Gilded Age Impact On Society

The Gilded Age, the period from the 1870s to around 1900, was named by Mark Twain, a famous author who thought the era was glittering on the surface but corrupt underneath (Mintz and McNeil). When most people picture the Gilded Age, they refer to Mark Twain's view of an imbalanced, corrupt society. Many think of the Gilded Age as an era full of social inequality, greed, careless wealthy businessmen, unhealthy and immoral lifestyles of the lower class, business scandals, and devious political tactics. Several critics and historians, who haven't set aside time to thoroughly study or take note of most of the beneficial effects of this period, may easily support and claim these beliefs. Although the Gilded Age is frequently viewed as an adverse era of social inequality and political corruption, I …show more content…
It is extremely important to recognize and acknowledge the lasting impacts that the Gilded Age contributed to the development and success of America. After the Civil War ended in 1865, many citizens living in small towns moved to urban cities to find job opportunities and hope for a better life. During this time, America began to drastically change from an economy that was dependent on agriculture to an economy that was rapidly industrializing. It was transitioning from a traditional nation to a capitalist nation, leading America to become independent and extremely wealthy. For instance, between 1878 and 1900, the gross national product more than doubled, from 7.4 to 18.7 billion (Hatheway 36). The North, an industrial powerhouse, encouraged many people to become employed in several factories and industries. By 1800, five million Americans were industrial employees, especially immigrants, women, and children (Lutz, "Labor Conditions"). Between 1880 and 1900, the numbers of employed women soared from 2.6 million to 8.6 million