Tariffs During The Gilded Age Essay

The gilded age was an age of industrial revolution. With inventions of machines and the major social problems, it was an era of great change for the United States.

Whether or not the politics of the Gilded Age failed in dealing with social and economic issues has long been debated by historians. Peeling away streaks of gold plastered on the deficiencies of the time, the cause of such problems can be unveiled. In finding a blame for the corruption within the growing economy and its demands on a wavering society, all fingers point to the politics of the Gilded Age.

At the turn of the 19th century also known as the Gilded Age, many immigrants came to the United States looking for opportunities to live a new life that they were not able to live back home. Many of them may have had hopes of finding a miraculous career that would bring them fame and fortune just like Carnegie, Rockefeller, and Morgan did. But in reality it was not as glamorous and prosperous as it may have seemed to be. Instead it was filled with greed and corruption. Although the United States experienced an economic boom, it created an extremely wealthy upper class. Thus only widening the wealth gap between the rich and poor during this era.

Discuss Politics in the Gilded Age. Include major political events and issues, and the roles of the “bloody shirt,” corruption, patronage, and reform movements.

The Gilded age was the period in U.S. history where politics had caused a halt in social advancement. The Robber Barons had become so rich and powerful that the country had plunged into an era of corruption. As illustrated in Joseph Keppler’s , “The Bosses of the Senate,” the monopolies of the rich had garnered immense influence in the government, effectively removing the people

As the age of Reconstruction ended, the Gilded Age of big businesses began in the United States and with it came new jobs and goods for Americans. When new corporations became more successful, it made an immense impact on the economy, the political system and the lives of citizens. Economically, the cost of food and living went down significantly as well as a surplus of jobs. Political leaders were corrupted by big business as their decisions and laws were influenced by the wealthy class’ bribes and stealing from the common man. Though mass production allowed goods to be made quicker and in greater quantity, the workers’ horrible working conditions and remarkably long hours caused the creation of unions and strikes. Despite the great effect big business had on the economy in the Gilded Age through the decline in the cost of food and fuel, the daily lives of average working-class citizens were negatively impacted by long hours, horrid working conditions leading to unions and a corrupted political system.

The Gilded Age was characterized by rapid industrialization, reconstruction, ruthless pursuit of profit, government, corruption, and vulgarity (Cashman 1). After the Civil War, America was beginning to regroup as a nation. There were many other changes developing in the country. Industrialization was taking over the formerly agricultural country. The nation’s government was also in great conflict (Foner 20). Many changes occurred during the Gilded Age. These changes affected farmers, labor, business, and politics.

The end of the Civil War marked a new integration of industry into American society. Following the war, high tariffs were put in place to compensate for the national debt that were created. The increase in tariffs also promoted domestic industries which became more critical in America. A major shift can be seen during this time, known as the Gilded Age, toward a more industrialized society rather than an agricultural one. One major influence toward this industrialized society was the building of the transcontinental railroad which ran from East to West coast. Finished in 1869, the Railroad allowed for more transport which also benefited the rising of big businesses. Regional companies could become national companies and thus changed the way people looked at industrialization. This industrialization affected the working class the most which consisted of the industrial workers and farmers. One would think that the “Gilded Age” would mean prosperity would be felt throughout the economy but the elite 1% of the population had more money than the rest of the population combined. This did not sit well with the working class, especially the industrial workers, who were the ones making the profit for the elites. However, each the farmers and industrial workers had their own way in which they responded to the industrialization of the Gilded Age.

The Gilded Age was a very special time for our nation that took place from the 1870s to around 1900. During this time, economic growth was at a rapid increase, politics were corrupted yet had high turnouts, and urbanization flourished. Every aspect of the life of an American changed drastically throughout this time of the Gilded Age. The entire era was focused on the enormous changes that each aspect of America was going through. As this is brought to attention, if we are to look into the way that America is in our time of today, we can find that there are many similarities to that of the original Gilded Age. The United States of America have currently found themselves to be experiencing the second era of the Gilded Age throughout the areas of economic, politic and social transformation.

Following the finish of the American Civil War, the period known as the Gilded Age emerged. During this period, industrialism increased rapidly as well as the amount of cities. However, with a growth of industries and cities, corruption and complications would also follow. Since businesses were booming and the economy was improving, the United States’ Presidents of this time period, such as Hayes, Garfield, and Cleveland, granted businesses large amounts of power in hopes of continuing the success of the nation. The wealthy business men were given favorable tax rates and free land, as well as a free range of power. These big businesses greatly impacted the economy by controlling the flow of production along with the wealth of the people, as well as politics through achieving an unlawful amount of power and corrupting the government, which led to the opposition of the American people and fabrication of labor unions and labor strikes.

One factor during the Gilded Age that changed American business and labor practices was the abundance of supplies. The United States had all the raw materials it could ever ask for like: coal, oil, iron ore, copper, lead, and timber. Why was this important to the U.S? This kept the U.S. from having to purchase these things from foreign countries. The United States also had an abundance of labor supply between 1865 and 1900. This gave U.S. factories a steady supply of cheap labor, there was always more workers

For many years the Republicans were the major party. The Republican party attracted bankers, while the Democratic party attracted working class immigrants. In the 1896 election, as stated in the text “McKinley won the election handily, his victory ushering in an era of Republican dominance in presidential politics that would last until the election of 1912.” (Harrison 256) The Republic dominance steered toward a Progressive party during Theodore Roosevelt’s time in office. Many women also supported the Republican party as they supported the Progressive movement. As time went on and the economy suffered a great deal many people favored the ideas of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

The People's Party was much younger than the Democratic and Republican Parties. Agricultural areas in the south and west was hit by economic depression. In the 1880s, as drought hit these areas of the Great Plains, many farmers were not able to sustain themselves. This worsened protests against railroads

Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s creation of the New Deal was positively influenced by Populism as the US did not feel threatened by other countries as well as experiencing a growth of steadiness in the US economy. The purpose creating the New Deal was to resolve the economic problems after the Great Depression. Populism, a political philosophy supporting the rights and power of people who were disadvantaged from the wealthy, was a positive movement that help create success for the New Deal. Examples of Populist Movement is the Granger Movement, also known as the National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry, and Farmers’ Alliance. The Granger Movement was created to “advance methods of agriculture, as well as to promote the social and economic needs of farmers in the United States” (Gilder). The main focus of the Granger Movement was to assist farmers because railroads owned many grain elevators, so along other laborers, they charged farmers for storage as well. The movement allowed farmers to fight for their desires and not allow the government to constantly only focus on the wealthy. The Grange had ways “to combat the federal government's economic policies, which heavily favored industry over agriculture” (Study.com). Not only did the movement benefit farmers, but it also helped shape America’s farmland. Although the Granger Movement was successful, it was also linked with the Farmers’ Alliance, which was a more political party. The Farmers’ Alliance, including the Southern Alliance and Agriculture Wheel, grew rapidly. Although it was difficult for these agricultural groups to unite, they all had similar beliefs that the nation’s financial system needed reform because agricultural prices were low and transportation prices were high. Therefore, the goal of the populist party was to “unite the farmers of America for their protection against class legislation and the

Congress passed a law to stop silver, silver were becoming too expensive, gold is the standard to determine currency. Money supply shrink and money were less valuable. Even harder for American farmer to pay back debt. Farmer began to becomes more connection (nation movement), merged with each other; start to become more political. Encourage member to vote for candidate who show their interests. Farmer alliance becomes the people party in 1892. (Populist Party) Demand they made includes: