Image of the era
The image portrays a group of farmers that are working together to hold up a giant hand. This image represents the Gilded Age wholly because one of the biggest impacts on Work, Exchange, and Technology was the creation of labor unions. Some of the factors that led to the rise of labor unions during this era were the new problems for farmers such as price drops due to competition and deflated currnecy due to the gold standard. These problems made it a lot more difficult for farmers to work in the economy and receive profit. Furthermore, due to the laissez faire ideology during this era, the government rarely intervened nor regulated economic affairs. This led to the rise of monopolies and trusts such as the method of Vertical Integration used by Carnegie and Horizontal Integration used by Rockefeller to control the economy. Carnegie and Rockefeller were the most powerful men in America during the Gilded Age due to their large control over the steel and oil industry and the economy in general. These men had more power than the presidents during this time. Additionally, businesses had the mindset of "employers should have the power to run their businesses how they want" while unions had the mindset of "workers deserve a say in the condition of their labor." As a result, many laborers, mostly farmers, felt the need to come together as one because they saw the strength in numbers. The quote at the bottom of the image says, "The Hand That Will Rule the World--One Big Union." The quote summarizes the thoughts of the farmers and laborers during this time, which was to come together and empower each other to rise as one and regain a position in the economy as well as receive more tolerable and fair working conditions. Some examples of labor unions that emerged during the Gilded Age include the National Labor Union, the Knights of Labor, and the American Federation of Labor (AFL). Although these unions were different in their own ways, for example the Knights of Labor welcomed everyone while the American Federation of Labor only welcomed skilled workers, they all had the same purpose: to organize their own interests and apply their basic rights to the workforce in terms of better hours and wages. The National Labor Union went on a few strikes to show their individual significance in the workforce. The American Federation of Labor practiced a closed-shop policy in which all factory workers were union workers. Overall, this image clearly represents the theme of Work, Exchange, and Technology because it accurately portrays the importance of unions in the working society during the Gilded Age. Lastly, the purpose of this image is to display the sentiments of the members of the labor unions as well as to show the rise in significance of these labor unions in the economy.
This primary source is called "East and West Completion of the Great Line Spanning the Continent" and was written by Rev. Dr. Vinton in the New York Times Newspaper on May 11, 1869. This is a primary source in the form of a newspaper which applauded the construction of a transcontinental railroad (the Pacific Railroad) in the U.S. for its many pros.
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This is a primary source in the form of a propaganda poster. It contains anti-railroad sentiments and warnings concerning its many dangers and risks.
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Analysis between these documents
It is absolutely crucial to take note of the background of these two primary sources. "East and West Completion of the Great Line Spanning the Continent" was written by Rev. Dr. Vinton in the New York Times Newspaper on May 11, 1869. Rev. Dr. Vinton was a religious preacher at Trinity Church. Rev. Dr. Vinton believed strongly that "We should thank God...for the victories which had been so successful in achieving the ends of the war -- first, inspiring a mutual respect, and again in lessening the area, day by day, of rebellion. We should, above all, thank God for the great change in the sentiment of the people in respect to human freedom." The common theme that was seen in Dr. Vinton's reasons to thank God was the belief that everything happens for a reason and that unity is ideal in every situation. When Rev. Dr. Vinton mentioned thanking God for the victories to end the war because it decreased the rebellions in the nation, he wanted to underline the gratefulness he felt to God for removing the nation of any source of disunity. Similarly, when he thanked God for changing the people's heart to respect human freedom, he highlighted the unity found in accepting each other instead of having a hierarchical relationship as seen in slavery. On the other hand, the propaganda poster was created by someone who treasures the law, their basic rights, their land, and their trade. It is seen in the propaganda when it states "VIOLATION OF LAW," "annihilation of your RIGHTS," "beautiful streets," and "RUIN of your TRADE." This person also disagrees with monopolies. The evidence is seen when he puts the blame on "Camden and Amboy Railroad" company as the cause for all the issues from building the railroad. Therefore, it is logical as to why the person that created such a heavily anti-railroad propaganda poster to dissuade the public from supporting it.
These two primary sources contradict each other concerning the benefits having a transcontinental railroad and trains. "East and West Completion of the Great Line Spanning the Continent" by Rev. Dr. Vinton is for railroads while the anti-railroad propaganda is against railroads. In "East and West Completion of the Great Line Spanning the Continent," Rev. Dr. Vinton said, "It will preserve the Union of these great States." This is essential because nations with rivers and separate outlets were more likely to be separated through a lack of unity. Vinton wanted to emphasize that the transcontinental railroad is the key to maintaining the union, a key concept since the Civil War. This shows one of the most prominent benefits of the development of the railroad because it connects the East and West coast, reducing the idea of sectionalism. Furthermore, Vinton added that "It will populate the vast territory and be the great highway of the nations; their merchants will cross it to trade with us." He wanted to highlight the other benefits of the creation of the railroad such as increasing the general population throughout the country and improving the economy by allowing for a more convenient way of transporting goods. Overall, the railroad opened the way for increased settlement in the West, provided new economic opportunities, stimulated the development of communities, and brought the country together.
