Essay on History of the Gilded Age - 607 Words

Following the Civil War and Reconstruction, the federal government was looking for a way to get the people motivated; motivated to work again, motivated to have a better life again, and then like an answered prayer we entered the ‘Gilded Age’. The rapid growth from 1865 to 1900 was brought on by the availability of money and resources. With entrepreneurs willing to take a risk with this money and new resources, extraordinary growth arose. Railroads were evolving everywhere and as a result the Steel industry started to rise. With this economic boom all people, especially the federal government, sought after means to sustain this sudden increase in the market. The United States government came up with a plan to promote industrial development†¦show more content†¦A major way that the federal government protected industry in America was by taxing imports to keep the price of the same product made in the United States cheaper. These protective tariffs have been used throughout history to protect US businesses. With his five part economic plan, Alexander Hamilton was one of the earliest advocators of economic nationalism which is simply a way of saying they implemented protective tariffs that shielded the American industry from foreign competition. Along with promoting industry comes regulation. With railroads becoming more and more prevalent, problems were sure to ensue. Congress enacted laws to protect farmers and small business owners from the activities of railroads. Many people were frustrated with the big businesses taking advantage of workers and consumers. The laws that Congress passed were ones that ensured safety and fair prices in the economy. The Granger Movement would be a case in point. The farmers that were involved in this movement wanted the federal government to take action and regulate the railroad companies from charging unfair rates and carrying out their monopolistic powers in transportation. As a result, the Interstate Commerce Act was passed by Congress and the ICC was formed to regulate the railroads and their prices. Even though the federal government is the main source of promotion and regulation of industry in America, regulation almost inescapably obstructs successShow MoreRelatedEssay on American History: The Gilded Age America736 Words   |  3 PagesGilded Age America Throughout the history of the United States, the Gilded Age is regarded as a period that spanned the last three decades of the 19th century. This period starts from the Civil War came to an end in the 1865 up to 1900. The term Gilded Age was formulated by writers Charles Warner and Mark Twain in The Gilded Age: A Tale of Toady in 1873. They did this since they believed it to be an era that would be characterized by a variety of severe social problems that were camouflaged byRead MoreThe Gilded Age : American Intellectual History1219 Words   |  5 PagesSummer Musser Dr. Brown American Intellectual History March 30th, 2017 The Gilded Age’s cultural and intellectual elites were faced with a more innovative world as suggested in T.J. Jackson’s No Place of Grace, they are most often not harkened to the past as much as they would rather face the settings in the future. This book regards the effects of American antimodernism and from where it grounded its roots. Specifically, its dominant form as it withdraws from an overcivilized existence in modernRead MoreAmerican History: The Gilded Age Essay933 Words   |  4 PagesThe Gilded Age was the last three decades of the nineteenth century, when America’s industrial economy exploded generating opportunities for individuals but also left many workers struggling for survival. 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