Why The Gilded Age?
The gilded age refers to the expanding markets, swift urban growth, and the economic revolution. The worded gilded means something covered in gold. I feel that this word demonstrates the poverty and misfortune present in this era but is somewhat varnished with an enchanting glow of wealth and technologies that helped bring this industrial era to life. In this economic phase, among all the wealth was pure corruption.
Although the lower class took a devastating hit, the wealthy one percent is what pulled through and created job opportunities among their industries. Businesses were immersed in cutthroat industries and seeking to be apart of that top one-percent of America. “The process of economic concentration culminated between 1897 and 1904, …show more content…
Amongst the many social issues between the upper and lower classes, politics was corrupted by wealth and bribery. “In the west, many lawmakers held stock or directorships in lumber companies and railroads that received public aid”(give me liberty 27). Law makers were in favor of bills supporting companies in which they had stock or invested money into that was part of their salaries (27 gml). The wealthy would often use bribery or friendships with political leaders to receive bills or laws in their favor and even getting a spot in politics with no political background. Surrounded by these acts of extortion, there was no doubt that the lesser class detested the rich at the …show more content…
An example of this rags to riches was Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie was the leader of the steel industry in the midst of the gilded age. Carnegie was opposed to the belief of division of wealth and labor unions. Although he was against these, he donated large amounts of money to charities by building libraries, museums, schools, etc. Building his empire from the ground up, Carnegie was a strong believer that this would benefit communities and would give individuals inspiration to go out and make something of themselves like Carnegie pursued. As Carnegie has stated “The best means of benefitting the community is to place within its reach the ladders upon which the aspiring can rise”(voices of freedom
Although the lower class took a devastating hit, the wealthy one percent is what pulled through and created job opportunities among their industries. Businesses were immersed in cutthroat industries and seeking to be apart of that top one-percent of America. “The process of economic concentration culminated between 1897 and 1904, …show more content…
Amongst the many social issues between the upper and lower classes, politics was corrupted by wealth and bribery. “In the west, many lawmakers held stock or directorships in lumber companies and railroads that received public aid”(give me liberty 27). Law makers were in favor of bills supporting companies in which they had stock or invested money into that was part of their salaries (27 gml). The wealthy would often use bribery or friendships with political leaders to receive bills or laws in their favor and even getting a spot in politics with no political background. Surrounded by these acts of extortion, there was no doubt that the lesser class detested the rich at the …show more content…
An example of this rags to riches was Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie was the leader of the steel industry in the midst of the gilded age. Carnegie was opposed to the belief of division of wealth and labor unions. Although he was against these, he donated large amounts of money to charities by building libraries, museums, schools, etc. Building his empire from the ground up, Carnegie was a strong believer that this would benefit communities and would give individuals inspiration to go out and make something of themselves like Carnegie pursued. As Carnegie has stated “The best means of benefitting the community is to place within its reach the ladders upon which the aspiring can rise”(voices of freedom