On the other hand, the propaganda poster shows a woman running with her kid, people panicking, and the train hitting a wagon. The point of these illustrations is to show the chaos that comes along with the new addition of the train and railroad. The poster says "MOTHERS LOOK OUT FOR YOUR CHILDREN!" The phrase was meant to appeal to pathos by bringing possible danger to the children of society. The intended audience of this propaganda was the general public, as shown by the words "ARTISANS, MECHANICS, CITIZENS!" The purpose of this propaganda was to warn the people and make them aware of the potential dangers of these new railroads. This is seen by the phrase "DREADFUL CASUALITY" and the call to action: "Rally People in the Majesty of your Strength and forbid this OUTRAGE!" The propaganda is trying to say that although the train may be a faster and more innovative way of transportation, it still has its downfalls which lay in its lack of control and potential to run over people. Morevoer, it says "through your most beautiful streets, to the RUIN of your TRADE, annihilation of your RIGHTS, and regard less of your prosperity and comfort." By appealing the fear and emotion of the common people, the propaganda makes the people reconsider whether or not the railroad is truly beneficial to their well-being. Furthermore, the propaganda emphasizes their rights and trade that would be negatively affected as a result of the railroads and trains in order to convince the public of the danger these new innovations pose outside of the realm of physical danger. The propaganda opened the eyes of the public to the negative factors of the train and railroad since everybody was blinded by the speed and convenience of these new innovations.
These primary sources may differ as a result of the differences in the opinions of Rev. Dr. Vinton and the creator of the propaganda. As a christian, Rev. Dr. Vinton believes that everything happens for a reason and that we should always have unity. This includes unity across the nation through factors like the railroad and the train. This shows his support for these innovations since they satisfy the desire for unity. His focus on establishing a united nation due to his religious beliefs was the primary motivating factor for him to support the construction of railroads. On the other hand, the propagandist is against monopolies, including railroad monopolies. In addition, they do not want the law to be broken nor do they want to lose any of their rights/land. This applies to railroads because they are some are being built without a charter and it infringes on the rights of the people who own the land that the railroad is being built upon. Due to the concerns of the propagandist, his views of the railroad is opposite that of Rev. Dr. Vinton since he values rights, land, and upheld law above unity and religion.
These two primary sources contradict each other concerning the benefits having a transcontinental railroad and trains. "East and West Completion of the Great Line Spanning the Continent" by Rev. Dr. Vinton is for railroads while the anti-railroad propaganda is against railroads. In "East and West Completion of the Great Line Spanning the Continent," Rev. Dr. Vinton said, "It will preserve the Union of these great States." This is essential because nations with rivers and separate outlets were more likely to be separated through a lack of unity. Vinton wanted to emphasize that the transcontinental railroad is the key to maintaining the union, a key concept since the Civil War. This shows one of the most prominent benefits of the development of the railroad because it connects the East and West coast, reducing the idea of sectionalism. Furthermore, Vinton added that "It will populate the vast territory and be the great highway of the nations; their merchants will cross it to trade with us." He wanted to highlight the other benefits of the creation of the railroad such as increasing the general population throughout the country and improving the economy by allowing for a more convenient way of transporting goods. Overall, the railroad opened the way for increased settlement in the West, provided new economic opportunities, stimulated the development of communities, and brought the country together.
On the other hand, the propaganda poster shows a woman running with her kid, people panicking, and the train hitting a wagon. The point of these illustrations is to show the chaos that comes along with the new addition of the train and railroad. The poster says "MOTHERS LOOK OUT FOR YOUR CHILDREN!" The phrase was meant to appeal to pathos by bringing possible danger to the children of society. The intended audience of this propaganda was the general public, as shown by the words "ARTISANS, MECHANICS, CITIZENS!" The purpose of this propaganda was to warn the people and make them aware of the potential dangers of these new railroads. This is seen by the phrase "DREADFUL CASUALITY" and the call to action: "Rally People in the Majesty of your Strength and forbid this OUTRAGE!" The propaganda is trying to say that although the train may be a faster and more innovative way of transportation, it still has its downfalls which lay in its lack of control and potential to run over people. Morevoer, it says "through your most beautiful streets, to the RUIN of your TRADE, annihilation of your RIGHTS, and regard less of your prosperity and comfort." By appealing the fear and emotion of the common people, the propaganda makes the people reconsider whether or not the railroad is truly beneficial to their well-being. Furthermore, the propaganda emphasizes their rights and trade that would be negatively affected as a result of the railroads and trains in order to convince the public of the danger these new innovations pose outside of the realm of physical danger. The propaganda opened the eyes of the public to the negative factors of the train and railroad since everybody was blinded by the speed and convenience of these new innovations.
