Morality In The Gilded Age

Political System: Massachusetts originally had a governing body called the General Court which was assembled by the original joint-stock company. This was eventually altered into a legislature for the established colony and gradually became a 2 house legislature. Voters were adult male church going property owners within the

The Gilded Age lasted from 1870 to World War 1, “1900s.” The Gilded Age was a period of fast economic development, but also much social struggle. Mark Twain in the late nineteenth century founded the “Gilded” Age, which means covered with gold on the outside, but not really golden on the inside, for example, tin. This period of time was glittering on the surface but corrupt underneath. In other words, the outside looked beautiful, but the inside looked old and trashy. During this era, it was a period of greed and cunning. Also, it was a period of fast economic development, but also much social struggle.

In Colonial America, during the 1600’s and 1700’s, there were religious, political and geographical changes which resulted in democratic and undemocratic changes.

Regardless of a colony’s religious situation, whether they allowed complete freedom of worship or were occupied by strict religious laws, all thirteen colonies were affected by a movement called the Great Awakening. Generally, the Great Awakening is characterized by a fervent revival in religion practice.Although, this movement had a major impact on most aspects of colonial life, it is important to note the effect it had on religion and how that in turn affected the political life of the colonist. Because of The Great Awakening, many ministers lost authority the authority they held over because more people were taking to studying the Bible in their own homes. This idea would have larger implications for the future. Colonists were seeing themselves

The Economy of United States grown significantly in terms of the number, size and influence in the world trade market. This was the period when the American society went through many changes and new social and economic processes have changed the organization of American society. Mark Twain an observer of Eighteen century have given a name Gilded Age as period in which wealthiest Americans were benefited by the government reforms and policies.

Grand industrial and economic growth, as well as personal opportunities for monetary success, were never higher than in the Gilded Age. The founding Industrial Fathers such as Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford, J.P. Morgan, and Cornelius Vanderbilt, to name a few, were the pioneers of the Gilded Age and without them, the United States would not resemble even a fraction of what it does today. Without question, these men were the driving force behind the industrial boom, but the debate rages on as to whether these corporate magnates were sagacious business men seeking to debauch the United States for the procurement of monetary superiority or if they were a benevolent force seeking to bring America to the highest level of economic success ever seen

The Gilded Age was a period after the Civil War, between the late 19th and early 20th century. During this time, the United States went through a period of economical, political and social growth. However, Corruption was common throughout the Gilded Age and greatly affected the United States of America. Railroad Corruption, such as Credit Mobilier, a railroad construction company for the Union Pacific RailRoad that overcharged the public for construction costs, Political Corruption that was based around various scandals as well as Patronage, were all forms of corruption that took place throughout the Gilded Age.

During the Gilded Age, Americans focused more on politics and national elections during the post-Civil War. Each election had the potential to disrupt the peace between the North and the South. In the late nineteenth century, there were record numbers of voters for each presidential election. The increase in voter turnout was also due to the result of the machine party politics. Powerful, political “bosses” in each party persuaded the urban residents into voting for a favored candidate. The candidates would then give bribes back to the bosses in appreciation for helping them get elected. The money earned would be used to improve neighborhoods to ensure a steady flow of votes for their machines. Many politicians during the Gilded Age were

The decade between 1890 and 1900 expressed a crucial time in the United States of America’s history. Many people experienced struggles throughout this time while others prospered. Mark Twain suggested that despite the significant achievements of the United States, Americans experienced poverty. This statement is an accurate description of the lively hood people experienced in their daily lives during the Gilded Age whether it was positive or negative.

There is a difference between being selfish and being greedy. The definition of greed is “Intense desire for something, especially wealth or power”, whereas the definition of selfish is “Lacking consideration for others”. During the Gilded Age, America was characterized as the Land of the Free, which attracted immigrants from all over the world to come live the American Dream. Was it greedy or selfish for these immigrants to come to America and improve their way of living? During the Gilded Age, greed is what motivated industrial innovation and for people to improve their ways of living. But with great responsibilities come great consequences, the consequence of greed is people seeing greed to be the same as being selfish. Despite this, the

I believe that this social theory was a major step for closing the gap between the rich and the poor. The people who were better off were more influenced to help out those we were suffering because they were inspired by the idea that all people were somewhat equal and had the chance of becoming successful. The poor might have even been inspired to improve their life instead of complying with the theory that natural selection had already determined their fate. The Gilded Age offered women greater opportunities for education and public involvement, either through work or campaigns for social changes such as the fight for suffrage, campaigns for better living conditions and child care, and issues related to reproductive rights ("The Gilded Age and the Beginning"). Women confidently voiced their opinions by forming Woman's Christian Temperance Union, which worked to prohibit the use of alcohol, and establishing the settle house movement. These settlement houses provided housing, food, English lessons, day care services, and tips on how to adapt to American culture for the destitute immigrants who had nowhere to

The Gilded Age was an age of rapid economic growth. Railroads, factories, and mines were slowly popping up across the country, creating a variety of new opportunities for entrepreneurs and laborers alike. These new inventions and opportunities created “...an unprecedented accumulation of wealth” (GML, 601). But the transition of America from a small farming based nation to a powerful industrial one created a huge rift between social classes. Most people were either filthy rich or dirt poor, with workers being the latter.

The Protestant Preachers began to attack individual sins like drinking and believed that wealth should be distributed to people in need. Walter Rauschenbusch and Washing Gladden believed power and wealth should be equal and competition was not Christian like. Their efforts looked to expand the church’s appeal to the lower class citizens. They wanted to make the lower class more aware of their morals and to live as Jesus would live. The churches began to establish programs for lower class citizens to alleviate poverty, fight child labor, and make better housing available to those in need. The social gospel movement’s ideas would play a part in other movements such as the civil rights

The Gilded Age was to describe America in the late nineteenth century. The outside of the US seemed glamorous and splendid alongside industrial development and massive economic growth. However, the dark sides were hidden beneath it.

How Religion is experienced by those who have no religion or belief in a God or are unsure about what they believe in, and what caused the person to stop believing or to never have a belief.