Déjà vu: A Comparison of Income and Wealth Inequality in the Gilded Age to Today
Thesis Statement: The conditions that gave rise to the Gilded Age in the late 1800’s are occurring again in our country at this time.
INTRODUCTION
Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner wrote a book that was a satire of society titled The Gilded Age: A Tale of To-Day (Twain and Warner 1873). In their book, they referred to the Gilded Age as a society with serious problems that were being coated with a golden lining. A common phrase without authorship describing the Gilded Age is “In the Gilded Age, every dark cloud had its silver lining…and every silver lining had its dark cloud.” In this paper, factors that contributed to the development of the Gilded Age will
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be examined as well as the impact these changes had on people at the time. Finally, conditions existing in the United States today will be examined to identify parallels between the Gilded Age and today. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GILDED AGE During the latter part of the 19th century, when the Gilded Age occurred, massive social, technological and economic changes occurred. The changes in the Gilded Age can be characterized by six themes: (1) rapid industrialization, (2) massive migration to cities, (3) strong influx of immigrants, (4) tremendous wealth and income inequality, (5) widespread discrimination against immigrants, minorities, and women, and (6) government, political parties, and courts supporting the wealthy and business interests over laborers. Rapid Industrialization.
The United States experienced an unprecedented period of rapid industrialization. (Lee 1995). In a very short period of time, the country evolved from a primarily rural, agricultural society to an urban, industrial society. The industrial revolution required a different political structure than the agrarian society of the past. The Gilded Age was associated with corrupt governmental officials and wide inequalities. Monopolies, government corruption, and labor unrest resulted from the rapid economic growth seen during this age. The concentration of economic power brought inequalities and popular uprisings and class conflict, including an increase in violence (Turchin 2012). The reigning political parties of the federal government did not respond to the growing problems resulting from this change until pressure from populists political parties began to emerge in an attempt to address them (Mashaw …show more content…
2010). Massive Migration to Cities. Rapid industrialization required many new laborers which resulted in massive migration from rural areas to cities (Shackel and Palus 2006). Unchecked industrialization led to deteriorating working and living conditions for urban labor and the working poor, and a change in the way the working class lived their domestic lives (Shackel and Palus 2006, Akas 2015). A proliferation of unhealthy tenements and slums began to emerge in the cities. Poor working and living conditions continued to exist throughout this rapid industrialization period. Strong Influx of Immigrants.
The unhealthy living conditions in the cities was exacerbated by tremendous migration from other countries (Rome 2008). As the 20th century approached, controversy began to arise as the country struggled to assimilate the largest inflow of immigrants in the history of the United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 25 million immigrants entered the United States during the period between 1880 and 1924. Most of these immigrants were from new areas of immigration – eastern, southern, and central Europe. Political debates arose about the different social mores, political perspectives, and economic and social impact the arrival of these
immigrants Tremendous Wealth and Income Inequality. While industrialization created many jobs, unemployment was high due to the vast number of immigrant and domestic workers. Industrialists were able to keep wages very low due to the large number of workers competing for available jobs. Tremendous wealth inequality existed during the Gilded Age (Saez and Zucman 2014, 2016). Widespread Discrimination against Immigrants, Minorities, and Women. The competition for jobs also contributed to discrimination and racial bias against immigrants, minorities, and women. Gwendalyn Mintz suggested that “for most of the period from 1875 to 1920, new immigrant groups were the target of racist and nativist hatreds on the part of more entrenched working-class groups” (Weir 2000). In the July 2015 issue of Polity, Daniel Tichenor wrote “A handful of Justice Department Officials were outraged by what they described as a “flood” of “illegal” and culturally undesirable immigrants streaming across the nation’s borders. The officials warned the American public that smuggling networks, forged documents, rampant fraud, and unscrupulous employers helped these unwelcome entrants erode the rule of law.” While these statements could easily be taken from today’s debate on illegal immigration, they were actually about “smuggled chinamen” in the late nineteenth century (Tichenor 2015). African Americans were also widely discriminated against in all areas of their lives. Racial discrimination was rampant in worker rights, politics, and many areas of society. Industries dominated by African Americans did not see even meager gains in minimum wages or worker rights that some workers were able to earn. Some of these neglected work areas, included “domestic work, agriculture, retail and laundry” (Aktas 2015). Women, then as now, were routinely denied the opportunities and were paid far less for the work they performed. Wages were much lower than men and unfair restrictions