These primary sources may differ as a result of the differences in the opinions of Rev. Dr. Vinton and the creator of the propaganda. As a christian, Rev. Dr. Vinton believes that everything happens for a reason and that we should always have unity. This includes unity across the nation through factors like the railroad and the train. This shows his support for these innovations since they satisfy the desire for unity. His focus on establishing a united nation due to his religious beliefs was the primary motivating factor for him to support the construction of railroads. On the other hand, the propagandist is against monopolies, including railroad monopolies. In addition, they do not want the law to be broken nor do they want to lose any of their rights/land. This applies to railroads because they are some are being built without a charter and it infringes on the rights of the people who own the land that the railroad is being built upon. Due to the concerns of the propagandist, his views of the railroad is opposite that of Rev. Dr. Vinton since he values rights, land, and upheld law above unity and religion.
is this seen in the world recently?
Did you know that labor unions are still present in today's society?
The biggest labor federation today is the AFL-CIO, which is comprised of 54 member unions and more than 10 million members. Another major labor federation is called "Change to Win," which is comprised of 7 labor unions and 6 million members. Some other labor federations and unions include the United Auto Workers, the Service Employees International Union and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
Although these labor unions are not as prominent as those in the Gilded Age, these unions are still crucial and serve the purpose of ensuring protection and representation of the workforce and its members. Not only do these labor federations monitory the working conditions, they also ensure that the rights of the workers are not infringed upon and that they can effectively bargain for a more substantial wage.
This tells us that America is very keen on representation and ensuring a voice in the workforce both in the past and present as seen through the labor unions such as the AFL and Knights of Labor in the Gilded Age and the AFL-CIO and Change to Win now. This also tells us that America still retains much of its culture from history even though America seems to be transforming each and every day.
The biggest labor federation today is the AFL-CIO, which is comprised of 54 member unions and more than 10 million members. Another major labor federation is called "Change to Win," which is comprised of 7 labor unions and 6 million members. Some other labor federations and unions include the United Auto Workers, the Service Employees International Union and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
Although these labor unions are not as prominent as those in the Gilded Age, these unions are still crucial and serve the purpose of ensuring protection and representation of the workforce and its members. Not only do these labor federations monitory the working conditions, they also ensure that the rights of the workers are not infringed upon and that they can effectively bargain for a more substantial wage.
This tells us that America is very keen on representation and ensuring a voice in the workforce both in the past and present as seen through the labor unions such as the AFL and Knights of Labor in the Gilded Age and the AFL-CIO and Change to Win now. This also tells us that America still retains much of its culture from history even though America seems to be transforming each and every day.
Let's ask an expert
The professor did not respond.
10 interesting facts about the gilded age
1. Sharecropping emerged during this era and forced many African Americans back into a new form of slavery because most African Americans only knew how to farm.
2. The Knights of Labor were blamed and put to death for causing the Haymarket Square Riot without proper evidence.
3. 5 transcontinental railroads were built by the end of the Gilded Age (mostly built by Chinese and Irish immigrants).
4. Most of the transcontinental railroads were built in the north so the south missed out on one of the greatest sources of money.
5. There was a shift in the Gilded Age to railroads made of steel instead of wood to help prevent derailments.
6. Pullman cars were invented during the Gilded Age which served as a luxurious railroad cars that further expanded the gap between the rich and the poor.
7. The barbed wire, invented by Joseph Gildden, changed and revolutionized the west. It also gave the idea of individual boundaries.
8. African American women worked as housekeepers due to their low social status in the midst of increasing women political power as seen with Carrie Nation, a prohibitionist.
9. The world's first skyscraper was completed in 1884. It is a ten-story building called "The Home Insurance Building" in Chicago.
10. The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 was the first nationwide strike in the United States.
2. The Knights of Labor were blamed and put to death for causing the Haymarket Square Riot without proper evidence.
3. 5 transcontinental railroads were built by the end of the Gilded Age (mostly built by Chinese and Irish immigrants).
4. Most of the transcontinental railroads were built in the north so the south missed out on one of the greatest sources of money.
5. There was a shift in the Gilded Age to railroads made of steel instead of wood to help prevent derailments.
6. Pullman cars were invented during the Gilded Age which served as a luxurious railroad cars that further expanded the gap between the rich and the poor.
7. The barbed wire, invented by Joseph Gildden, changed and revolutionized the west. It also gave the idea of individual boundaries.
8. African American women worked as housekeepers due to their low social status in the midst of increasing women political power as seen with Carrie Nation, a prohibitionist.
