UNITED STATES: LAND OF OPPORTUNITY (1865-1900)

United States: Land of Opportunity (1865-1900) Your Name Institutional Affiliation

UNITED STATES: LAND OF OPPORTUNITY (1865-1900) The decades between the end of the Civil War and the beginning of the twentieth

century are frequently referred to as the Gilded Age. It was a time of fundamental changes in political, social, and economic life of the United States. Industrialization, urbanization, rapid technical progress, social movements marked the period. At the time, the US was commonly considered to be a land of unlimited opportunities. Its democratic values and flourishing economy attracted millions of immigrants from all over the world, who left their home countries with the hope to attain success in America. However, democracy is known to have had its limits in the US at the time. While lots of far-reaching reforms were carried out in the USA, which laid the foundations of a democratic political system and economic freedoms, prejudices against ethnic minorities, institutionalized racism, suffrage limitations, corruption, social inequality, and economic restrictions persisted. One of the most significant achievements of the time under analysis is the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution, which abolished slavery. The documents ensured equal treatment of US citizens irrespective of their racial and ethnic origin. Though slavery was outlawed, racism existed and African Americans were often prevented from exercising their democratic rights. Although the number of African American students increased considerably, black children still had limited access to education (Calhoun, 2007). The system of segregation was implemented, which led to marginalization of African Americans. The following figures demonstrate that blacks were socially unprotected and civil rights were often denied to them. Approximately 2,500 black Americans were lynched between 1882 and 1889 (Shrock, 2004). In many cases, African Americans were accused of crimes which they had never committed, but they were incapable of proving their innocence. The period of 1865-1900 is characterized by dramatic changes in political system of the country. The fact that the number of political organizations increased and African Americans as well as immigrants were granted suffrage and encouraged to participate in state

UNITED STATES: LAND OF OPPORTUNITY (1865-1900) and federal government suggests that the USA had transformed its political system into a democratic one. For example, organizations responsible for local government represented democratic values, since all urban Americans, including foreign-born working-class people, could participate in elections of political machines bosses. While voting for their candidates, immigrants could indirectly influence democratic government of the US. The above-

mentioned organizations were supposed to provide city dwellers with essential social services such as legal assistance, jobs (Shrock, 2004). However, political machines often failed to perform their tasks well, since their bosses tended to be corrupt. African Americans were granted voting rights as well. After slavery abolition, black people could put up their candidates for senate and hold local offices if elected. According to Shrock (2004), at least one African American from southern states held office in Congress between 1881 and 1891. However, white culture dominated and black peoples efforts to participate in local or federal government were commonly confronted with outrage and hostility. White Southerners used a wide range of methods to prevent African Americans from voting. For example, in order to disenfranchise blacks they introduced a literacy test. Moreover, black voter applicants were supposed to prove that they understood the State Constitution (Shrock, 2004). Intimidation and physical violence also contributed to the considerable decrease of African Americans participation in voting. Blacks were not the only group of Americans who suffered political and social injustice. Native Americans as well as women of all ethnic backgrounds felt socially vulnerable. On the one hand, the government promoted the idea of equality. On the other hand, the government sought to subdue Indians, imposed American culture and way of life on Natives, and denied voting rights to women. The Gilded Age had a positive impact on womens position in society. Particularly, women got greater access to college education; they were more involved with charity organizations and associations, industrialization created

UNITED STATES: LAND OF OPPORTUNITY (1865-1900) more job opportunities and opened new career prospects for women. However, at the same time women were denied political freedoms and rights; they did not have access to the legal

system and government of the USA. For example, out of eight states, which held referenda on womens suffrage, only two states granted voting rights to women (Calhoun, 2007). The Gilded Age was the time of economic expansion. Railroads and new factories were built, new business practices were introduced. It is regarded as an era of unprecedented economic activity, when industrious, ambitious, and initiative people with strong management skills could become successful businessmen and industrialists. J. Rockefeller, C. Vanderbilt, and A. Carnegie were among the self-made men and their amazing life stories demonstrate that the US at the time offered a lot of individual economic opportunities. It was a period when people with wits and entrepreneurial skills could work their way up from lowpaid positions to owners of lucrative industries. However, with the development of big business and the rise of monopolies and trusts exploitation of working-class people increased. The conditions of work were abusive, and laborers struck against unequal pay, long working hours, and inadequate wages. Furthermore, considerable economic distinctions could be observed between male and female employees, native-born and immigrant laborers, white and black workers (Calhoun, 2007). Since African Americans as well as immigrants from China and other ethnic minorities were predominantly uneducated and unskilled, they tended to get low-paid and physically exhausting jobs, while white men were mostly skilled craft workers and were likely to get top positions. To sum up, in the second half of the nineteenth century the USA took decisive steps towards political democracy and social equality. It was the land of enormous economic opportunities and astonishing economic growth. However, despite numerous achievements of the Gilded Age, the problems of social barriers, racial discrimination, unequal access to education, voting rights limitations and political corruption remained unsolved.

UNITED STATES: LAND OF OPPORTUNITY (1865-1900) Reference List Calhoun, C. W. (2007). The Gilded Age: Perspectives on the origins of modern America. Rowman & Littlefield. Shrock, J. (2004). The Gilded Age. Greenwood Publishing Group.