were placed on employment opportunities (Aktas 2015). Women began to argue for minimum wage laws. In 1903, the National Women's Trade Union League (WTUL) was established to promote improvement of wages and working conditions for women. (U.S. House of Representatives 2007) Government, Political Parties, and Courts Supporting the Wealthy and Business Interests over Laborers. During the Gilded Age, the government focused on providing support to stimulate business growth with little regard for laborer concerns. Court decisions also tended to side with business interests. Through subsidies provided by the federal government and with the help of corrupt politicians, industrialists gained control of most of the period’s economic base, railroad transportation networks, and natural resources. (DuBois 1935). An imbalance of power between labor and business began to evolve resulting in civil unrest. After labor uprisings that occurred between 1877 and the early 1980s, employers began to formally organize through trade associations to handle labor movements. These associations mobilized quickly as is evident in the percent of lockouts associated with employers’ associations (75 percent, 1884-1886) compared to 30 percent during the period between 1881 and 1883 (Haydu 1999). By the 1900s, employer organizations had set up local employment services as well as ad-hoc strike assistance. Major political parties leaned pro-business and favored the wealthy when setting tax structures. Yet most citizens believed that government had a responsibility to address social problems. The third parties, rather than the major political parties [Republican Party and Democratic Party] were more apt to bring up class differences in promoting change, including programs to redistribute wealth – a graduated income tax, redistribution of land, public works projects for the unemployed, labor rights to organize, and abolition of child labor (Hurst 2010). While the third parties were not successful at the ballot box, there efforts did result in change. The resulting labor turmoil, economic depression, and growing unrest and anger of the Populist Revolt ultimately influenced the political party positions and public perception (Miller 2002). Often, the major parties would pick up parts of the third party platforms in the subsequent presidential cycle, albeit, without bringing attention to class differences (Hurst 2010).
The transition, however, was not so smooth. Men and women were attracted to the new cities because of the culture and conveniences that were unavailable to rural communities. Immigrants in particular were eager to get to cities like New York, Chicago, and Boston for these reasons, and to look for better jobs than the ones they had found at home. In fact, without the increase in immigration from 1850 to 1920 (where around 38 million came to America), cities would have expanded at lethargic rates – if at all – due to a decreasing fertility rate and a high rate of infant mortality. Death due to disease was also common. Yet the influx of immigrants managed to make up for these losses, and cities grew exponentially for nearly a century1.
Sequentially, they used their power to prevent controls by state legislatures. These circumstances effect the way one characterizes the capitalists who shaped post-Civil War industrial America and it is valid that they would be properly distinguished as corrupt “robber barons”.
Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to live in this world and country during the transition from a rural; agriculture society to an economic nation rise of an industrialized society? Well that is exactly what the people of the Gilded Age experienced. It was a time of a dramatic business and political practice. In order for the business’s to rise there soon became a great amount of separation towards the people and the country. This caused our society to experience a stressful time and made it very difficult for ideas and concepts to equal out. Throughout this specific document there are four sources that were written by different individuals. Each and every source has an explanation and an overview of the times in the Gilded Age.
In the years from 1860 through 1890, the prospect of a better life attracted nearly ten million immigrants who settled in cities around the United States. The growing number of industries produced demands for thousands of new workers and immigrants were seeking more economic opportunities. Most immigrants settled near each other’s own nationality and/or original village when in America.
The post-Civil War years between 1865 and 1900 were a time of immense social change and economic growth in the United States. This time period, commonly referred to as “The Gilded Age,” saw an end to Reconstruction, rapid industrialization, and new wealth. Despite these achievements, however, the era between Reconstruction and the beginning of the twentieth century was plagued by political stalemate, a decline of human values, increased materialism, and widespread corruption.
The exact period of time in which the Gilded Age occurred is ever-debatable, but most historians can at least agree that it started within the 20 years after the Civil War ended and lasted until the early 1920s. (West) The Gilded Age itself was characterized by the beginnings of corporations and corrupt political machines. Policies such as the General Incorporation Laws allowed business to grow larger more easily, and with less red tape involved. New technology allowed faster and more efficient production, but this explosive growth of industry called for not only more resources, but new business practices and leaders as well. (Moritz 10-12)
“Learn About the Gilded Age.” Digital History. N.p., 3 Jan. 2010. Web. 27 Feb. 2010. .
