Inequality During The Gilded Age

The Gilded Age is generally understood to have begun between the Civil War until the beginning of the 20th century. America's economy grew significantly during this time as a result of the emergence of industrialization and the expansion of the railroad network. The nation also witnessed the rise of a new class of affluent elites who amassed enormous riches through sectors like banking, steel, and oil. These aristocracy were well renowned for their extravagant parties, luxurious palaces, and excessive shows of riches. But, besides the display of wealth, there was also significant social unrest and inequality during the Gilded Age. Many Americans from the working class found it difficult to make ends meet while the rich elites experienced unprecedented

Some analysts have argued that this is an incomplete and misleading characterization of the era. For example, in his book “Age of Betrayal: The Triumph of Money in America, 1865-1900,” writer and analyst Jack Beatty points outs the poverty, inequality, and corrupt politics that arose with the Gilded age. In his book, the author expresses “how, having redeemed democracy in the Civil War, America betrayed it in the Gilded Age” (Beatty). Reconstruction signaled the start of a promise in where blacks would not only advance in status but also be a part of the civic life in the country. It created new opportunities for the working man to rise in society by launching their own company or relocating to the West to manage their own farm. However, most of the population also began to struggle to make ends meet as wage workers, working for someone else in a factory or on a farm as a result of the country's industrialization, which brought so much wealth to so few. As mentioned in page 6 of chapter 16 of the American Yawp book, the world had the biggest increases in productivity and efficiency under industrial capitalism. Nevertheless, “it also created millions of low-paid, unskilled, unreliable jobs with long hours and dangerous working conditions” (Locke and Wright). This indicates to the superficiality or insincerity in the wealth and

The Progressive movement of the early 20th century, for example, was born out of a desire to reform society and make it more just and equal. Most of the reformers where middle class people and they had significant effects in American society. As mentioned in the “Causes and Effects of the Progressive Era” article, by The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, the Progressive Era dismantled monopolies, established commercial associations, professional, civic, and religious organizations, and influenced regulations such as those governing food safety, child labor rules, and the eight-hour workday as a norm (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). This demonstrates that progress was possible during this