From Industrial Revolution To The Gilded Age Essay
From Industrial Revolution to the Gilded Age The American Industrial Revolution, and Reconstruction set in motion great changes to the nation. The Industrial Revolution brought about problems for the lower class, while reconstruction created a power struggle for people in the south.
The labor movement and the Granger movement were two sides of the same coin. As the industrial revolution made commodities cheaper to make, industrial workers were paid lower wages. The farmers, albeit for different reasons were also trapped with low revenues (Openstax, 596). Although the concept of supply and demand is something today’s five year olds can understand easily, farmers at the time did not understand it. Farmers’ overproduction lowered the price for crops, thus …show more content…
During reconstruction, the south began to pass a series of “black codes”, or laws which were discriminatory at least, and were designed to impede african americans from functioning within society. Through these black codes, african americans found it difficult to vote, hold office, and sometimes lease or own land (Openstax, 468). Programs like The Freedmen's Bureau were established to help black people find labor contracts. On the other hand, groups like the Ku Klux Klan also formed. The KKK wanted to take back control of political power and did so with fear tactics. Aside from killing and intimidating black people, they did the same to white political opponents (Openstax, 480). Another group of people the KKK strongly disliked were “carpetbaggers.” Carpetbaggers were northern businessmen who traveled south in search of wealth and power (Openstax, 480). Essentially, during reconstruction, the south became a battleground to the southerners. The now freed african americans and northerners traveling to the south were perceived as a threat to the southerners grasp on
The labor movement and the Granger movement were two sides of the same coin. As the industrial revolution made commodities cheaper to make, industrial workers were paid lower wages. The farmers, albeit for different reasons were also trapped with low revenues (Openstax, 596). Although the concept of supply and demand is something today’s five year olds can understand easily, farmers at the time did not understand it. Farmers’ overproduction lowered the price for crops, thus …show more content…
During reconstruction, the south began to pass a series of “black codes”, or laws which were discriminatory at least, and were designed to impede african americans from functioning within society. Through these black codes, african americans found it difficult to vote, hold office, and sometimes lease or own land (Openstax, 468). Programs like The Freedmen's Bureau were established to help black people find labor contracts. On the other hand, groups like the Ku Klux Klan also formed. The KKK wanted to take back control of political power and did so with fear tactics. Aside from killing and intimidating black people, they did the same to white political opponents (Openstax, 480). Another group of people the KKK strongly disliked were “carpetbaggers.” Carpetbaggers were northern businessmen who traveled south in search of wealth and power (Openstax, 480). Essentially, during reconstruction, the south became a battleground to the southerners. The now freed african americans and northerners traveling to the south were perceived as a threat to the southerners grasp on