Gilded Age Dbq

1870-1900 the time period after the civil war had many significant impacts. The era of reconstruction came before the gilded age. Reconstruction after the civil war had a goal of rebuilding and unifying the nation. Then the Gilded age had a strong focus on rapid industrialization, economic growth, and increasing social inequality. Big business had a significant effect on the American economy and political environment from 1870 to 1900. The number, size, and power of corporations increased quickly, having both beneficial and detrimental effects. The Gilded Age, which spanned the years 1870 to 1900, had a significant impact on major enterprises and businesses in particular. Mass manufacturing, one of the new ways that efficiency was being used,

As a result of new technological advancements, improved manufacturing processes, and economies of scale brought about by the growth of firms like Standard Oil, U.S. Steel, and the railroads, output levels rose and new markets were opened up. Because of the economy's expansion, many Americans now enjoy improved living standards, higher earnings, and reduced pricing. Document A demonstrates how During this time food, Fuel, lighting and overall price of living prices declined dramatically. This shows how agricultural, Mining and lighting innovations led to reduced prices. Falling prices of agricultural Goods led to Farmers being unhappy. Farmers were discontent with the deflation and changing supply and demand in the market. This displays how Americans appreciated the decline in prices for their overall necessities but were upset by the decline in wages and became discontent. William Jennings Bryan delivered the well-known "Cross of Gold Speech" at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, in 1896. He favored silver over gold. This is an illustration of someone trying to make the economy accessible for everyone. However severe economic inequality was instead a result of the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a small number of industrialists. As large corporations dominated their respective industries, they exercised significant control over markets, including pricing, wages, and

On document C economist David A Wells compares the way that people worked in these factories to working in the military, because each worker was taught to perform one simple task. This took away from workers' pride in what they did. Mass production techniques led to the specialization of Labor decreasing the workers Drive and lowered their skill level making them relatively easy to replace and become unemployed. Document G entitled "What Does Labor Want?" by Samuel Gompers shows how workers were unmotivated to continue their work. Gompers states that people should not be considered property and adds that the mass production techniques being used were dehumanizing. He also conveys that companies should be helping support communities that they are near to. Gompers also insist on the right to organize and that workers deserve to be paid adequate wages in that law should be passed to help with workers compensation. The financial cloud of railroads left employees helpless in many ways. Document E by Andrew Carnegie called "Wealth" explains how some business leaders believed in charity but also saw themselves as Superior compared to the common human. This shows how Business Leaders were not very humble and not often remembered where they came from and how they were once in the same position as these people that they are treating so unfairly. The labor on the Railroad and Farm was tedious and they were not compensated for how