The period from 1877 to 1920s economic, political and social crises hits the American society. During this period industrialization significantly impacted people 's lives in a variety of ways. The booming industries transformed America into urban culture. However, this transition came with complex social, economic and political challenges. Living conditions of workers, housing, transportation, epidemic, an environmental problem emerged with the growing industries and urbanization in the country. Furthermore, massive immigration from southern and eastern Europe fueled the ongoing challenges. In spite of the deteriorating human, living and working conditions, the giant corporation continues leveraging their profit and able to control the economy …show more content…
The great acceleration of industrialization occurred during Gilded Age which extends from the civil war to the end of the 19th century (Jansson, 2005). The massive industrial growth brought numerous changes in the old social life construct. In 1914, 69 percent of the the labor force had a nonagricultural job unlike 1859 where 60 percent of the US workforce engaged in in agriculture. This statistic may show how the rural lifestyle has drastically transformed into urban and industrial society. By 1910, more than 79 percent population of New York and 92 percent population of Massachusetts were living in “urban areas” (Ehrenreich, 1985). Despite the urban areas absorb the mass exodus of the rural population they had the very poor infrastructure to serve the basic needs of the people. Because of the mass concentration of people in urban settlement problem of transportation, unsafe housing, environmental pollution, and epidemics were emerged. Typhoid, cholera, and malaria were common epidemics which often affected the entire urban population in the cities (Jansson, 2005). The effects of epidemics were devastating. Due to epidemic exposure, every 1,000 urban infants 160 died before reaching their first birthday (Ehrenreich, 1985). Similarly, one block of the house contained 605 apartment was accommodating 2,871 people with no adequate water, ventilation, and …show more content…
To make the matter worse between 1885 and 1900 the Supreme Court restricted the right of the government to regulate corporations by ruling that manufacturing did not fall under the jurisdiction of the federal government because it was not “commerce”(Jansson, 2005). The emergence of the middle and upper-class movement has also gradually taken shape as the industry continues to grow and impact the social life, society, and people in general. These classes were aspired to deal with the growing influence and mistreatment of the industrial system which adversely affects the poor and immigrants. Not only middle and upper class were concerned about the immoral and unjust deeds of the industrialist, but powerful political figures also shared the concern. Teddy Roosevelt expressed his concern to his successor about the alarming social condition of the poor and unregulated influence of the rich (Ehrenreich, 1985). Along with these counterbalancing of the industrial influence, another class transformation had occurred during this period which shaped the progressive
During the early 20th century, the United States was going through various drastic changes in a short period of time. The United States was swept away by an economic boom in the 1920's that was filled with promises of abundance and prosperity. This was the turn of the Glided Age, which witnesses the growth of tremendous fortunes and industrial capacity amid economic uncertainty and the advent of the modern America. Turning point for the United States because it resulted in becoming a global consumer power. The mass-production and mass-consumption flourished during this time period and as a result, it was the result of the Urbanization if the United States.
How did the lives of ordinary Americans change during the 1920s? Introduction:“ in the 1920s, the United States rapid economic development and rising, which occurs mainly in President Coolidge, here comes as the relatively stable period in the capitalist world, Britain, France and Germany after the first world war, the economy was in stagnation or recovery status, United States economic expansion. United States domestic fixed capital renewal and enterprise through technological innovation, production and rationalization of management, accelerating the process of concentration of production and capital, the rapid economic development. Gross domestic product and industrial production have reached a new record, car manufacturing; electrical appliance manufacturing and residential construction is particularly significant. ”
The Second Industrial Revolution brought many great things to America such as advances in technology, new businesses, job opportunities, and "new" immigrants. America was truly the "City Upon a Hill." America, although booming after the Second Industrial Revolution, was problematic. The period after the Second Industrial Revolution is called the "Gilded Age" by Mark Twain because America at that time was glittering on the outside but corrupt on the inside.1 Alongside all the advances in the economy, technology, and society there are negative factors coinciding with the progress. The negative factors prove to be detrimental to America's society, politics, and economy.
The Civil War had concluded and America was on the path to rebuilding itself as a single nation. America experienced many changes such as large amounts of urbanization and industrialization, while also taking their own chance at imperialism. America’s urbanization and industrialization was a result of the Civil War. Many individuals began transitioning from rural areas to urban areas by the beginning of the twentieth century. These urban areas began to experience new inventions such as the automobile, highways, and entertainment such as sports and film.
In chapter 17, America developed urban industrial society from 1880 to 1890. Since America started to develop industrial revolution after civil war, America’s economy was expended dramatically. This economic expansion stimulated new technological growth and it also created a new group of industrial elites. In developing industrial sectors, especially standard oil industry, which was established by Rockefeller, and electricity, which was made by Thomas Edison were fasted growing sectors. Since many various goods appeared to the public, advertisements, department stores and mail-in orders increased rapidly and noticeably.
