Gilded Age

Gilded Age

Rapid growth of American economy in the late 19^th century especially in North and West America influenced the social composition of American people. Historians, call this era as Gilded age as it was the first time America enjoyed the benefits of good economy since independence. During this era, the American wages went high compared to the wages of Europeans especially for skilled workers in those two nations. Better pay of skilled workers in the US attracted many immigrants from Europe that further culminated to the increase of industrialization process in the US. Despite influx of many skilled workers from Europe, the American natives remained in poverty as the Europeans secured most of the jobs. Therefore, the era brought numerous benefits as well as demerits in the US.

Railroads formed major part of industrial growth in US, as it favored construction of several factories like mining factories that entirely depended on the rail for transportation of the minerals. Besides, the high influx of Europeans in the Western part of the US resulted in rapid growth of economy based on farming, ranching and mining. Therefore, regarding the activities that were going on in the US, concentration wealth became more evident. However, the worst part of this revolution was that the high concentration of wealth was among the immigrants while the natives were suffering from devastating poverty. The hard life faced by natives compelled Henry Lauren Dawes of Massachusetts ratify Dawes to act. An act that aimed at improving the lives of Native Americans. His main objective was to transform the lives of the Native Americans from poverty that was acting on their disadvantage. Besides, Dawes aimed at streamlining the lives of Native Americans to the mainstream of the American society (Otis, 2014). Before, Dawes Act, alienation of the natives was evident as they never featured in any channel that was driving at improvement of the economy. Therefore, through the efforts of Dawes, the Native American assimilation came to a reality as they formed part of people who were enjoying the best US economy at time.

During Gilded age, the US experienced tremendous industrialization as well as exploitation of natural resources. Conversely, various growing cities in the US provided market for the products that came from the industries. Besides, the high population of both immigrants and natives provided adequate skilled labor that was on high demand from the farms (Lears, 2009). At a time when Americans had realized the worth of their natural resources, the growing cities provided ready market for the products. This created efficient trade in the US that resulted in development of the economy as US cities were growing at a high rate. Therefore, thriving of trade between the US as and other nations was a success because the US traded on products that were on high value as well as demand. In essence, the opportunity of industrialization in America created efficient relationship of America and other countries that developed trade of US products.

Improved rail transport constitutes major factors to consider in trade between the US and other countries. Some of the bulky products such minerals reached distant markets because of the efficient rail system that was connecting industries to the cities. Transportation of the raw material from the mines to the factories was another important service that Americans achieved from the improved rail system. The rail system advanced more in the 1875 when new mines of gold were discovered in the western parts of America (Lears, 2009). Mining Corporation took over the tenders of mining in America where only skilled people used to work in the gold as well as silver mines. Despite, the efficient rail system that connected different gold and silver mines in the west, skilled labor that was provided by immigrants aided in proving the mineral ready for market (Zasloff, 2003). At this, time the market for gold and silver were at their peak in various cities. Thus, venturing in trade of minerals is a factor to consider on the boom of American economy during gilded age.

Being that by 19^th century, the US economy was the best in the world, they had an opinion of moving from coast to coast expanding their territories through trade and increasing civilization of surrounding nations. In their mission of expanding civilization, historians gave this move a name called manifest dynasty (Zasloff, 2003). This move left a complex legacy in the west as it portrayed US a nation that was promoting and defending democracy in the world. During this period, democracy had not taken effect in many countries and thus, US initiated certain social as well as political aspect in countries that were within its borders such as Mexico.

In conclusion, gilded era was the period when American transformed in economy, politics as well as social aspect. Despite, the change in US being much significant; it also had its own repercussion on the American people. For instance, the high growth of economy increased wages earned by skilled workers that further increased the number of immigrants in the US. However, as all these were happening while the American natives were suffering from acute poverty.

References

Lears, J. (2009). Rebirth of a nation: The making of modern America, 1877-1920. Harper   Collins.

Otis, D. S. (2014). The Dawes Act and the allotment of Indian lands (Vol. 123). University of       Oklahoma Press.

Zasloff, J. (2003). Law and the Shaping of American Foreign Policy: From the Gilded Age to the            New Era. NYUL Rev., 78, 239.