How Did Technology Change America During The Gilded Age

From 1865 to 1900, technology transformed the United States during the period known as the Gilded Age. During this time, the lives of the American people ultimately changed, for many Americans, including farmers, were able to share better food, yield more land, and help contribute to the overall standard of living. However, in order to attain a profit, farmers had the precarious responsibility of gathering the essential tools and crops to meet the nation’s demands. As a result, more raw materials, such as wood were being consumed in factories. In order to uphold the continuum of the vast growing nation, there was a demand for faster and easier means of transportation. Additionally, many foreigners sought America to be a very superior and prosperous

Coined by Mark Twain, the Gilded Age became a symbol of America, as it expressed a false image of prosperity from the outside, but truly held an underlying corrupt background. Technology transformed the United States during the Gilded Age by the changing of American labor force, benefits of new inventions, developments in communication and transportation, and through great hardship and wealth. Technology transformed the United States during the Gilded Age by the changing of American labor force. During this period, America changed into a more industrial society. Many Go-Getters sought the land of the United States very prosperous, and ventured in hopes of opportunity. The immigrants would soon shape the development of American labor in the latter part of the 19th century. The “four major trends—loss of control over workplace, labor conflict, rapid geographic mobility, and the increase of diversity” (Aurand), were the factors that changed American labor. By 1870, the need for skilled labor would soon diminish due to mechanization. Mechanization ultimately turned the small shops into large factories, condensed with machines to further increase the worker efficiency. Frederick Winslow

American businesses were affected by newly constructed railroads, George Pullman, and Alexander Graham Bell. To meet the demand of the American businesses, the Go-Getters constructed railroads all across the United States. Due to the miles of railroad track, it brought a well needed, easier, and faster means of transportation. Much land to the West were worthless until railroads were built, ultimately creating a profitable land of sources such as iron, copper, and oil. Along with railroads, George Pullman invented the Pullman Sleeping Car in 1857, allowing for more comfortable means of transportation. For Americans, this allowed for overnight travel and became time-saving. Beneficial to businesses in the railroad industry, the demand of these cars went up. Moreover, Alexander Graham Bell was an inventor who created the telephone in 1876, inspired by the hearing impairment of both his mother and wife. The patent of this invention was soon recognized globally, and affected the means of communication. Although it was a novelty item, it was crucial and necessary for businesses to possess. The telephone largely impacted businesses by making them more efficient and reduced the cost and labor to constantly travel long distances in order to communicate. As a result, it is clear that technology transformed the United States during the Gilded Age through the