The Benefits Brought by Gilded Age to America

Gilded Age America was a time between the Civil War and World War 1 which in the time the US economy grew rapidly, there was a lot of political corruption and corporate financial misdealings. A lot of wealthy people lived very fancy lives spending money to show others they had it. Railroads and mining are some examples on what helped our economy grow and also women started working and getting paid to help support their families other than just the husband working for money.

Herr Bebel reported that solidarity of the party increased since the Socialist Congress was held in Paris. They were happy with the finances and each year they went up. In three weeks the most important election will be held for the Republican Party since the events that occured in the Campaign of 1872. Few people know of the native copper from Michigan and what it actually is. They do not know how to obtain it, how to get it ready for market, nor is the industry understood. Last year there was 105,586,000 pounds of refined copper produced. It was priced at about 17 cents per pound which would be about $18,045,620. Roberson sent word to the “Finance Committee” because the investigation of the Juvenile Guardian Society’s shady methods where not made. He said that the books were not ready, saying that they were being reviewed by an expert but would be in the disposal of the committee this afternoon. The first annual report of the Directors of the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, and St Louis Railroads (The Big Four) is out, and the president says that the Directors are gratified with how good the first year went. Figures for the fiscal year ending June 30 last are: Gross earnings, $12,384,779; operating expenses, $7, 981,248; net earnings, $4,403,536; fixed charges, $2920,559; balance, $1,482,977; dividend of 5 per cent on common stock, $820,000; surplus, $162,977. The wealthy benefited most from the Gilded Age because of the job options and how much they spent just to prove they had the money. The working class helped boost the economy by mining coal and copper. They also helped spread the railroads to broader areas allowing shipping goods easier and so they were able to make it faster. The Gilded Age was a period of economic growth as the United States was trying to get ahead of Britain in industrialization. They were constantly expanding its economics in new areas, like factories, railroads, and mining.

Women at this time felt empowered and fought for their equality from men. Women were getting anxiety and fear that the immigrants were going to over power the society and lower the wealthy status by having more children. They felt that they were stealing the jobs and taking the money from their families. They started posting jobs in the newspaper for specific women. This is uncommon at this time because most women were stay at home moms. They only took care of their children and husbands did all the work for the money. The women would teach children religion and do things around the house without pay. The jobs specifically where looking for young respectable girls and most of first class. There were also a lot of ads for young immigrant women from Germany, Canada, even France. The wages the women were getting paid less than mens but it would help bring an extra income. Many women did domestic work for the middle class to bring in income. In the south, the wealthy women changed from managing the house on a plantation to one who has hired work. This created freedom for them but also raised difficulties. Taking care of the plantation and slaves were a man and womens task. Women often found themselves with double duties of working in fields by day and the house by night.

The Gilded Age was a time for wealthy women to fight for their equality and for the US economy to grow. Railroads and mining were what boosted the economy and spread it in many new areas. There were many bad things about the Gilded Age which include government corruption because of the businessmen who wanted to dominate the economy and the farmers worked long hours for little pay. But with all bad does come some good like the rapid growth in the economy created great wealth and new products and technology improved the way of living and boosted the economy.