Gilded Age Research Paper

The Gilded Age

The appearance of an object made of gold looks beautiful from the outside however, have you ever thought about how it looks from the inside? The gilded age was a great example of this. The gilded age was the period from the 1870s to about the 1900s. They called it the gilded age due to the economy being viewed as suitable from the outside, but inadequate from the inside. It was suitable due to its rapid economic growth, and inadequate due to the corruption of politicians and business owners during this time.

The gilded age was a period of economic growth due to the United States welcoming industrialization to the country. Industrialization opened doors to many people but unfortunately, it also closed many to others. It also

Furthermore, it was also the beginning of factories, and fossil fuels. It opened up many jobs for people due to the high demand of goods which eventually led to a high increase in immigration. The high increase in immigration was a huge benefit for factories because they were able to hire many desperate immigrants for low wages. Industrialization also led to the up rise of ranching which become a huge competition to farming. Social Darwinism was also implemented during this era, it was the belief that if you are rich it is because you are doing something right, and if you are poor it is because you failed at something. It also brought the beginning of laissez-faire, which meant that the government should have their hands off of the economy. Industrialization also brought the growth

Employers wanted to be seen as humans, and not just a piece of machinery that can be replaced. Employers refused to give their workers suitable conditions to work in, and a higher pay wage. Employers demonstrated that their workers meant nothing to them, and that they could easily be replaced. Workers were forced to give up their old ways, and adapt to the cooperation’s new ways. This made workers depressed, and pushed them to make a change. Furthermore, this marked the beginning of strikes, unions, and violence. This also marked the beginning of the “Knights of Labor”, which was the largest and one of the most important American labor organizations. The Great Railroad Strike of 1877, was the first national strike in the country. The strike was in response to the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad cutting wages. The strike lasted several days, and was finally put down by the state militias, and federal troops. This strike catches other worker’s attention, and they to go on strike around the world. People start to get killed, and this sprouts the beginning of races coming together. This marks the beginning of a new working movement. The Haymarket Riot of 1886 came next. This was a labor protest rally near Chicago’s Haymarket Square that turned into a riot after a bomb blows up and kills police men. The protest was fighting for an eight-hour day, and in return seven people were convicted and four sentenced to death.