The New Gilded Age: A Comparative Analysis

Charles Murray, a conservative academic, has noted how a powerful upper class has separated itself from the rest of society. For Democrats, and those who more generally define themselves as progressive, economic inequality is generally central to this concern. Typically, they criticise the ostentatious and heartless super-rich for detaching itself from the rest of society. Levin recognises that high inequality is a reality but is surely right to argue that it is an effect rather than a cause. The wealthy, for instance, have benefited from the booming of the financial sector and financial assets over the

The Bourbon Democrats bolstered a free market approach, with low levies, low charges, less spending and, as a rule, a Laissez-Faire (hands-off) government. They contended that levies made most products more costly for the shopper and financed the trusts (syndications). They additionally reproved dominion and abroad extension. By difference Republicans demanded that national success relied on upon industry that paid high wages, and cautioned that bringing down the duty would be a fiasco since merchandise made by low-wage European assembly line laborers would surge American markets. The political history of the Gilded Age is normally lessened to a story of debasement and outrage.

The Gilded Age was an age of rapid economic growth. Railroads, factories, and mines were slowly popping up across the country, creating a variety of new opportunities for entrepreneurs and laborers alike. These new inventions and opportunities created “...an unprecedented accumulation of wealth” (GML, 601). But the transition of America from a small farming based nation to a powerful industrial one created a huge rift between social classes. Most people were either filthy rich or dirt poor, with workers being the latter.

The end of the reconstruction era gave rise to the gilded age. The gilded age was a time of economic growth. It was the second industrial revolution, urbanization, immigration and political/economic corruption. The congress and the big business were more influential than the presidency. The term ‘Gilded Age’ was termed by Mark Twain who described the wealthy who were covered in a ‘layer of gold’, a superficial layer can be peeled and reveals unpleasant things.

Going forward the next time frame was 1870’s to the 1900s. This era was known as the Gilded Age. The name of this age was given from Mark Twain’s novel “The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today”. Staying within the progression theme, the American economy grew by over 400% with technological advancements, booming population growth and new business practices.

Jessica HillisMr. GillardAP US History5 January 2007Essay 16: Gilded AgeThroughout history, certain periods of time have been given certain names based on thehappenings that occurred. Many have called the period of 1865 to 1901 the “Gilded Age”, be-cause it was “shiny and pretty” on the outside but it was “rough and ugly” underneath. The term“Gilded Age” was actually coined by Mark Twain who satired the Gilded Age with a GoldenAge.

Imagine working sixteen hours a day in an unsanitary, dangerous, place for a big business gaining two dollars. This is what laboring-class Americans had to go through during the Gilded age. Politically, the first largest American labor union was formed during the Gilded age and many other organizations formed as well as violent strikes. Socially, different ethnics joined together to share their thoughts and realize the evils of big business and of the federal government. Mentally, most we 're losing their personal life while some were financially stable and glad.

The Gilded Age lasted from 1870 to World War 1, “1900s.” The Gilded Age was a period of fast economic development, but also much social struggle. Mark Twain in the late nineteenth century founded the “Gilded” Age, which means covered with gold on the outside, but not really golden on the inside, for example, tin. This period of time was glittering on the surface but corrupt underneath. In other words, the outside looked beautiful, but the inside looked old and trashy.

Gilded Age The Gilded age was known for all the fantastic innovations throughout the time period, but when looked at a little closer, all the scandals and corruption can be seen underneath the reforms and inventions. Not to say that this corruption undermined all the new and improved systems in the age; it was just another of the many things that America could learn from. Some of the reforms are for monopolies, railroads, and the civil service system.

The businessmen of the Gilded Age focused solely on their ascension to power, disregarding those who they left behind or damaged economically. Henry George stated in Progress and Poverty in 1879, “the wealthy class is becoming more wealthy; but the poorer class is becoming more dependent” (Doc 1). George discussed the polarity between the wealthy and poorer classes, and how it has grown into two separate entities over time and as the Golden Age had continued on. The drawing, “The Robber Barons of Today” satirized the growing power of the capitalists through the usage of their tactics (taxes, trusts, etc.) (Doc 4).

The article disclosed that the elite class, comprising the rich, business-centered interest groups and large business owners, significantly shape the policy results in America. According to the study, the analyst argues that the elite class holds more power than democracy and pluralism given that it dominates the policy drafting process. These rich individuals and large business groups have the ability to lease lobbyists that that overpower legislators in Washington as well as fund political campaigns for their preferred candidates (Lichtman, 2014). The power and influence of the elite class spring from their economic position and the capacity to fund campaigns. As the mantra goes that money rules, the elite class influence almost all government’s decisions.

Industrialist had a huge impact on the gilded age. The gilded age was a rapid expansion of industrialism and a massive jump in the population of immigrants in america. The industrialist during the gilded age such as Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, and Vanderbilt had a big impact because of their businesses. Vanderbilt was the first of the three to be a leader of industry. Vanderbilt made millions using the railroad system and built an empire with them.

Wealth, poverty, technology, decadence, the Gilded Age was a time of change and uprooting of past systems, schools of thought, and standards. It was a time of both hope and doubt for the majority of the population and brought many to be empty handed or exceedingly wealthy. The dynamic between rich and poor was shifting to a gap of wealth never before seen in the young country. The gilded age’s built up wealth disparity faded away over time. Yet today it seems that a resurgence of these features is rearing its ugly head again.

Annotated Bibliography Cohen, M. (2014, April 26). The American Dream is now just that for its middle classes – a dream. The Guardian, p. 00. “The American Dream is now just that for its middle classes – a dream” by Michael Cohen explains the perception of Americans towards the decline of the middle class. The article details how the middle class was viewed before the elections of President Obama, and how it’s viewed after the creation of the Affordable Care Act.

When immigrants come into America, they bring with them new ideas and traditions that allow for the growth of a nation. Since the dawn of America, immigration has always been a controversial topic. Immigrants have always been labeled names that would cause Americans to look down on these people. This would also fuel an everlasting fear of too many newcomers and the effect they would have on America’s dominant white European culture. Americans feared change throughout history.