Introduction
The US has a significant history since its establishment by the principal founding fathers. The most important Eras of the time include the Reconstruction Period (1865–1877), the Gilded Age (1870 – 1890), and the Progressive Era (1890–1920). The Reconstruction Period includes strategies to address the aftermath of the Civil War.
The Gilded Age presents an account of the social, political, and economic challenges experienced by the country, including competition, corruption, and fraud. This period was marked by significant economic growth, industrialization, and urbanization, but it was also characterized by vast inequality and corruption. The Progressive Era includes the country’s various social and political changes, including legislation and policies to enhance a just society. The Reconstruction, the Gilded, and the Progressive periods show the progression of America from the 19th to the 20th century.
The Reconstruction Era (1865-1877)
The Reconstruction Era is the time in US history after the Civil War. The war led to challenges such as a collapse of the economy, causing a decrease in property value. There was much damage in various cities in the South, leading to a vast difference between the economies in the North and the South. It seemed challenging to reconstruct the former Confederate states, but this gave Black people a chance to fight for their rights (Shi, 2019). However, many white Southerners opposed these efforts because they wanted the power dynamics that favored them to remain in place. The Reconstruction Era was a pivotal moment in American history, as the country struggled to rebuild and redefine itself after one of the greatest wars witnessed in the US.
One of the most interesting events of the time involved the enactment of the Black Codes. African Americans were against the all-white southern state legislatures’ codes as most did not favor their life in America (Shi, 2019). For instance, the rights of Black people were restricted in areas such as marriages, property ownership, and political participation. There were political conflicts across various states involving Republicans and Democrats, who were unsure of how to best reconstruct the country. After formerly enslaved people were freed, the period saw Constitution Amendments to grant some rights to Black people.
Towards the end of the Era, there were changes that resulted in the realization of self-actualization of Black people, allowing them to work for compensation rather than for free as they had during slavery. Despite this progress, white supremacy was still rampant in society, allowing for the intimidation and exploitation of Black workers. For instance, segregation prevented Black people from fully exercising their rights. Additionally, the Ku Klux Klan remained a potent strong in reinforcing white supremacy (Shi, 2019). In spite of these challenging circumstances, African American institutions such as churches and schools were established to promote their autonomy. The Reconstruction Era was marked with significant milestones in the quest for justice for Black people.
The Reconstruction Era was also marked by considerable political conflict, mainly due to the involvement of African Americans in politics. The increased participation of Black people in politics led to political conflicts since different groups vied for power and influence (Shi, 2019). The conflicts also divided Republicans into liberals and stalwarts (Shi, 2019). The political and economic landscape of the country was significantly impacted during the period under discussion. The economic health of the country was impacted by a host of complex financial issues, including monetary policies that were difficult to manage. These factors had a significant impact on the political and economic landscape of the country, and their effects were felt for many years after the Reconstruction Era came to an end.
The Gilded Age (1870-1890)
The Gilded Age was a period of rapid urbanization and industrialization, contributing to positive outcomes as well as negative consequences for society. During this period, the prosperity of the country in various sectors was accompanied by negative consequences such as social inequality, civil unrest, and corruption, among others. Companies in the Era had significantly grown to have the legal power to control other companies. This concept of control was called trust, which is the reason many giant corporations were referred to as trusts.
The Gilded Age saw a great increase in the population and production activities due to industrialization (Shi, 2019). Some areas of America that saw improvements include agricultural production and manufacturing industries. America was among the leading markets for steel, wheat, oil, and cotton (Shi, 2019). In addition to economic growth in the country, social and political changes were also witnessed, including the creation of favorable legislation guiding the rapidly advancing economy.
America was a hub of exports for both goods and services, with an excellent workforce working in diverse sectors. The concept of industrial capitalism was coined as a result of the strong economy. The agricultural and manufacturing sectors worked hand in hand, with each one of them supporting the other in growth. Commercialization called for technology integration in production and manufacturing (Shi, 2019). Some technological advances included the telephone, typewriters, and sewing machines. The innovations spurred more productivity across the North and the South.
