...The corruption and dysfunction of the Gilded age led to the organization of the Progressive reform. The economy of the Gilded age was building and changing drastically but with unethical morals. The progressive reform wasn’t to take away the ideas and production the gilded age brought to America but was to build upon its foundation. The Gilded age was a time period of monopolies, corruption and ultimately greed. The money that was produced due to the up building of industries such as steel, oil and many others was just the beginning. The Progressive reform began with progressivism, producing a more efficient economy and political movement to show America’s progress with the industrialization and urbanization. During the Gilded age there...
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...The Gilded Age, a period beginning in the 1870’s and lasting until the late 1890’s, was an era in American history characterized by unparalleled economic growth and technological advancements while also plagued by significant social and political challenges. The name Gilded Age is derived from famous author Mark Twain’s novel of the same name, written for the purpose of exposing the blatant corruption and excessive materialism of America’s most rich and powerful. This essay aims to analyze the juxtaposition of prosperity among the wealthy elite and inequality during the Gilded Age. The rampant industrialization of the Gilded Age propelled prosperity by fostering great economic growth and technological innovation, consequently exacerbating...
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...Provide historical context/background for each document, connecting the individual accounts to the larger historical themes of the era. Compare the experiences and attitudes of each author. Based on the textbook and the videos, explain how all these documents relate to the social and economic developments that occurred in the United States during the Gilded Age (1865-1900). Ida B Wells described her bad experiences during the Gilded Age. She described how blacks were killed and lynched by the KKK. She states that whites would lynch blacks for any reason and see them as inferior. She was a journalist and a civil rights activist. The two documents relate to the social and economic developments during the gilded age. During the gilded age, there...
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...The Gilded Age sparked several changes in America, one being industrialization, which hit its peak during the Progressive Era. This boom in industrialization was demonstrated by tycoons such as Andrew Carnegie and Cornelius Vanderbilt. These individuals introduced large companies that essentially changed life as it once was. The Progressive Movement, which took place during the same time period, consisted of key reformers who strived to repair American society which became corrupt following the recent flare of industrialization. Political corruption was a consequential issue during the Gilded Age that was addressed by two key reformers, Lincoln Steffen and Robert La Follette. Political corruption was a critical issue that greatly hindered...
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...The Gilded Age I agree with Mark Twain. The Gilded Age is remembered as an time that involved prosperity and industrial growth. The Gilded Age consists of three decades following the Civil War. These decades were also filled with Greed. Americans believed in a magical scheme to get them rich. “Gilded Age” basically refers to the middle class of the time. It was full of the purchases of dress, home decor, and all material goods which were considered signs of “good taste.” There was increased aestheticism of the age. The Gilded Age was mostly about the rapid industrialization that transformed the country from a rural and agriculturally-based republic who shared a belief in God, into an industrial and urbanized nation whose values were changing rapidly due to increased wealth and to Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie, who both monopolized their industries, symbolized the “self-made man” that controlled this time. This moral is what was criticized. As individual income increased due to improved communications from the invention of the telephone, electricity, and transportation by the new transcontinental railroads. Many individuals could afford to buy finer clothing and home decorations. The steam engine, the railroads, and the industrial boom caused the country's first...
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...The Gilded Age was to describe America in the late nineteenth century. The outside of the US seemed glamorous and splendid alongside industrial development and massive economic growth. However, the dark sides were hidden beneath it. Some may argue that we are currently living in another Gilded Age, while others advocate that we have already reached a new era. In my perspective, I side with the former point of view. I strongly believe that we are living in the 2nd Gilded age. Here are four reasons why. Initially, wealth concentration and inequality were severe problems and are still now. Back then in 1870-1900, it was a period of wealth concentrated by many “Captains of Industry”. Social Darwinism was used to justify the extremes of wealth,...
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...Reformation The United States went through a very important time period of industrialization, in the 19th century many rural societies in America became industrial. While industrialization brought about an increased volume of variety in manufactured goods and improved standard of living. Most workers in this time period went through grim employment, and horrible living conditions for the poor and working classes. At the same time this time, an age known as the Gilded Age, was an era of rapid growth, especially in the North and West America. In addition to Gilded Age, came a movement named the Progressive Movement. The Progressive movement's main goal was to wipe out corruption in government. At this very key time in history, there were many...
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...The Gilded Age: History and Effects on Society The Gilded Age, which lasted from 1870 to around 1910, was an extremely influential period full of hardship for the poor and women of the United States and the creation of monopolies as well as reformation of government and accomplishments in the United States. The name “The Gilded Age” comes from Mark Twain when he referenced the fact that the period was polished and golden on the surface, yet unethical and foul underneath. Despite the appearance of prosperity, the era was marked by income inequalities and political corruption. Despite the corruption, consumerism, and capitalism that characterized the Gilded Age, it was also a formative period for new America, one in which an agriculture-based...
