What impact the development of new technologies had on industrialization in the gilded age.

After the Civil War and the Reconstruction era, rapid industrialization occured in the United States. This rapid industrialization, often referred to as the Gilded Age, was due to the discovery of extensive amounts of natural resources (coal, iron ore, copper, lead, timber, oil), a growing population of American families and immigrants, an abundant labor supply, an advanced transportation network, and the development of new technology, which all had a huge effect on American society. The Gilded Age led to the rise of industrial capitalism, and was characterized by corruption. Between 1865 and 1898, rapid industrialization shaped the political, social, and economic development of the US to a great extent. It profoundly impacted and reshaped…show more content…
As cities became areas of economic growth, they attracted immigrants from all over the world. Many immigrants moved to escape poverty, overcrowding in their home countries and religious persecution. In fact, in the last half of the 19th century, some 16.2 million immigrants moved to the United States. Immigrants completely changed American culture, adding diversity and blending in their own culture. Urban neighborhoods began emerging as a result, as immigrants would reside with other people from their culture, creating communities of similar ethnicities, races and classes. These neighborhoods still prevail to this day. Urbanization also occurred, as a growing number of Americans moved to cities to find employment. Further, as the industrial workforce expanded, and as more and more labor was needed to keep up with the huge demand of goods, women and even children began working in factories as well. In order for working-class families to survive in society and be able to sustain themselves, they had to send women and children to work, relying on the additional income. Working conditions were so bad, unfair, and even sometimes dangerous that there were often labor strikes, and workers often joined labor unions to protect and further their rights and interests. They would confront their business leaders to try to get better wages and working conditions. All of these social developments, that had previously been unheard of, became the norm in most industrial cities in the United States and greatly impacted society and the way of American

“I would rather earn 1% off of 100 people’s efforts than 100% of my own efforts”

– John D. Rockefeller

The Gilded Age saw the rise of massive corporations known as trusts. These trusts would eventually form monopolies over key segments of the American economy and wield tremendous power, both politically and economically.

Trusts would eventually form monopolies over key segments of the American economy

Fueled by the concepts outlined in the Gospel of Wealth, these industrialists believed in a survival of the fittest approach to economics that frequently led to confrontation with workers who wanted higher wages, safer working conditions, and greater worker protections. The rise of unions and increased frequency of strikes became central to the combative relationship between worker and employer.

The powerful individuals that led and created these monopolies became known as robber barons and they rose to power on the backs of the predominantly unskilled and unprotected labor force that fueled them.

The powerful individuals that led and created these monopolies became known as robber barons.

John D. Rockefeller and his corporation Standard Oil came to dominate the oil and gas industry that fed the machines of the Industrial Revolution along with Andrew Carnegie who created the largest steel producing company in the world. Others, like Cornelius Vanderbilt, oversaw the construction of thousands of miles of railroad lines and connected the country like never before and facilitating it all was J.P. Morgan who ran the nation’s banks and economic markets.

These men became some of the most powerful men in the country as they were able to create historical fortunes by bringing all these innovations to the masses at affordable prices.

These men, along with many others became some of the most powerful men in the country as they were able to create historical fortunes by bringing all these innovations to the masses at affordable prices. The standard of living in America was leaping upward. While this concentration of power enabled incredible economies of scale for, these robber barons controlled vast sectors of the American economy and control the lives of millions of laborers who became dependent on the jobs and wages that the industries provided.

As economic control and political power became consolidated amongst an elite few, the federal government tried to reign power back to the government through federal legislation. The passage of the Sherman Antitrust Act in 1890 and later the Clayton Antitrust Act in 1914 were the government’s attempt to regulate competition amongst private enterprises.

As economic control and political power became consolidated amongst an elite few, the federal government tried to reign power back to the government through federal legislation.

These regulations initially did little to curb the power of these massive monopolies as the businessmen found loopholes to avoid it. However, the Sherman Antitrust Act was eventually used to break up the powerful Standard Oil monopoly in 1911.

The slum is the measure of a civilization. – Jacob Riis

As cities grew due to industrialization, millions of immigrants flooded the cities in the search of jobs and a better way of life. Along the East coast immigrants from Europe came through Ellis Island before they moved to the already congested areas of New York, Boston, and Philadelphia. Immigrants from Asia passed through Angel Island near San Francisco before pursuing their own dreams in America.

By 1920 and for the first time in American history, more people in the country lived in industrialized urban areas instead of agricultural rural areas.

By 1920 and for the first time in American history, more people in the country lived in industrialized urban areas instead of agricultural rural areas. Political machines like Tammany Hall took advantage of the needs of these immigrants to consolidate political power and benefit financially from their positions, using a process known as graft. However, this dramatic move to the cities came with its own set of challenges for the political machines and city governments, especially in the poor areas of the cities that became identified as the slums.

Political machines like Tammany Hall took advantage of the needs of these immigrants to consolidate political power and benefit financially from their positions

Housing shortages plagued cities and often times multiple families would cram into small unsanitary dwellings known as tenements. The inability of people to move around cities led to innovations of mass transit. These new public transportation systems utilized new innovations in electricity and resulted in the development of an electric subway systems, streetcars, and elevated trains in order to move people around the city.

Access to clean water was available in more prosperous areas of cities, yet, many still did not have indoor plumbing or clean drinking water. The lack of clean water was a primary cause for the spread of diseases such as cholera and typhoid that spread throughout the poorer neighborhoods. As the cities continued to grow, sanitation needs were obvious as horse manure, trash, and sewage flowed through open gutters. Factories purged smoke and industrial waste into the air and water ways further damaging the surrounding environment.

The lack of clean water was a primary cause for the spread of diseases such as cholera and typhoid that spread throughout the poorer neighborhoods.

In the face of the challenges of urbanization, newspapers and reformers began to call for change. Newspaper journalists who called for social changes were known as muckrakers and advocated for social improvements throughout the city.  Infiltrating the meat packing industry, Upton Sinclair exposed the unsanitary conditions in which some of the nation’s food supply was being made and packaged in his book titled, The Jungle.

In the face of the challenges of urbanization, newspapers and reformers began to call for change.

The public outrage forced the government to pass legislation to protect public interests. The emerging influence of the Progressive Movement was felt as lobbyists pushed for federal legislation resulting in the 1906 passage of the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act. President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909) was an early reform minded president advocating for preservation of natural resources as well as challenging political machines and reforming social services.

The Gilded Age brought immense economic and technological advances and thrust the United States to the forefront of economic productivity in the world.

The Gilded Age brought immense economic and technological advances and thrust the United States to the forefront of economic productivity in the world. Rapid urbanization exposed the shortcomings of city life that immigrants faced in the overcrowded and overwhelmed cities. Monopolists took advantage of the lack of regulations within the economy to build financial empires that dominated the economic and political realm for nearly a half century. Social reform efforts ushered in a new era of progressive thought and action that would become a consistent part of the national discussion throughout the 20thcentury.

Third, a clear shift from a system of indentured servants (who were expensive and became resentful) to African slave labor (cheaper and controllable) in the South began shortly after Bacon’s Rebellion. This was significant because it united the rich and poor whites of the Tidewater region and the Carolina colonies in the formation and growth of the African slave trade in America. This unification of the social classes in the desire for wealth created a growing support for the slave system in America. Throughout the 1600’s, tobacco still was the most profitable crop in the south.  However, crop diversification did begin to take place. Due to the institution and expansion of the slave system, rice and indigo became profitable for planters as well, and by the turn of the century they were main crops in the south eventually giving way to cotton in the early 1800’s in what would ultimately become King Cotton.