Industrialization During The Gilded Age Essay

During the Gilded Age, primarily in 1870 through 1900, America continued to grow a corporative power. Leading industries such as Carnegie’s steel, Rockefeller’s oil, and Vanderbilt's railroad boomed during this era with the use of trusts to monopolize the country. Although corporations were a success, they also created many problems. Nethertheless, industrialization significantly influenced the country’s economics and politics and transformed the American outlook on labor.

Economically, industries in America erupted with new opportunities for individuals to thrive, however, leaving many farmers and workers in the dust. At this time, cheap labor was in high demand and those willing to accept it were mostly composed of immigrants. Furthermore,

adding an exceptional amount of poverty and inequality to their lives. In response to low wages and poor working conditions, labor unions formed, creating protests and strikes. Big businesses such as steel, oil, and railroads controlled the economy, yet, factories, mining, and financial systems help much importance. As the West continued to develop, farming, ranching, and mining became alternatives for the urban lifestyle. Accordingly, two major depressions worked their way into the Gilded Age-Panic of 1873 and Panic of 1893-putting a pause on the growth and development of industrialization.
Corporations influenced politics greatly. Most political aspects were impacted positively, however, corruption still took place. In reference to one of the biggest fraudulency of the Gilded Age, Tammany Hall and other political machines took advantage of new economic opportunities by managing elections, rewarding supporters, and bribing potential opponents. With the help of the “spoil system”, political machines gave high class jobs and contracts to its loyal consumers. Also, votes for a party would be repaid in governmental favors called patronage instituted major scandal. Tammany Hall in New York demonstrated many of these political tactics with the guidance of Boss Tweed.
In response to these economical and political changes, Americans constructed more labor unions, yet, raging violence broke out.

Unions, designed to protect workers, became well known. The Knights of Labor organized by Terence Powderly became the first major union, but did not last long with its non-strike philosophy. On the contrary, the American Federation of Labor, which organized skilled workers, and the Congress of Industrial Organizations, which organized unskilled worker, were extremely successful. These alliances eventually merged to become the AFL CIO and organized all workers. Labor unions thrived through the Gilded Age and protected workers all throughout the country. On the other hand, violence was not an admirable effect of the continuing changes. Unfortunately, when brutality was presented, the unions usually were blamed. For instance, when the Haymarket Affair broke out in 1886 and an anarchist set off a bomb amidst a crowd whilst the unions were accused for the tragedy.

Many positive and negative impacts were produced in consequence to the Gilded Age and its industrialization, however, many of the events greatly contributed to society today. In comparison to the *Industrial Revolution, many new inventions and innovations originated. The Gilded Age focused on financial and political aspects of the community, while the Industrial Revolution improved transportation and industries’ performance. To explain the Gilded Age as Charles Dickens might have said, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of

times...”