How Did Big Business Affect The Economy During The Gilded Age

When Mark Twain first spoke about the early 19th century era, he gave it the name the “Gilded Age.” Twain’s explanation for this name was; that the period was “glittering on the surface but corrupt underneath.” In explanation, the economy was increased by over 400% by new business practices, but below the surface there was corruption and fraud, between business owners and government officials. Big businesses impacted the economy by, creating new business practices, but the government was affected by bribery, fraud, and political machines, America responded by having labor strikes.
During the Gilded Age, the average cost of food and fuel had decreased immensely, this is due to business owners manipulating the product and distribution of goods

In the political comic, “The Bosses of the Senate,” the creator believes that big business owners had too much control over the government. The comic depicts large wealthy white men standing over small senates, as they work on creating new laws, but the business owners would make sure that these laws would not ruin their practices or businesses. In primary source B, a man explains how the “Railroad King,” was considered the “Shah of Persia,” or the “Sultan of Turkey.” Meaning that the Railroad King is not “amenable to any human power,” this king will never follow anyone rules or accept their ideas. The Railroad King is a ruthless man, he has the power to withhold wages, delay trials, control the senate, and even command the food and fuel supplies of the nation. When business owners didn’t appreciate what the government was doing, they retaliated by creating political machines. Political machines were groups of Big Business owners that would come together in attempt to overthrow the

Many small business owners couldn’t compete with bigger owners, due to the fact that big business owners had such a grasp on their markets. In primary source H, a small oil business owner explain why he could never compete with bigger owners, forcing him to raise his prices for customers to keep his business alive. But, even though his oil was better, his competitors was cheaper, he soon learned that big businesses had deal with the railroad, to supply the oil cheaper. In document J, the pictures shows women working hard in a labor mill, typing up documents all day with little pay. Hard working Americans received little pay of benefits, compared to their bosses who took all the money for themselves. America soon responded by putting on labor strikes, and requesting hire pay. The creation of Labor unions was a result of all the strikes, these unions would ensure fair hours, pay, and