social, such as immigration, alcohol prohibition, etc.
Politics was used in a different way to bring about civil and socio-economic reform. The debates began on issues such as women’s rights and public education. In the larger cities, there were well-oiled machines that were often influenced and shaped by different interests groups.
Senate was the controlling body of Congress. Lobbyists and robber barsons, as they are called today, would often bribe corrupt politicians with financial incentives to vote for the policies of the lobbyists. Local and state governments could be controlled this way. The federal governments was no better as they were also controlled by big business. Congress finally passed legislation to counteract big business excesses, social ills and their greed for profit. But that didn’t prevent the ban on so-called political lobbyists in any city or Capitol Hill.
The Gilded Age was also marked by the influence of politics on race relations. The South was dominated at this time by conservative, liberal and democratic politicians. The Jim Crow Laws were passed by these politicians, who encouraged violence and segregation, despite the fact that the Reconstruction granted African Americans a lot of rights. The lecture stated that the people in control would suppress voting in African neighborhoods by creating fewer balloting stations.
Blacks could not vote or sit on a jury. However, this discrimination did not only affect Blacks. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which made Chinese immigration illegal, also applied to Blacks (Henretta Edwards & Self 2018 p. 356). Chinese were brought over to build the transcontinental train and they have been killed doing low-wage slave work.
Technological Changes The Gilded Age saw rapid progress in American society as technological developments led to industrialization and modernization. Now that the railroad has been completed, farmers and businesses can expand and quickly connect to new clients. The telegraph was invented in 1861 and allowed messages to be sent over the ocean to European countries. Electricity, electrical grids in big cities and light bulbs were readily available. People could communicate in real-time using the telephone. Also, sanitation improved as the city assumed responsibility for garbage disposal. The average American’s life quality improved dramatically.
The Gilded Age was a time of great change in American society. It saw the country become more modern, industrialized, diverse, and prosperous. It increased wealth through inequality and mass-production by becoming the top exporting country.
Citations
Field, A. J. (2009). US economic growth during the Gilded Age The Journal of Macroeconomics published an article in its 31st volume, 1st issue that looked at various aspects of macroeconomics in its 173-190 page range.
Henretta, J. A., Edwards, R., & Self, R. O. (2018). Sources of American History Volume 2: From 1865. Macmillan.
Boundless US History. (2019). Retrieved from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-ushistory/chapter/the-gilded-age/
History.com (2019). Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/19thcentury/gilded-age
Texas Gateway. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.texasgateway.org/resource/gilded-age
