The Gilded Age, Essay Example

Mark Twain named the closing of the 19^th Century “The Gilded Age.” Twain meant that this period was not as prosperous and beautiful as it seemed. Even though it held promise of wealth, adventure, and progress, “The Gilded Age” was full of corruption, greed, exploitation, harsh competition among industries, and treachery. The people were so engrossed in the creation of wealth that they ignored rampant social evils like corruption and poverty.

“The Gilded Age” brought a lot of suffering to minority groups like Native-Americans and African-Americans. Encroachment of Native-American land by the Whites led to the Sioux Wars and other battles between Indians and the Whites. The Native-Americans lost the wars and their lands. Division of land, deprivation of power from tribal leaders, and forceful adoption of American culture further weakened the Native-American tribal structures. Eventually, through government policies, the Native-Americans relocated to smaller and infertile reservations from ancient lands. Promises of food and clothing from the federal government never materialized since they regularly contradicted tribal customs.

African-Americans faced violence, prejudice, and inequality despite the abolishment of slavery. They lived in segregated neighborhoods, had demeaning employment, and constantly faced unprovoked violence. The enactment of state laws in the South of America robbed them of their civil rights and legalized segregation. African-Americans could not vote due to difficult literacy tests, poll taxes, violence and intimidation, and the Grandfather clauses, which did not exempt African-Americans. Consequently, many African-Americans migrated from the South to the North. Those who chose to stay developed intense church and community fellowship, which led to the creation of their own culture. Several non-governmental initiatives by prominent African-Americans like W.E.B. Dubious and Booker T. Washington aspired to improve their welfare. The chief issues that the farmers had resulted from the progressive decline in prices of their produce. The basis for this decline was overproduction of produce; however, the farmers believed that they were targets of a conspiracy that involved banks, owners of railroad companies, conservative politicians, and grain elevator operators. The farmers believed that these organizations were supporters of a money system that relied on a gold standard. The farmers complained about the high interest rates charged by banks and the unfair rates charged by railroad companies. They claimed that railroad companies charged farmers higher rates.

The farmers had many demands; however, their principal demands involved the regulation of the railroads by the government and immediate reforms in the banking and currency sector. Additionally, they called for government ownership of railroad companies, eradication of national banks, and elimination of foreign land possession. Most of the farmers’ demands did not succeed. Their move to inflate the currency did not bear fruits due to the Specie Resumption Act of 1875, which set paper money on a gold standard. The farmers’ bid to regulate the railroad industry was temporarily successful when several states, including Illinois, adopted the Grange laws. These laws enabled state governments to control railroad company rates and grain elevator charges; however; courts of law declared them unconstitutional. Some of the farmers’ ideas came into implementation by federal policy. Even though these laws did not last, the government took more responsibility in the regulation and governance of railroad companies. The farmers’ efforts marked the onset of a new period in which the federal government would take more measures in the regulation of actions of transporters and their related companies.