The period following the Civil War was prosperous for some and back-breaking for others. This era is known by many names: the Machine Age, the Second Industrial Revolution, or the Gilded Age. As all names suggest, the rise of machines over assembly lines and the graduation of small businesses to corporations made the rich richer and the poor poorer. The Laissez Faire stance of the government during this time led to the rise of corporations during the Gilded Age that allowed big business owners to manipulate politics and heavily influence the economy causing the lower working class to band together. During Grant’s presidency, there were several scandals involving politicians in power and big businesses. In 1872, the Credit Mobilier scandal
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Instead of quitting to seek out better treatment, the workers formed unions. An Omaha newspaper called the people to unite against the wrongdoings of the government by reminding the people of who the government is supposed to be run by. “We believe that the power of the government- in other words, of the people- should be expanded as rapidly and as far as the good sense of an intelligent people and the teaching experience shall justify, to the end that oppression, injustice, and poverty shall eventually cease in the land (Document F).” The first union formed was the Knights of Labor, it was an anti-strike, anti-violence organization for all workers. While the Knights of Labor were unsuccessful in their efforts, they paved the way for Samuel Gompers, who founded the American Federation of Labor (AFL) for skilled workers. In 1893 he addressed Chicago, “The organized working men and women, the producers of the wealth of the world, declare that men, women, and children, with human brains and hearts, should have better consideration than inanimate and dormant things, usually known under the euphonious title of ‘Property’ (Document
Instead of quitting to seek out better treatment, the workers formed unions. An Omaha newspaper called the people to unite against the wrongdoings of the government by reminding the people of who the government is supposed to be run by. “We believe that the power of the government- in other words, of the people- should be expanded as rapidly and as far as the good sense of an intelligent people and the teaching experience shall justify, to the end that oppression, injustice, and poverty shall eventually cease in the land (Document F).” The first union formed was the Knights of Labor, it was an anti-strike, anti-violence organization for all workers. While the Knights of Labor were unsuccessful in their efforts, they paved the way for Samuel Gompers, who founded the American Federation of Labor (AFL) for skilled workers. In 1893 he addressed Chicago, “The organized working men and women, the producers of the wealth of the world, declare that men, women, and children, with human brains and hearts, should have better consideration than inanimate and dormant things, usually known under the euphonious title of ‘Property’ (Document