People that lived during the Gilded Age experienced fierce divisions which caused distinct social classes. The poorest of these classes was the working class, consisting of society’s labor force. Despite working an average of 70-80 hours a week, most members of the working class “lived in constant poverty and economic insecurity” (1). It was common for families or single working men to live in dark apartments and overcrowded tenement houses. The driving factors behind the harsh living conditions were low wages and little-to-no employee benefits. In addition, many family members (including children) often worked in unsanitary and dangerous factories; around 35,000 factory workers from the years 1880 and 1900 died from workplace accidents. Even
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This group lived in urban and suburban neighborhoods that were near central business districts. Families of the middle class held a decent position in society and could afford simple luxuries. The highest class, made up of just one percent of the population, was known as the upper class, wealthy landowning families. The majority of those in the upper class lived extravagant lifestyles, imitating those of French aristocrats during the French Revolution. They also owned lavish mansions that were gathered in rich communities, which were also used to display wealth. Along with their possessions, the upper class bought political …show more content…
The exponential economic growth overwhelmed the young federal government, and state governments gained control of economic matters. As a result, it was not unheard of that politicians were bribed by state-dominating businesses and that new legislation supporting big business was passed. The corruption even spread within the federal government, and lawmakers would invest in businesses and promote bills that would increase their profits. Furthermore, the misuse of power by the government and employers lead to the exploitation of the working class. When it came to the courts, bias towards major companies were present. For instance, judges used the Sherman Act to warn against strikes which “illegally interfered with the freedom of trade” (3). The act itself originally prevented monopolies. In addition, rulings that seemed minor to freedom passed while those valuable to workers were not. The injustice continued with the Haymarket Square Massacre, in which the state government and police sided against workers who were protesting against pay cuts. The event resulted in the deaths of four strikers by police. When a peaceful protest was held later on, a bomb went off and a policeman was killed. Using the event as a publicity opportunity, anti-labor movement leaders presented the labor movement as undignified. Later on, the “leaders” of the protest were declared guilty by the court and
This group lived in urban and suburban neighborhoods that were near central business districts. Families of the middle class held a decent position in society and could afford simple luxuries. The highest class, made up of just one percent of the population, was known as the upper class, wealthy landowning families. The majority of those in the upper class lived extravagant lifestyles, imitating those of French aristocrats during the French Revolution. They also owned lavish mansions that were gathered in rich communities, which were also used to display wealth. Along with their possessions, the upper class bought political …show more content…
The exponential economic growth overwhelmed the young federal government, and state governments gained control of economic matters. As a result, it was not unheard of that politicians were bribed by state-dominating businesses and that new legislation supporting big business was passed. The corruption even spread within the federal government, and lawmakers would invest in businesses and promote bills that would increase their profits. Furthermore, the misuse of power by the government and employers lead to the exploitation of the working class. When it came to the courts, bias towards major companies were present. For instance, judges used the Sherman Act to warn against strikes which “illegally interfered with the freedom of trade” (3). The act itself originally prevented monopolies. In addition, rulings that seemed minor to freedom passed while those valuable to workers were not. The injustice continued with the Haymarket Square Massacre, in which the state government and police sided against workers who were protesting against pay cuts. The event resulted in the deaths of four strikers by police. When a peaceful protest was held later on, a bomb went off and a policeman was killed. Using the event as a publicity opportunity, anti-labor movement leaders presented the labor movement as undignified. Later on, the “leaders” of the protest were declared guilty by the court and