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...During the mid-1860’s, America experienced many changes. Industrialization and a rapid increase of new immigrants led to changes in business and in every day life. Industrialization and immigration greatly impacted America during the Gilded Age and Progressive Era, as this was a time of transition in both American society and in industry. After the American Civil War, the country was still largely an agrarian society. Industry had indeed taken root, but throughout many regions it was still far more common to find farms than factories. The effects of industrialization in Europe pushed many Europeans to move to America. They came for different reasons, some just for an opportunity to make more money and then move back to home and some came...
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...While the elite of this time period enjoyed unheralded success, many of the lower classes were exploited. The Gilded Age was a time of economic growth for the U.S.; the industrialization of the country and the technological advances made it possible for certain individuals to achieve extraordinary amounts of wealth. However, this wealth came at the cost of the general population. This economic and social inequality is what led to the terrible living conditions as described in Jacob Riis’ How the Other Half Lives. In his pioneering work of photojournalism, Jacob Riis draws attention to the horrifying living conditions in the poor slums of New York. Although there were many reasons for the terrible living conditions, three of the most influential...
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...Nghi Bui Professor Kern History 1302 - 5055 Feb 2nd, 2015 Industrialization and reform (1870 – 1916) After the Civil War, the United States owned an abundant amount of natural resource, an expanding market for manufactured goods, a growing supply of labor and availabilities of capital for investment. In addition, the federal government vigorously promoted industrial development which stimulated the American economy to change dramatically from the Gilded Age to the Progressive Era. However, the progress of the industrialization affected every aspect of the American society in either positive or negative way. As the nation moved to the west, the United States was transformed by vast changes in technology and a large amount of natural resources which stimulated new industries. Particularly, steel came to be used in the expanding new railroads which contributed in linking the nation and created a national wide market. By the 1890s, there were five transcontinental railroads transported the raw material from the West to the Eastern markets and carried manufactured goods to the West (Foner 596). Though, the government was not able to deal problems formed by the industrial revolution. Both parties came under control of powerful political managers with close ties to business interests. Republicans intensely supported a high tariff to protect America industry. During the 1870s, Republicans established a financial system based on reducing federal spending, which helped to repay...
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...During the eighteenth and nineteenth century, the Industrialization Era took place and changed the way America and Europe produced merchandise forever. America and Europe continually grew more urban and factories transformed the entire way the typical working man spent his work day. The Gilded Age followed the Industrialization Era and represented the large economic growth in America. After the Gilded Age, the Progressive Era occurred. The Progressive Era began in the late 18th century and political reform and social activism became the active goal during this time. During the Progressive Era, environmental protection was needed in order to save the Earth from the rapidly increasing urbanization. It was people like Theodore Roosevelt and Gifford...
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...The Civil War was the bloodiest war the Americans had ever experienced up to that period. After the four year long fight to preserve the union over six hundred thousand lives were lost. In an attempt to recover from the damage of the war the Unites States entered The Reconstruction Era. The Reconstruction Era was the period after the Civil War when Northern political leaders created plans for the governance of the South and a procedure for former Southern states to reenter the Union. As the United States recovered, the Reconstruction Era faded away and industrialization took hold in the healing nation. Industrialization brought about the Gilded Age, a time period of rapid economic growth and corrupt politics. People responded differently to...
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...The Image of the Gilded Age The Image of the Gilded Age Mark Twain first referred to the years between 1870 and 1900 in the United States as the Gilded Age. During this era, there was a rapid economic as well as political growth. This can be associated to the creation of a modern day industrial economy. This era was a witness to a rapid and massive development in the national transportation and the communication network. Corporate became the main and leading type of business organization and introduced managerial revolution which transformed business organizations. Investors and businesspersons created industrial cities in the Northeast with new factories. According to Carlisle (2009), the Gilded Age was one of the eras where America had undergone major political and economic transformations. In the beginning of the Gilded Age, the federal government tried to control the Native American people by creating schemes hoping to engage them in the wider America. This was not an easy task and led to violent conflicts, later known as the Indian Wars. In the middle of the 19th century, the attempts to control the Native American by the federal government increased. Many new European immigrants were starting to settle and begin their loves on the eastern border of the Native Indians territories. The United States Congress adopted the Dawes Act, also known as the General Allotment Act, in 1887. This act gave the United States President the authority...
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...such topic and period of time is the Reconstruction Era and the following decades leading up to the Industrialization of America. As with any other period in history, there are different ways to view this specific span of time. Interpreting this period of one as social unjust and injustice is one option. Conversely, it can be distinguished for significant progress in various aspects and the overall prosperity that came as a result of industrialization. Focusing on one method or the other may better guide in understanding this period. For starters, both of these components were clearly present in this duration...
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