Effects Of The Gilded Age

Between 1870 and 1900, American society was referred to as the Gilded Age. It was called this way because America looked very lavish and ritzy, but in reality, Americans were living in poverty as they did not have good paying jobs. Many jobs included factory workers, clerks, and strikebreakers. The workers received less than minimum wage, especially if they were not white native-born Americans. As more immigrants moved to America, crime, violence, fire, disease, pollution rates increased dramatically, resulting in a thriving death rate. However exceptional America looked to other countries, it was not at all what it was cracked up to be.

As America’s oil and steel industries gained momentum, many citizens from European, African, and Asian countries immigrated to the country. Due to the efforts of John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie’s booming industries, and the poor quality of life in the West, many foreigners moved to America in search of a better lifestyle. On the outside, America looked very positive, however, when immigrants got settled into their ethnic communities and began to find work, they realized that it was not what it was made up to be. Grown men and
With the growing population, all kinds of health and safety hazards were heightened. The crime and violence rate increased, fires and pollution spurts were becoming more frequent, and disease was plaguing the country. Not only were more minor criminals like pickpockets showing up, but the murder rate was increasing ever so steadily. From 1880 to 1900, it jumped nearly 400%, increasing from 25 per million to over 100 per million. During the 1870’s, poor sewage disposal resulted in an outbreak in cholera and typhoid fever. In addition to disease, pollution was also increasing as smoke was produced from chimneys and and fires. Due to this increase in air and water pollution, millions of people became sick with most