Pros And Cons Of Living In The Gilded Ages

“In the struggle for survival, the fittest win out at the expense of their rivals because they succeed in adapting themselves best to their environment”. In the Gilded Ages the country, United States, was going through a lot in which people were poor and some seeking the opportunity to become rich. Many people started off with nothing when they came to this country and all had one dream and that was too become rich and successful. Many that accomplished this goal were risk takers and they took risks that not everyone took. In the Gilded Ages many people were poor and some were rich and there was differences that they had during those times which were living conditions and means of transportation. On the other they had the equal opportunity

The living conditions of the poor were so horrible because they had to be cramped into small spaces with many people, “Landlords tried to squeeze as many rent-paying residents as possible into the smallest available space”. The reason that this occurred is that many immigrants were coming to the country cities were packed with people who had no way of being able to afford a house, or place to live. Since many people could not afford the houses they had to find a place to live, so at times many of them were cramped in tenements. Another factor in their poor living conditions were bad sanitation as well. On the other hand, the rich were basically living in paradise because they had a nice home, “Some of the richest urban residents lived in palatial mansions located in exclusive neighborhoods”. All the rich people had what they ever desired such as good houses. The rich people who had money moved to suburban areas to get away from all of the poverty.and these areas were the perfect fit for their needs because they did not have to worry about poverty. This is one of many differences that came about in the Gilded

The same opportunity that they had is that each could have advanced economically in the new society with the use of their old culture, “One explanation is that by huddling together in ethnic neighborhoods, immigrant groups tended to reinforce the cultural values of their previous societies”. Initially all the new immigrants and people that started off here in the United States had the opportunity to seek out help to try to become successful and wealthy. The bad side of this is that not many sought that opportunity and therefore, only the ones who decided to go for it became rich and this concept is known as Social Darwinism which in other words it is survival of the fittest. Back then during the Gilded Ages there was people that were poor and rich and unfortunately the poor still exist to this date, “The United States is considered the richest country in the world, and yet millions of its residents live in poverty”. Unfortunately the poor still exists in the United States because many people choose not to take the opportunity that is given to them such as how people did not take the same opportunity in the Gilded ages. Although it may be different in this century because they at least have food to eat, many people are homeless and they deny any form of help that may be given to them. The rich now have become so much richer