The Gilded Age is characterized as brilliant from the outside and corrupt from the inside- it is from that specific description that it obtained its name. This age took place in the late 19th century, from the 1870’s to the 1900’s. Rather than considering the Gilded Age as the most corrupt of the eras, it is important to view the importance of the events and people that are significant to this period of time.
During this time, major advancements to the civilization were made. One of the biggest and most impactful innovations was the rail road. After the civil war, most of the nation still lived in a rural area- such as farms and small towns. The streets, if any, were nothing greater than simple paths created with mud. The first steam locomotive …show more content…
(Chiu,509) The ideas of a transportation device that would change the whole country were initially thought to be nothing but a highly competitive fixture between two companies: the Union Pacific Railroad Company and the Central Pacific Railroad Company. The four owners of these companies were nicknamed “The Big Four”- Charles Crocker, Leland Stanford, Collins Huntington, and Mark Hopkins. Theodore Judah, a structural designer who helped fabricate the main railroad in California, advanced a course along the 41st parallel, going through Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and California. He was so fixated on the possibility of a cross-country railroad that he ended up known as "Crazy Judah." In 1859, Judah got a letter from Daniel Strong, a vendor in Dutch Flat, California, offering to indicate Judah the best course along the old wanderer street through the mountains close Donner Pass. The course had a slow ascent and required the line to cross the summit of just a single mountain as opposed to two. Judah concurred and he and Strong drew up letters of fuse for the Central Pacific Railroad Company. On July 1st, president of that time, Abraham Lincoln, signed the Pacific Railway Act. This …show more content…
These unscrupulous men were a key part of the Gilded Age due to the fact that their dishonest activities helped shape American society and industries. One of the most famous robber barons is Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie is known for his overwhelming fortune in the steel industry. Due to the fact that many innovations that were flourishing needed steel, his industry grew bigger and bigger by the year. The Carnegie Steel Corporation was the largest steel manufacturing corporation in the world! Later in his life, the successful magnant became a generous philanthropist most known for his donations of public libraries to cities- starting from his home town, Dunfermline, and extended to all of the English-speaking places such as United States, United Kingdom, and New Zealand. After two years he composed The Gospel of Wealth, which strongly enunciated his perspective of the rich as trustees of their riches who should live without excess, give decently to their families, and utilize their wealth to advance the welfare and bliss of others. This announcement of his rationality was perused everywhere throughout the world, and Carnegie's goals were generally commended. As significant as Carnegie was to the steel industry, Charles Clark was to
During this time, major advancements to the civilization were made. One of the biggest and most impactful innovations was the rail road. After the civil war, most of the nation still lived in a rural area- such as farms and small towns. The streets, if any, were nothing greater than simple paths created with mud. The first steam locomotive …show more content…
(Chiu,509) The ideas of a transportation device that would change the whole country were initially thought to be nothing but a highly competitive fixture between two companies: the Union Pacific Railroad Company and the Central Pacific Railroad Company. The four owners of these companies were nicknamed “The Big Four”- Charles Crocker, Leland Stanford, Collins Huntington, and Mark Hopkins. Theodore Judah, a structural designer who helped fabricate the main railroad in California, advanced a course along the 41st parallel, going through Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and California. He was so fixated on the possibility of a cross-country railroad that he ended up known as "Crazy Judah." In 1859, Judah got a letter from Daniel Strong, a vendor in Dutch Flat, California, offering to indicate Judah the best course along the old wanderer street through the mountains close Donner Pass. The course had a slow ascent and required the line to cross the summit of just a single mountain as opposed to two. Judah concurred and he and Strong drew up letters of fuse for the Central Pacific Railroad Company. On July 1st, president of that time, Abraham Lincoln, signed the Pacific Railway Act. This …show more content…
These unscrupulous men were a key part of the Gilded Age due to the fact that their dishonest activities helped shape American society and industries. One of the most famous robber barons is Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie is known for his overwhelming fortune in the steel industry. Due to the fact that many innovations that were flourishing needed steel, his industry grew bigger and bigger by the year. The Carnegie Steel Corporation was the largest steel manufacturing corporation in the world! Later in his life, the successful magnant became a generous philanthropist most known for his donations of public libraries to cities- starting from his home town, Dunfermline, and extended to all of the English-speaking places such as United States, United Kingdom, and New Zealand. After two years he composed The Gospel of Wealth, which strongly enunciated his perspective of the rich as trustees of their riches who should live without excess, give decently to their families, and utilize their wealth to advance the welfare and bliss of others. This announcement of his rationality was perused everywhere throughout the world, and Carnegie's goals were generally commended. As significant as Carnegie was to the steel industry, Charles Clark was to