The United States experienced significant social transformation and economic expansion throughout the Gilded Age and the early years of the 20th century. The Gilded Age, which roughly corresponds to the period from Reconstruction to the start of the twentieth century, was characterized by rapid industrialization, urbanization, the building of massive transcontinental railroads, advances in science and technology, and the emergence of large businesses. Then after, progressivism, a progressive political movement that sought to address some of the faults that had developed during the Gilded Age, dominated the first years of the new century that followed. However, this new era of economic prosperity would not last as the United States stock value …show more content…
In 1886, the United States received the Statue of Liberty from France in honor of the alliance formed between both countries during the American Revolution. The Statue symbolized freedom and acceptance and was a staple of hope for many immigrants that were migrating to the United States. However, political bosses like William “Boss” Tweed took advantage of various powerless immigrants. William Tweed was a politician who led a group of corrupt people, gaining power through the manipulation and sacrifice of others. Along with prominent members and leaders, Willian Tweed ran a political organization known as Tammany Hall. Through this organization, many officials engaged in illegal activities and embezzlement. Political bosses like Tweed often got votes from immigrants in exchange for providing them with employment opportunities. Many immigrants migrated to escape political persecution, and famine to have hope for a better life. Even so, the rise of nativism during this period was enough to make immigrants fearful of their residency in the United States. Numerous Americans feared that the immigrants from China would steal their jobs and opportunities, …show more content…
One of the first characterized movements of the Progressive Era occurred after a fire erupted in the Triangle Shirtwaist Company on March 25th, 1911. A fire that enclosed the top three floors of the Shirtwaist Company killed more than 100 employees, after recognizing that sweatshops did not have proper laws or regulations that would ensure the safety of their workers. This tragic event led to the installment of smoke alarms, the importance of signage, and the need to have working fire trucks, all steps towards the Progressive Era. During this era, the economy was growing, industrial production increased, and the population boomed. This ultimately leads to the expansion of the consumer market, in which a new generation of employees emerged, specifically journalists. During this time journalists would write for mass circulation and would often write about the problem of industrial and urban existence. Lincoln Steffens is a journalist who wrote a series called “The Shame of the Cities,” in which he talks about how businessmen profit from political corruption. At the time, President Teddy Roosevelt who gave people hope and stability for a brighter future criticized this journalism and called it “Muckraking.” However, people like Upton Sinclair continued to write to expose the underside of American life. Sinclair wrote a piece titled “The Jungle,” in
The Gilded Age was a time of trusts, monopolies, abuse to workers, and coverture. These problems continued long enough that the attempts to fix them lead to the Progressive Era to take place. Progressivism came into effect because of the Gilded Age because it was created to fix the economy of the Gilded Age. The Gilded Age lead to the Progressive Era in many different ways, a lot of unfairness and hard times made the Progressive Era come into action.
At the end of the nineteenth century, beginning of the twentieth, America was in an era of industrial growth. People began to think that the social and economic problems of the last century had to do with rapid industrialization in America. Progressives, also known as reformers, sought to fight against issues such as the status of women in society, labour rights and immigration. With the growth of industrialization, factories had grown in size and unsafe working conditions were the norm. The fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company on March 25, 1911 in New York City changed the way America dealt with labour reform regarding working conditions.
The Triangle Fire of 1911 initiated transformations in America during the Progressive Era. The one hundred and forty six people who died who were mostly women, did not die in vain, as their deaths led to the reform of laws that would lead to protection from unsafe working environments. Business owners, workers, and union organizers each had their own motivations, and after the fire, their concerns were made public and consequently many of their situations changed. Business owners were stimulated by economic growth and profit, which did not change despite the Triangle fire. Most businesses, and that includes the Triangle Waist Company, carried on with a “business as usual” attitude.
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory The Progressive Era was a difficult time for workers. It was a time where many workers were getting hurt or killed on the job, paid low wages, had little to no safety requirements and worked long hours. It was even more difficult because it seemed as owners never really cared about their workers or their safety. All of that changed after the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire that showed how bad the working conditions and safety of workers was.
The Gilded Age led to Progressive reform, because America had big corporations that had business that corrupted government officials. The Progressive reform started in 1890s to the 1920s until they could get it settled. The people started to fight against the monopolies. The people fought until they got what they wanted.
The Progressive Reform Efforts from the 19th Century helped attempt to fix the many problems of the Gilded Age. The Gilded Age was when economic growth in the United States skyrocketed, surpassing the US ahead of Britain. The Progressive Reform Efforts from the 19th Century were excellent and helpful in attempting to fix the many problems of the Gilded Age. The problems consisted of out-of-control monopolies throughout different industries, the entirety of the meat packing industry, and the living conditions of people, especially immigrants. During the Gilded age, the meat-packing industry was identified as one of the most disgusting and horrid food insures.
