Labor In The Gilded Age

The period of time following the Reconstruction Era of the United States ushered in a new Gilded Age of industry; and with industry came both wealth and a rise of labor. Mark Twain first coined the term Gilded Age in his novel, The Gilded Age, while describing the dichotomy between the “glittery surface…[of]…society” and its “danger of being torn apart by greed, corruption, and inequality.” The problems that came with the rise of labor would be overshadowed by the lavish wealth enjoyed by those at the top of the labor food chain.

The Gilded Age was the primary result of the industrial revolution and westward expansion that occurred during the ____find exact date____ Occupying the leftover factories from the Civil War, manufacturers could thrive right from the beginning. As a result of the Transcontinental Railroad being finished in 1869, both people and manufactured goods could be transported easily across the country. East and West were no longer separated. With the increase of connection and

While they raked in ¬¬¬¬¬_____insert monetary value here_____, their employees made only a fraction of that value. As a result of this discrepancy, countless labor reform unions were formed to fight for better rights. William Sylvis, founder of the National Labor Union, spoke some interesting rhetoric when confronting the issue of capitalism. He questioned, “If working men and capitalists are equal co-partners, why do they not share equally in the profits? Why does capital take to itself the whole loaf, while labor is left to gather up the crumbs? Why does capital roll in luxury, while labor is left to eke out a miserable existence in poverty and want?” Essentially, the tycoons manipulated their company policies in such a way that those at the top of the business would benefit from the masses. They attempted to cut their labor costs while at the same time increasing their