The Gilded Age
This was the period just after the civil war in America and the nation was just beginning to regroup (Mark Twain Charles Warner p39). For many historians during this period the greatest industrial, population and economic expansion was realized in America brought about by the abundance of natural resources and the invention of new technology. As a result of the numerous industrial and economic advancements experienced in America during this period, by the start of the 20th century industrial production and per capita income in America surpassed that of any other country excluding Britain.
The Gilded age in America was marked by the emergence of a new nation with boundless economic growth. The country already had a reputation for being a country that offered opportunities for the poor immigrants as well as for adventurous capitalists (Mark Twain Charles Warner p43). Yet, during this period the rapid change from a mercantile and agricultural economy to an industrial economy brought with it unprecedented opportunities to outgoing entrepreneurs and economic speculators. As the economy transformed in America opportunistic industry leaders like Vanderbilt, Morgan, Gould and Rockefeller emerged as new tycoons who led the growth in the economy. What then were the forces that created so many American fortunes and lasting change that has hardly been marched to date
It is commonly believed that war profiteering or the civil war was the origin for the fortunes created during the Gilded Age. To some extent this is true because the war created opportunity for certain capitalists to rise to prominence. However, the combined impacts of the increasing population (due to natural growth and immigration), discovery of large mineral resources, opening of the Western frontier and the ability to attract capital and talent all contributed in creating unprecedented opportunities. Naturally such conditions would attract or produce women and men to seize these opportunities.
The Gilded Age in America was rooted in industrialization (Frederick Turner 256). Heavy industries like coal mining factories and railroads emerged around America. During this era deep new natural resources and access to American Indian homelands became the raw material for corporate and economic expansion. After the civil war the American government coerced treaties between the tribal nations and the American federal government that gave the government access to fisheries, arable land, mineral deposits and tribal timber. A short period after the civil war the rail system was completed and this greatly facilitated the massive export and military presence across the country.
As industry expanded during this period there was increased mechanization (Frederick Turner 259). Innovative machines were developed in order to come up with cheaper ways to make more products. In the steel industry, Fredrick W. Taylor observed that workers wasted a lot of time working on the steel. He further observed that this time wastage could be eliminated by redesigning the existing machines so that could make fewer motions in less time. This in turn would reduce the need for unskilled labor while increasing the productivity of factories at the same time. Many companies adopted his mechanized approach to doing business and prospered while those that did not became assemblages of unskilled workers performing repetitive and simple tasks under the supervision of engineers and foremen.
Those companies that prospered were characterized by highly skilled engineers and workers. This diversity in industry led to the increase of both skilled and unskilled laborers. Due to the rapidly developing industry and the expansion of the railroad there was a high demand for both skilled and unskilled workers. This led to a high number of immigrants coming into the country looking for job opportunities.
Prior to this era, the first real large scale migration of people into America was in a time popularly known as the old immigration (Andrew Carnegie13). In the Gilded Age, it is estimated that ten million immigrants came to the United States. This era is known by some as the new migration. Many of the immigrants came to America in search of great prosperity and religious freedom. For example in the 1870 census there were 4 Chinese women and 58 men in the whole of America. By the 1880 census this number had grown to 40,000 women and 100,000 men.
Many labor unions greatly opposed the presence of Chinese laborers arguing that they brought unfair economic competition. Due to public pressure the Federal government enacted the Exclusion Act in 1882 that prohibited Chinese workers from entering America. This Law however did not prohibit Chinese businessmen and students from entering the country. As anti Chinese opinion rose among the public many returned to their homeland. Those who remained were unwelcome in many areas so they clustered together and settled in Chinatowns as they are commonly known up to date. Many other people of different nationalities migrated to America in search of opportunities and this led to a population surge in the major cities.
The high population in the cities gave the cities a very strong impact on government and this attracted entrepreneurs and power hungry politicians (Erik Larson 278). In order to rise to prominence many politicians resorted to falsifying ballot boxes and pressurizing voters. As the number of unscrupulous politicians got into power both the state and federal government was rocked by scandals. During this era the large contracts associated with the railroad construction and the fast rate of industrialization made political position very sought after in order to influence decisions.
There were large political payoffs in order to secure government contracts. Corruption was so rampant in during the Gilded Age that even big political parties like the Republicans were divided into two. One group known as the Bourbon Democrats called for reforms in an area like the civil service. They believed that the direct intervention by the government in the economy led to kickbacks, bribery, waste, favoritism, inefficiency and corruption. They called for a free market, low taxes, less spending in general they preferred hands off system of government. The other group of the republicans was for a strict supervision of the economy by government and government intervention in all matters that affected the economy of the nation.
The Gilded Age also saw a great shift in the traditional American social way of life with the emergence of new social movements. At this time there was great debate on whether women should have the right to vote or not. Susan Anthony led the National American Woman Suffrage Association that was formed to primarily push for the right for women to vote and the right for women to be active in politics. During the Gilded Age science thought also played a very important part in influencing social life in the urban areas. Herbert Spenser coined the term social Darwinism from the Darwins theory of natural selection.
This idea basically advocated the notion of social stratification based on individual wealth. The term survival for the fittest was developed which meant that assisting the poor weakened the ability of people to survive in society. Later on another movement emerged that was aimed at assisting the poor. This movement gravitated around the idea that a single tax should be leveled on the poor and the rich alike. The aim of this was so that the excess tax collected from the rich could be put to use by the government to equalize the wealth levels in society.
The Gilded Age also experienced a shift in social urban life (Mark Twain Charles Warner p336). Due to the rising demand for workers in the factories as well as the large number of people who migrated to the country for other reasons, population in cities began to swell. This rapid change in population brought about transformation in the transportation and architecture. Louis Sullivan an architect became renowned for building skyscrapers using steel frames for the first time. As these developments occurred many people were drawn to the urban cities due to the improved standards of living and the availability of social amenities. With an increase in the population poverty levels also increased. This consequently forced immigrants to live in the poorest areas in cities for example Hells Kitchen and Five Points in Manhattan (Andrew Carnegie p4). These areas led to the rise of gangs like Bowery Boys whose reign of terror later spread to other parts of the city.
Socially the Gilded Age also saw the rise of very prominent and influential figures in the American society (Andrew Carnegie p11). People like John Rockefeller, Cornelius Vanderbilt and Andrew Carnegie are a few of the very influential industrialists. The term Philanthropy took on new meaning with men like John Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie giving off a large amount of the wealth they had amassed in large scale philanthropy. In 1897 Rockefeller retired and devoted the rest of his life to giving away a lot of his money systematically especially in the areas of improving race relations, education and medicine. Andrew Carnegie built several major foundations, public libraries and major research centers.
In the late 1980s, strike action became very popular (Andrew Carnegie 30). This was because as many people toiled away in factories many of them still struggled to make ends meet. This resulted in workers coming together to form labor unions. This was the first time workers were successfully coming together to collectively fight for their rights using organized systems. Other attempts had been made (for example the National Labor Union in 1966) but they all collapsed. During the Gilded Age the first successful labor unions were born in America and their effects are still felt up to date.
The Gilded Age in Americas history can therefore not be ignored since major events happened within that period that influenced the direction Americas society, politics and economy took. This period in time though not very long witnessed the birth of modern day America with its sophisticated society, booming economy and very vibrant industries.
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