The Gilded Age was also characterized by the building of railroads to support the fast-changing urban industrial economy. The Transcontinental Railroad was among the significant achievements of the Era, leading to the expansion of businesses in the country (Shi, 2019). Additionally, more political involvement within the economy led to overlaps between business and politics. Consequently, greater competition was witnessed in the business sector, and as such, the economy, workplace, and social life of the people were advanced. Even though there were instances of poverty, many Americans climbed to the middle and working classes.
During the Gilded Age, many competing industrialists publicly showed off their wealth. Their actions were vibrant, yet there was little value to the assets being shown off to the public. The period was characterized by many middle-class individuals, especially women in the task force. The period also advanced the skills of many workers in various sectors, including law, medicine, and science (Shi, 2019). Although many skilled jobs were created during the period, there were significant differences in wages between workers, which created inequality.
The Era also saw the formation of unions to help improve the pay and working conditions of various workers across the country. However, with growing corruption cases and the need for disparities between the rich and the poor, executives could fight against the unions. Besides, there was a growth in anarchism, where middle-class Americans became hostile due to the increased oppression of the poor. Besides, there was an increase in political corruption, justice system bribery, and other forms of fraud compared to innovation. This led to the manifestation of power among parties more than presidents. Even so, much focus was placed on tariffs, corporate regulations, and the reformation of civil services throughout the period.
The Progressive Era (1890-1920)
The Progressive Era followed after the end of the Gilded Age. Various social and political changes specifically characterized the period. Among the changes made to the American system includes the role of the government. This was specifically perpetuated by intensities in urbanization, with varied working conditions, the lack of regulation in industries, and poverty, among others. Many political officials were elected during this period; similarly, many were involved in financial fraud (Shi, 2019). This necessitated wealth differences, creating different classes, including the wealthy and the poor.
The growth of industries in the country also called for cheap labor. As a result, there were many immigrants into the country, most of whom settled in the cities. This created competition for resources, including food, shelter, transport, and medical services. Industrialization had already led to power growth amongst corporations dealing with steel, oil, and cotton products. The competition became stiff, and combined with other factors, such as the lack of resources, a governmental intervention was the only possible solution to help sustain the country’s economy.
With increased urbanization and industrialization, the economy sank into depression, further exacerbating progressivism. Furthermore, the economic depression led to significant negative consequences, including the loss of jobs and decreased savings. Progressivism saw the addressing of pertinent issues, including the unequal distribution of resources such as water and electricity, as well as crime and poverty.
Other social conditions, including working experiences, were advocated for and improved during the Progressive Era. The concept of the Social Gospel was coined to address the challenges of inequality in society (Shi, 2019). Some involved people included Protestants and Catholics, who fought for racial equality.
With more equality in the system, women were also employed as workers in various factories in the country. Women joined the women’s suffrage movement intending to advocate for their political rights, especially the right to vote (Shi, 2019). Furthermore, they fought against discrimination and harassment, as there were wage differences between men and women for similar roles. The advocacies made were based on the similar abilities of women to men in the country, along with their superiority in promoting the country’s welfare. Roosevelt’s administration also greatly supported the movements to achieve social justice.
The progressive Era led to the stabilization of the system of direct democracy. The federal government’s power was also increased, with the system becoming more transparent to the public. This allowed for public participation through referendums and citizen assemblies. City and county governments were also reformed to bring the citizens closer to the political system (Shi, 2019).
Besides, the industrial sector was revolutionized, with more productivity resulting from breaking down large tasks into smaller, manageable tasks. However, business regulations were called upon to prevent market monopoly. Other notable achievements during the progressive Era include social justice, environmental conservation, and the passing of Laws, including the Underwood-Simmons Tariff Act (1913) and Clayton Anti-Trust Act (1914) (Shi, 2019). These achievements were the stepping stones towards a socially, economically, and politically reformed country.
Conclusion
A chronology of the nation’s events is given by the Reconstruction Period, the Gilded Age, and the Progressive Era. The Reconstruction Period started just after the Civil War, and it aimed at restoring the country into its former position. The Gilded Age was characterized by fraud, manipulation, and corruption, along with positive social, economic, and political changes. The Progressive Era accounts for the continued support for positive change in the country to create an equal and just society.
Reference
Shi, D. E. (2019). America: A narrative history. W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.