Two prominent eras from American History were the Gilded Age at the end of the nineteenth century and the succeeding period, the Progressive Era. The Gilded Age, also know as the Second Industrial Revolution, was a peak of high economic development with the rise of monopolies and technological advancements. Besides its economic growth, the Gilded Age handled the shift in social divisions. Before this measurement of time, slavery struck the partition between groups. After the abolishment of slavery, the class system had three major groups with robber barons at the top, then the middle class, and finally the working class that encompassed enormous quantities of immigrants. The following time period, the Progressive Era from around 1890-1920,
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Through negative liberty one believes that freedom comes when there is no interference. Likewise, free market economies believe that regulation should come from self-interest, not from government. Adam Smith said that “QUOTE” However, during late eighteen-hundreds markets were defective by reason of monopolies. Monopolies impair competition. As one company was in charge of a specific product, they consumed power over not just that creation, but over prices and workers. CITATION in the City Upon a Hill it says, “they saw the corporations as an economic tyranny—setting wages, determining working conditions, setting prices, and manipulating the political process for their own gain.” (A City Upon a Hill 211) These oppressive conditions the Robber Barons put on the people below them created incentive for a modification of liberty within …show more content…
The executives of large companies became exceedingly rich as they produced products such as: steel, railroads, oil, and other important goods. These men became millionaires as their workers worked hours upon hours to earn a few dollars. Even though during the Gilded Age wages were higher than normal for worker, there was a dramatic difference between the working class and upper ten incomes. CITATION Michael McGerr showed the contrast of the upper ten and working class in his article, from a Fierce Discontent by stating, “Upper ten, with so many millions of dollars, had no need to work, save and deny themselves pleasure at the end of the nineteenth century…working-class life—low wages, lay-offs, accidents, limited opportunity, early death” (Fierce Discontent 150). The contrast of these social classes urged many to strike against the Robber Barons to motivate better working conditions. The government intervened and monitored big companies by placing reforms on them like the Interstate Commerce Act to regulate railroads to limit their power to make it more balanced with the middle and working classes. The government used positive liberty to balance the power the upper ten had over the working class, so less strikes and to eliminate damaging boycotts and
Through negative liberty one believes that freedom comes when there is no interference. Likewise, free market economies believe that regulation should come from self-interest, not from government. Adam Smith said that “QUOTE” However, during late eighteen-hundreds markets were defective by reason of monopolies. Monopolies impair competition. As one company was in charge of a specific product, they consumed power over not just that creation, but over prices and workers. CITATION in the City Upon a Hill it says, “they saw the corporations as an economic tyranny—setting wages, determining working conditions, setting prices, and manipulating the political process for their own gain.” (A City Upon a Hill 211) These oppressive conditions the Robber Barons put on the people below them created incentive for a modification of liberty within …show more content…
The executives of large companies became exceedingly rich as they produced products such as: steel, railroads, oil, and other important goods. These men became millionaires as their workers worked hours upon hours to earn a few dollars. Even though during the Gilded Age wages were higher than normal for worker, there was a dramatic difference between the working class and upper ten incomes. CITATION Michael McGerr showed the contrast of the upper ten and working class in his article, from a Fierce Discontent by stating, “Upper ten, with so many millions of dollars, had no need to work, save and deny themselves pleasure at the end of the nineteenth century…working-class life—low wages, lay-offs, accidents, limited opportunity, early death” (Fierce Discontent 150). The contrast of these social classes urged many to strike against the Robber Barons to motivate better working conditions. The government intervened and monitored big companies by placing reforms on them like the Interstate Commerce Act to regulate railroads to limit their power to make it more balanced with the middle and working classes. The government used positive liberty to balance the power the upper ten had over the working class, so less strikes and to eliminate damaging boycotts and