When our species first came into existence, we began as a single, collective group of organisms, teamed up together with only one goal: to survive by finding food and water, and reproducing to facilitate our existence here on Earth. Though every organisms goal on this planet is to survive and reproduce, the means and skills they have of achieving these goals are different. Some may only be good at finding important items, thus making them gatherers. Others may only be good at fighting, thereby making them hunters, and then there are other organisms capable of both skills and roles. As a result, each organism groups into their respective roles, therefore creating a unity among the organisms with similar (if not identical) traits, while simultaneously
Clyde Love February 7, 2023 US History 3 Ms. Gordon Herbert Spencer, the American Economy, and the Gilded Age The Gilded Age was a time where the American economy grew greatly and many new medicines and inventions were made available to far more people. When the age started, some people were able to profit greatly from industrialization. Many of them faced the question of what to do with the mass amount of wealth they had acquired. This was when philanthropy was first introduced.
The book "The Gilded Age and Progressive Era: A Student Companion" by Elisabeth Israels Perry and Karen Manners Smith discusses the historical context and factors that led to the Progressive Era. These included the growth of urbanization and the emergence of a middle class that was concerned with social justice and reform. It was characterized by efforts to address the social, economic, and political problems that had arisen during the Gilded Age. The Progressive Era was marked by a number of significant reforms, including the regulation of business and industry, the expansion of voting rights, and the promotion of social welfare. These reforms were aimed at creating a more just and equitable society, and they laid the groundwork for many of the policies and programs that continue to shape American society
The Jungle Excerpt was written by the American journalist and author, Upton Sinclair, in 1906. His family had lost almost everything that they had— including their wealth and their land— due to the Civil War. As a child, Sinclair moved around a lot because his father was unsuccessful in his career as liquor salesman. His love for reading began when he was around the age of five, but he did not receive a formal education until the age of ten. He graduated from Columbia University with a major in law, but his passion was always writing.
After the end of the era of reconstruction following the civil war, the gilded age began. The gilded age was characterized by it’s rapid economic growth, however it was also defined by the political corruption and social inequallity that arrose from that growth. As companies grew at an unpresedented rate, they took a central role in shaping the political landscape and economy during the gilded age. The growth of big businesses during the gilded age changed the economy to be more focussed on industry even at the expense of the working class, contributed to most of the corruption in the government, and led to many inluential protests and movements well into the progressive era.
For example: During 1902, Lincoln Steffens investigated and examined the urban politics in municipal governments and exposed the political corruption that existed and were practiced between the corrupt government and big businesses and industries in a series of article named “The Shame of the Cities” in McClure’s magazine which later was also published as a book ‘Shame of the Cities’ in 1904. Steffens in his articles urged the fellow American people to act upon these corruptions and evil politics and save their homes and cities. His work of exposing the reality to the public led the cities to begin using city commissions and city managers as a measure to end the corruption. Similarly, Upton Sinclair in considered another muckraker who investigated the large canning factories in Chicago where the workers were exposed to dangerous working conditions and sanitation was disregarded in the meat handling and packaging industry. As a result, during 1906 the Meat Inspection Act as well as Pure Food and Drug Act were
In the book “The Gilded Age and Progressive Era” William explained that the introduction of railroads brought about the expansion of the United States. The engine of the new industrialized economy, eased the fast transportation of raw materials and finished goods from one part of the country to the other. As the railroads grew in power, it increased the economy of the country. He further explained that the problem the economy was facing is that workers were maltreated. They were forced to work in bad weather conditions and were paid very
The late 19th century is referred to as the “Gilded Age”. Although everything seemed fine on the surface, it was corrupt underneath. From the end of Reconstruction in 1877 to the Panic of 1893, the economy in America nearly doubled in size. At the time, the government was very pro-business and looked favorably upon the growth. The wealthy were given the title of either a captain of industry, a businessman whose means of acquiring a fortune contributed positively to the country, or a robber baron, a businessman who used immoral methods to get rich.
The Gilded Age was an era of unprecedented industrial, economic, and technological, growth in the private sector of the United States. However, behind this façade of prosperity remained several societal issues that vexed the United States for several decades. Primarily, economic inequality, political corruption, unbridled Laissez Faire capitalism, racism, lack of women’s rights, and stagnant labor conditions defined this era of avarice and corruption. Moreover, this corrupt and amoral system only benefited a very small part of the country. Consequently, these social issues in conjunction with a weak and corrupt government established the foundations of the social tensions and turmoil of the 1890s.