The Gilded Age was the last three decades of the nineteenth century, when America’s industrial economy exploded generating opportunities for individuals but also left many workers struggling for survival. With the many immigrants, skilled and unskilled, coming to America the labor system is becoming flooded with new employees. During this period, the immigrants, including the Italians, were unskilled and the skilled workers were usually American-born. There was also a divide in the workers and the robber barons. Robber barons were American capitalist who acquired great fortunes in the last nineteenth century, usually ruthlessly. There was much turmoil throughout the business and labor community. Two major organizations, the Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor, helped represent the workers in this time of chaos. The Knights of Labor, founded in 1869, were representing both skilled and unskilled workers. They were quite popular with a large boost in membership becoming the biggest union in 1885. They sought for equal pay and equal work. All were welcomed to the Knights of Labor; there was no discrimination on race, gender, or sex. They called for an eight-hour day in order to reduce fatigue and for safety issues. The Knights of Labor Declaration of Principles states their purpose is to “make industrial and moral worth, not wealth” (Reading 9, p. 1). This means the moral worth is to what they could contribute to society rather than monetary gains. They were working towards this improvement of the common mans life to advance in civilization and create new ideas for society. They also called upon the employer to treat the employee with respect and fairness so they can contribute to not only their company but to Amer...
The Incorporation of America sets a high standard for itself, one in which it doesn’t necessarily meet; however, the work is still expansive and masterful at describing the arguments of the Gilded Age.... ... middle of paper ... ... “Machines employed in production under the present system are “absolutely injurious,” rendering the workman more dependent; depriving him of his skill and of opportunities to acquire it; lessening his control over his own condition and the hope of improving it; cramping his mind, and in many cases distorting and enervating his body.”
From the period between the 1870’s through the 1890’s, it became an era known as the Gilded Age. The term was characterized by a famous American Literature author named Mark Twain. The writer tried to point out that the term means that while on the outside society may seem perfect and in order, underneath there is poverty, crime, corruption, and many other issues between American society’s rich and poor. This era’s gild is thicker than the cheaper material it’s covering. This can be shown through the countless numbers of achievements and advances America has made during the period of reconstruction and expansion, industrialization, and foreign affairs.
During the last 10-15 years of the Progressive Era, more than 15 million immigrants arrived in the United States— a number equal to the total number of immigrants that arrived in the previous 40 years. In 1910, three-fourths of New York City's population was made up of either immigrants or first generation Americans. Unlike earlier immigrants, the majority of the newcomers during this time came from non-English speaking European countries. Immigrants mostly traveled in from...
The Gilded Age gets its name from a book by Mark Twain called The Gilded Age: a Tale of Today. It was written in 1873, and unfortunately was not that successful. While the Gilded Age conjures up visions of ostentatious displays of wealth and decorative parties, the over all topic was politics. The book gives an extremely negative assessment of the state of American democracy at that time. Which does not come as a huge surprise coming from Twain, who famously said "It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress.” So when faced with sweeping changes in the American economy after the Civil War, the American political system both nationally and locally dealt with these problems in the best way possible, by inevitably and incredibly becoming corrupt.
“Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”, three common goals immigrants came to America seeking with hopes of the promise to prosper and gain success. However, during the Gilded Age it seemed as though these were attainable only for the select few, while others left the land they knew to spend their lives toiling away in pursuit of the American dream, many never understanding how unattainable it really was. While the Gilded Age was a time of an industrial boom and a growing economy, those working by the sweat of their brow to make the success of this time possible, were not actually ever grasping this wealth, but rather putting right back into the pockets of the wealthy. The Gilded Age compromised the American Dream by limiting the chances of the immigrant working class, and thus creating a cycle of missed opportunities keeping the immigrants from progressing much further then when they came to America to begin with.
In the words of Thomas Jefferson, “A wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circlue of our felicities.” (Jefferson, 1801) This idea echoed far beyond it’s time and into the minds and hearts of the Populist’s, and became the center and the driving force of the Progressive era. During the gilded age railroads were being built, Industrialization was rising, the population of United States was increasing dramatically; and corporate businesses were becoming extremely powerful. The gilded age was known for its corruption and business domination, it wasn’t until the Populist movement when people started to fight back and also not until the Progressive movement when people started changing the government system.
An outburst in growth of America’s big city population, places of 100,000 people or more jumped from about 6 million to 14 million between 1880 and 1900, cities had become a world of newcomers (551). America evolved into a land of factories, corporate enterprise, and industrial worker and, the surge in immigration supplied their workers. In the latter half of the 19th century, continued industrialization and urbanization sparked an increasing demand for a larger and cheaper labor force. The country's transformation from a rural agricultural society into an urban industrial nation attracted immigrants worldwide. As free land and free labor disappeared and as capitalists dominated the economy, dramatic social, political, and economic tensions were created. Religion, labor, and race relations were questioned; populist and progressive thoughts were developed; social Darwinism and nativism movements were launched.