Over the course of four years, this country was torn apart in one of the bloodiest wars it 's ever seen, one that would now be recognized as the watershed of a new modern age. The subsequent decade of reconstruction was full of change, both good and bad, which would play a key role in molding the future of the union. This change came in numerous different forms, and swept across the north and the south alike. A surprising cultural shift came in the form of both new religious awakenings, and the questionings of long held beliefs. Politically, this time period was one marked by an increase in the freedoms and liberties allotted to people other than rich white men. The Gilded Age brought about a huge economic boom, leading us from a mostly agrarian
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What took England and Germany roughly a century to complete, America managed in half the time. This time period, coined the Gilded Age by Mark Twain, was a time of both astounding wealth, and astonishing greed. Consequently, it’s not hard to believe that this revolution brought both positive and negative results. On one hand, innovators were churning out idea after idea. This led to a larger work force needed to fill the increasing demand for product. More jobs leads to increased immigration, as families from poorer countries, like Ireland, were in need of employment, and employers were in need of a steady stream of willing laborers. A transcontinental railroad was laid down from coast to coast; nearly 150000 miles, which served to making transport of raw materials and other products significantly easier. In the end, all of this equates to more money in everyone’s pocket and a strengthened economy. However, on the other had, industrialization didn’t come without cons. For one, this system promoted a widening gap between the rich and the poor. Monopolies sprang up, stealing money out of the pockets of working class americans. These laborers were forced to work long grueling hours, in often unsafe conditions, just to be rewarded with hardly enough money to live off of. To make matters worse, the government had no system in place to protect these vulnerable workers. While …show more content…
The old heavily religious culture previously favored in colonial america was brought into focus, and underwent a significant amount of change. Amendments and acts were ratified in favor of bridging the divides between the previously dominant white man, recently freed slaves, and numerous other racial groups. And finally, the Gilded Age was a heavily industrial time that came with wealth and despair, poverty and corruption. All of these events, and so many others, were stepping stones on the path towards the modern America we know
What took England and Germany roughly a century to complete, America managed in half the time. This time period, coined the Gilded Age by Mark Twain, was a time of both astounding wealth, and astonishing greed. Consequently, it’s not hard to believe that this revolution brought both positive and negative results. On one hand, innovators were churning out idea after idea. This led to a larger work force needed to fill the increasing demand for product. More jobs leads to increased immigration, as families from poorer countries, like Ireland, were in need of employment, and employers were in need of a steady stream of willing laborers. A transcontinental railroad was laid down from coast to coast; nearly 150000 miles, which served to making transport of raw materials and other products significantly easier. In the end, all of this equates to more money in everyone’s pocket and a strengthened economy. However, on the other had, industrialization didn’t come without cons. For one, this system promoted a widening gap between the rich and the poor. Monopolies sprang up, stealing money out of the pockets of working class americans. These laborers were forced to work long grueling hours, in often unsafe conditions, just to be rewarded with hardly enough money to live off of. To make matters worse, the government had no system in place to protect these vulnerable workers. While …show more content…
The old heavily religious culture previously favored in colonial america was brought into focus, and underwent a significant amount of change. Amendments and acts were ratified in favor of bridging the divides between the previously dominant white man, recently freed slaves, and numerous other racial groups. And finally, the Gilded Age was a heavily industrial time that came with wealth and despair, poverty and corruption. All of these events, and so many others, were stepping stones on the path towards the modern America we know