Abstract - The Gilded Age led to economic progress for the United States. During this time, manufactures relied heavily on technological innovations in order to make a profit. The goal was to mine, grow, and process large quantities of products and goods in order to sell them quickly and efficiently. While doing so, manufactures also raised the standard of living and people were losing their
Industrialists were the cause of the Gilded Age. The Gilded Age was urbanization, industrializing, and moving west. They made a great impact on the United States of America because of the change of agriculture to industrialization. The major growth in society was because of the Industrialists moving away from farming to factories.
Industrialization and Industrialists had many important impacts on America. The era of industrialization known as the " Gilded Age" opened up many new doors for the American people. The industrialist Andrew Carnegie had one of the biggest impacts on America by far. Carnegie was responsible for the production of steel.
Between 1865 and 1920, the United States became the world's leading industrial capitalist nation. Two principal obstacles blocked the way, each of them arising from capitalism itself, a growing working class which increasingly insisted on sharing the fruits of industrial production and competition among existing firms. The United States government was keen on helping emerging industries as these industries help stabilize the economy. These industries slowly turned into monopolies by removing existing competition. Monopolies set prices at a level that would earn profits, but not so high as to antagonize customers.
In a time after the Civil War, when a transcontinental railroad was created connecting the East and West, people began to move and settle across the country, creating new urban cities and manufacturing hubs. It was because of the railroad that the Second Industrial Revolution and the Gilded Age took place which rapidly increased the manufacturing of products through the new machines in factories and the spread of ideas by the telegraph and railroad. It was in this context that many farmers, as well, began to move West and experience a loss in the prices of their crops. It is also in this context that many workers were forced to work long, laborious hours with little pay. Farmers responded to industrialization in the Gilded Age by forming organizations such as the Granger movement and the Farmers Alliance as well as creating the Populist Party.
Big businesses boomed during this era, however, in business owners efforts to produce more money the working class suffered from unfair wages and working conditions. In Nash’s findings, he reported, “In 1890, the top 1 percent of American families possessed over a quarter of the wealth, and the top 10 percent of American families possessed over a quarter of the wealth, … But wages for the unskilled increased by only 31 percent- a substantial differential that widened as the century drew to a close” (407). Through the economic disparities between classes, it caused unworkable working conditions and unsanitary living conditions. Unskilled workers were often responsible for hard labor jobs, many men worked in coal mines, factories, farms and more. Despite these harsh working conditions workers received minimal wages, resorting themselves and their families to live in tenement houses, crowded, unclean, and disease-ridden housing units. This was the price of class inequality, poverty, unclean working conditions, and backbreaking work all for minimal pay so big businesses could make a
The period between 1865 to 1900, also known as the Gilded Age, was an era of rapid industrialization, immigration, and capitalization in America. After the civil war, previously used factories remained and flourished as manufacturing started to replace farming; which was possible due to vast immigration from Southern and Eastern part of Europe. With an available cheap labor source, businesses rose to great heights, and competition thrived. While companies thrived, working laborers and citizens suffered. Because industrial statesman expanded wealth and created opportunities, but also exploited workers, disrupted competition, and manipulated factors of production, it is justified to characterize the industrial leaders of the Gilded age as both
From 1865 to 1900, the rise of Industrial America occurred. In this time period, the railroad system was developed, new job opportunities sprung up left and right, and the American dream changed. Although the American society’s economy and standard of living seemed to prosper, it also allowed laborers’ lives to crumble,strikes occurred, children were left uneducated and forced to work in order to help support their families, and forced those families to get accustomed to squalid living conditions and hazardous working environments. The social classes developed.
This essay will examine the reasons why historians have called “The Gilded Age” to the era between 1877 and 1900, in which poverty, massive immigration, racism and corruption were the base metal of a nation that was gilded with industrialization and sudden wealth in order to make it look perfect with a shine finish. During the XIX century, United States suffered an important economic growth that took place after the civil war and the reconstruction era. The end of the war had a very decisive influence in the industrial development of the nation, giving a strong boost to it, causing a strong demand for many goods and a vertical rise in prices. The progress of American industry has had its repercussions to this day.
The time period from when the Second Industrial Revolution was beginning, up until President McKinley’s assassination in 1901, is known as the Gilded Age. After the Civil War, many people headed out West to pursue agriculture, and many immigrants moved to urban areas to acquire jobs in industrial factories. It is in this context that farmers and industrial workers had to respond to industrialization. Two significant ways farmers and industrial workers responded to industrialization in the Gilded Age, were creating the Populist Party and the American Federation of Labor (AFL).