The Gilded Age was an era in history following the American Civil War
(1861–65) and Reconstruction (1866–77, the period after the
American Civil War during which the Southern states were reorganized
and brought back into the Union). Spanning approximately 1877 to
1900, it was a time of economic expansion and development, due primarily to the Industrial Revolution. The United States transformed itself from an agrarian (agricultural)-based economy to one rooted in
industry and business.
With the advent of technology came the need for laborers, workers
who could run the machines, man the factories, and work demanding schedules. These workers would be known as the
working-class poor. In order to keep the various
industries and factories operating smoothly,
managers and office staff were required. Thus
was born the middle class. Someone had to own
the businesses, and that privilege belonged to a
handful of men who were, for the most part, relentless in their pursuit of wealth. They grew
rich at the expense of the working class and believed that was exactly as it should be. For this
attitude, they were given the nickname robber
barons. These select elite made up the upper
class.
A characteristic of the Gilded Age was the
tendency of the upper classes to go to great
lengths to demonstrate and prove their wealth
and position in society. Grandiose mansions and
estates were built using ornate and detailed architecture. If big would suffice, gigantic was
even better, and soon New York became home
to most of the millionaires in the United States.
Yet while most of the nation’s wealth was
held by a small percentage of the population, the
majority of Americans lived in poverty. Never
before in the history of the United States had
there existed so great a gap between those who
had enough and those who had next to nothing.
The working class began to fight back, and the
Gilded Age was rife with labor strikes in which
workers refused to do their jobs until industries met certain conditions.
Unfortunately, decades would pass before the working class achieved the
justice they were seeking.
Whenever power and wealth lie in the hands of a select few, corruption at any given level will often manifest. The Gilded Age was a time of
intense political corruption. Favors were given and payment was expected, either in the form of jobs, money, or the passing of particular
laws. Big business relied on political corruption to keep the wealth and
power in the control of owners. In return, politicians got the support of big business by way of votes as well as huge monetary donations. It was
a system that worked well for both parties, but which required the exploitation and suffering of the very people who ran the factories and businesses.