HW - Paper Answers

ForumPost 3

The Gilded Age:

Why was this period in U.S. history called the “Gilded age”? Describe the American
society during this period.
It was called the Gilded Age because society during this time was undergoing great
transformations on the surface, but also suggested it hid something else underneath. The
people felt they were leading the way for innovation and new ideas for civilization and progress,
however there was an extreme disparity between the wealthy and the working class. This also
brought up the question of if this society was only about the poor and the wealthy, or if this really
was about everyone having an opportunity to succeed.
At the expense of the working class, the wealthy remained wealthy and the working class
struggled to survive on a day to day basis. Due to these difficult conditions, the working class
felt they were not a free member of society.

The Robber Barons:

Who were the Robber Barons?
The Robber Barons were American industrialists and entrepreneurs who made profit through
taking over companies and industries. JP Morgan was one of the most notorious Robber
Barons.
Robber barons were known to be very aggressive and ruthless in their approaches to business
and entrepreneurship, and yielded very successful results. They took part in transforming the
economy but their practices were also very unethical and brutal which led to these people being
named “Robber Barons.”

Video: Labor’s Struggle

The film talks about “socialism”, which is a movement and philosophy that is very
controversial.
What were some of the critiques that socialists made about capitalist society?
Socialists in the late 19th and early 20th century argued that there was unavoidable conflict
between labor and capital (Labor’s Struggle, 9:57). They believed Capital took advantage of and
exploited the working class, putting themselves at a great advantage while putting the working
class at a great disadvantage. Oscar Neebe was a notable socialist, he was originally a Marxist
who believed that it would lead a better life, until he returned to New York and saw the
impoverished conditions people in this capitalist society lived in, which made him change his
view. He recalled it as “the cruel irony of wage slavery in a free market” (Labor’s struggle,
10:32).

What are some of the alternatives that socialists proposed?

Some alternatives proposed by socialists were economic cooperatives in which workers should
own their own factories, and that the government or the state should take only some part in
management.

How did employers and corporate owners respond to workers’ unions?
Employers and corporate owners disliked workers’ unions greatly; they felt the unions were an
intrusion to the employers’ right to organize production how they wanted.

How does the government behave during worker strikes and protests?
The government didn’t recognize labor rights, they also didn’t recognize the strikes or shutting
down production. The government was also biased in their ways as they were closer with
business than with working people. This in turn made it difficult for labor activists to protest,
because they were threatened with losing their jobs or worse.

Describe one strike or workers’ protest discussed in the video.
One protest was from the Knights of Labor and the AF of L; they disagreed with the long work
hours and were supportive of the movement for an 8 hours a day work schedule.
On May 1st 1886, labor activists were on strike to support the 8 hours a day work schedule in
Chicago. 45,000 workers marched and protested peacefully.
On May 3rd, police fired on striking workers at McCormick Harvester factory and a meeting was
called that following evening to protest police brutality.

New Deal (video)

What was the New Deal?
The New Deal refers to multiple programs, public works projects, financial reforms, and
regulations executed by President Roosevelt. This was intended to fix and stabilize the
economy and offered work and relief for the people during the Great Depression.

What was the Wagner Act?
The Wagner Act, also known as the National Labor Relations Act enacted by President
Roosevelt, gave workers the right to organize. This act made anti-union, discriminatory, and
violent activities by managers against workers illegal. Workers to form trade unions were
encouraged and free speech to assembly was protected within the workplace.

Your Thoughts:

In reflecting on the information provided in these different videos, how do you think past
struggles relate to today’s economic, political, and social issues? Provide one example.

Just like The Robber Barons video described, the companies and industries that started back
then still remain today, which I think proves just how successful the Robber barons’ aggressive
approaches were, but came at a cost to the working class. JP Morgan’s businesses still thrive
today. I think the issues back then haven’t changed much compared to modern times and are
still relevant today. The disparity of the working and middle class still having to deal with day to
day survival while the wealthy and elite keep their fortune and status. I think financial debts to
anything (medical, educational, home owning/renting, etc.) are so common that I don’t know a
single person in my life who hasn’t been in debt at least once in their lifetime. Minimum wage is
usually not considered a living wage regardless of where one lives, and police brutality has
continuously been an ongoing issue to this day. On a more positive note, I do think that work
conditions are a lot better and more practical now in the modern day compared to the past.

Reply Quote Email Author

2 days ago

Jacob Le Nguyen

RE: Forum Post 3
C O L L A P S E

Hey Tiffany, I really agree on your thoughts for the very last prompt. In todays society we still

struggle alot with the issues we had during that time period during the guilded age where there is

a huge wealth desparity. Even today the majority of those who are wealthy and remain wealthy

are due to generational wealth. They are born into places of privelege, money, and power. I am

not saying that one cannot get there themselves by using smarts and hardwork, but what I am

saying is that it is exponentially harder if you are not born into that position. Those who are born

without any generational wealth have to struggle and work alot harder than alot of others since

they lack opportunity. Although I’m not sure if anything is getting better because even as I work

I find alot of places do market good working conditions but the treatment and the mental ascpect

of the work place in alot of cases in my experience has been terrible. Although that is just

through my own case. Again great post!

Reply Quote Email Author

1 day ago

Karina Vong

RE: Forum Post 3
C O L L A P S E

As much as I’d like to think that working conditions are a lot better today, I remember reading something a
few years back that many American companies had taken to using labor in other countries to do their
work in order to make it seem as if working conditions had improved, when in reality, it would have
probably only been for American workers themselves. I don’t have the source out in front of me, but a
concern when it comes to large businesses is their practice of still seeking the highest profit possible,
which would still include poor working conditions for the people working in other countries, for an
American company (for example, I am certain a few other nations do the same).
Like you had noted, minimum wage itself is not a living wage when it comes to more expensive American
regions, yet some companies insist on paying their workers that minimum in order to profit. Hence many

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people falling into debt to make ends meet, yet another connection to the “wage slavery” we saw one of
our given sources note on.

Your insight was much appreciated,

Karina