Question

Did economic, political and social developments in the Gilded Age make people living in the United States more or less free? In answering this question, you need to explain what economic, political and social developments occurred in this era; you need to consider how these developments altered life, for better or worse, for various populations in the United States (think here, for example, about nonwhite populations, ethnic Mexicans, southern and eastern European immigrants, women across racial and class lines, the working class broadly, business leaders, urban and rural populations). The best possible answer will consider the era prior to the Gilded Age, and the lingering effects of Gilded Age transformations.

Answer 1

To answer this let us first analyze what Gilded age is: A time period between 1870 to1900 which led economy to boom as a result of rapid industrialization IN USA. Specialization and division of labor had led to increase in production. Wages paid in USA were higher than the rest of the world.

This attracted many skilled, semi skilled people from all across the world to US especially from Europe. Only around 10 years wages had increased almost by 50 %(1870 to 1885). High number of immigrants also led to social tensions like slums and higher stress on civic services. Conflicts between originals vs immigrants became stronger. Production of goods was mainly limited to tobacco, cotton and other a few commodities. Engineering, focus on infrastructure generated many jobs.

With economic booming cycles there were also changes in human rights related movements. However, the name human rights came later. Women suffrage, Labor acts demand and focus on health and education demands grew many fold. Due to rapid industrialization, the capitalists were getting richer and income divide was increasing which again was leading to pressures from labor unions.

Political rivalry was very between and Republicans Vs Democrats . Demand for racial equality was high but still common services were not shared equally.

People who were better off: Industrialists, new venture businessmen, stock traders.

Worse off people: Immigrants, women, Semi skilled immigrants.

This hyper economic, political activity resulted in great depression in 1929.