Workers and farmers in the Gilded Age - Essay Example

The essay below addresses the hypothetical Essential Question: Why did the Populists believe that the United s was on “the verge of moral, political, and material ruin?” Were they right? The Gilded Age marked an era of robust economic growth and development in the United States. Coming from a civil war, which pulled the American economy through major recessions and poor performance, all sectors, including the private and public, faced major growth and development. Technological advancement introduced a range of new products in the market, changing the lifestyles of the middle-class Americans.

Further, there was a significant growth in the American population, creating ready market for manufactured goods and agricultural products. The government embarked on an aggressive plan to develop the transportation sector, moving goods to far places, increasing markets for American goods. As the sectors expanded, so did their purchasing power, increase in the level of disposable income and advancement in their living conditions. Economic advancement, coupled with growth and increase in wealth almost put the American society at the verge of moral, political, and material ruin.

As economy progressively grew, the society lost sense of morals. There was little or no concern for worker’s welfare. During the final two decades of the 19th century, the United States had one of the highest industrial accident rates in the Western industrial world. “Despite these daunting conditions, there existed no government-mandated compensation for injuries sustained on the job, no old age pensions, no unemployment compensation, no occupational safety regulations, and no limitations on working hours” (Mooney, 39).

The government, holding the mandate of formulating employee protection and medical cover laws considerably neglected this mandate, with firms choosing to either compensate the injured or not. The immense growth and development in the economy increased the demand for goods. Producers and farmers did not meet this demand by increasing the number of workers; rather, they maintained the initial number of workers in their firms. Workers had to content with poor working conditions, increased levels of exploitation, and low wage and salary rates.

Amid the increased issues facing the rich and the working class, the rich and political class devised ways of beating the system, with increased levels of corruption and worker intimidation. Even the courts themselves were no refuge for the affected workers. Worker strikes characterized the period. Despite the ever-increasing profits from the business, wages and salaries remained low. Some of the employers, full of intimidation, and oblivious of the fact that no legal action would be taken against them, resulted to deducting salaries for the loudest workers.

Thus, there was a wide spread industrial unrest, with worker frequent worker strikes. In its 1895 In Re Debs decision, for example, the Court declared judges could use injunctions to halt strikes or work stoppages (Mooney, 41). Despite the low wages and salaries, workers, being the majority poor kept suffering. Commodity prices kept rising, with producers raising prices at their own will. According to Populist Party, “1892 Platform”, the newspapers are largely subsidized or muzzled, public opinion silenced, business prostrated, homes covered with mortgages, labor impoverished, and the land concentrating in the hands of capitalists.

Lears, in the book, “The Gilded Age” pointed out, “men like Andrew Carnegie and J.D. Rockefeller could carve up markets and charge whatever prices they wanted. When workers and farmers complained that high prices were ruining them, the Republican Congress responded in 1890 by raising rates even higher.” Government instructions appeared functionless. As no market forces controlled commodity prices, producers had their way, rising prices at will. In fact, the workers worked harder than ever, but they still could not survive because of the prices kept going up (Lecture notes, 23 September 2013).

Bribing was however, the biggest form of social vices practiced during this era. Unselectively, the private and public sector embraced bribery and corruption, ignorant of the negative effects it had on the economy. Although there was a sharp increase in the number of voters taking place in any elections then, politicians sought to bribe voters to win elections. Additionally, there was an increase in training of robbers, thugs and bandits, all for committing political crimes. As Populist Party, “1892 Platform” pointed out, “here, Mrs.

Lease got down training robbers and road agents, bandits, pirates, highwaymen and other non-political persons. When she was through with her James boys and Daltons she said that advancing civilization made the need of more civilized methods of robbery. Then as a gentle climax she called [Senator] John Sherman a robber and likened all gold men to footpads [an archaic term for a robber or thief specializing in pedestrian victims].” Lease, in the (11 August 1896) “Address" wrote that, “their canvas was broad and filled with compelling characters—a ruling class composed of swashbuckling robber barons, given to speculating in dubious securities, bribing entire legislatures, and squeezing maximum productivity from their workers.

” On the other hand, farmers felt that “today, the Gilded Age evokes thoughts of “robber baron” industrialists, immigrants toiling long hours in factories for little pay, massive strikes that were often put down by force, and political corruption in both big cities and the halls of Congress” (The Panic of 1893). Additionally, there was political turmoil, as politicians engaged in political blame game. At a time when the politicians needed to maintain peace and high understanding, both parties locked themselves in a war of words, for lack of policies.

Lears when describiong the “The Gilded Age” wrote, “Republicans were outraged. The Democrats would destroy the economy, they predicted. Their policies would throw people out of work. The unemployed would starve in the streets. But, the staunchly Republican Chicago Tribune mused, “Perhaps the working classes of the country need such a lesson.” The Gilded Age, despite its characterization with increased levels of economic growth and development, faced a myriad of problems and challenges.

Despite the robust economic growth and infrastructural development, only a few people in the American society benefited; the owners of the means of production. Moreover, social crimes and unethical practices characterized this noble era. With increased corruption of the courts, and bending of the law, there was no way the weak in the society (workers could seek for their rights). Bribery and corruption characterized the institutions, while coaching of thugs, robbers and bandits all for political reasons started taking place in the American society.

All these factors the gave populists enough reasons to believe that the United States was on “the verge of moral, political, and material ruin. Works Cited Populist Party, “1892 Platform” Mary E. Lease, “Address" (11 August 1896) Reading: T. Jackson Lears, “The Gilded Age” Reading: The Panic of 1893