9. The world's first skyscraper was completed in 1884. It is a ten-story building called "The Home Insurance Building" in Chicago.
10. The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 was the first nationwide strike in the United States.
guest perspective
I asked a fellow classmate, Ara, about her thoughts on work, exchange, and technology in the Gilded Age between 1865-1898.
"The most important event/invention during the Gilded Age would probably be the formation of monopolies and what those had comprised of, i.e. oil, steel, railroads. Most of the economic prosperity that is often attributed to this time is because of how these big companies were able to thrive for the nation's economy, even if it was at the cost of the destitute. Furthermore, it was because of the monopolies that labor unions form, one of which include the AFL that still exists today.
Labor unions as a whole definitely had a positive impact to the time period as a whole in my opinion. Not only did they help to raise awareness to set regulations during the Gilded Age that had been quintessential to the rights of workers, but regulations of which still hold true today and are constantly being amended. Because of the dominance of figures like Carnegie, Vanderbilt, and Rockefeller, it made it all the more important for the rest of society, particularly the blue collar workers, to at least be able to protect their rights if not their wealth.
I guess what would qualify as an exchange would be that of the corrupt political machine Tammany Hall? It was an exchange between that of corrupt votes and exploitation of immigrants. The head of Tammany, Hall, Boss Tweed, was able to serve as a mediator in order for presidents to be elected into office by utilizing the votes of vulnerable immigrants. Though Thomas Nast had taken the machine down through his advocation against Boss Tweed, the corruption that had taken place truly reflected the underlying conflicts of the Gilded Age."
"The most important event/invention during the Gilded Age would probably be the formation of monopolies and what those had comprised of, i.e. oil, steel, railroads. Most of the economic prosperity that is often attributed to this time is because of how these big companies were able to thrive for the nation's economy, even if it was at the cost of the destitute. Furthermore, it was because of the monopolies that labor unions form, one of which include the AFL that still exists today.
Labor unions as a whole definitely had a positive impact to the time period as a whole in my opinion. Not only did they help to raise awareness to set regulations during the Gilded Age that had been quintessential to the rights of workers, but regulations of which still hold true today and are constantly being amended. Because of the dominance of figures like Carnegie, Vanderbilt, and Rockefeller, it made it all the more important for the rest of society, particularly the blue collar workers, to at least be able to protect their rights if not their wealth.
I guess what would qualify as an exchange would be that of the corrupt political machine Tammany Hall? It was an exchange between that of corrupt votes and exploitation of immigrants. The head of Tammany, Hall, Boss Tweed, was able to serve as a mediator in order for presidents to be elected into office by utilizing the votes of vulnerable immigrants. Though Thomas Nast had taken the machine down through his advocation against Boss Tweed, the corruption that had taken place truly reflected the underlying conflicts of the Gilded Age."
references
Anti-Railroad Propaganda. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. <https://www.archives.gov/files/education/lessons/anti-rail/images/propaganda-poster.gif>.
"Gilded Age." Gilded Age for Kids . N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. <http://www.american-historama.org/1866-1881-reconstruction-era/gilded-age.htm>.
"Railroads in the Late 19th Century - American Memory Timeline- Classroom Presentation | Teacher Resources - Library of Congress." Library of Congress. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. <http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/timeline/riseind/railroad/>.
"Sermon by Rev. Dr. Vinton, Trinity Church." The New York Times. The New York Times, 27 Nov. 1863. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. <http://www.nytimes.com/1863/11/27/news/sermon-by-rev-dr-vinton-trinity-church.html>.
Silverman, Jacob. "How Labor Unions Work." How Stuff Works. N.p., 07 June 2007. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. <http://money.howstuffworks.com/labor-union5.htm>.
"The First Transcontinental Railroad | Primary Source Documents." The New York Times. The New York Times, 11 May 1869. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. <https://static01.nyt.com/images/blogs/learning/pdf/2015/TheFirstTranscontinentalRailroadPrimarySourceDocuments.pdf>.
"Gilded Age." Gilded Age for Kids . N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. <http://www.american-historama.org/1866-1881-reconstruction-era/gilded-age.htm>.
"Railroads in the Late 19th Century - American Memory Timeline- Classroom Presentation | Teacher Resources - Library of Congress." Library of Congress. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. <http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/timeline/riseind/railroad/>.
"Sermon by Rev. Dr. Vinton, Trinity Church." The New York Times. The New York Times, 27 Nov. 1863. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. <http://www.nytimes.com/1863/11/27/news/sermon-by-rev-dr-vinton-trinity-church.html>.
Silverman, Jacob. "How Labor Unions Work." How Stuff Works. N.p., 07 June 2007. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. <http://money.howstuffworks.com/labor-union5.htm>.
"The First Transcontinental Railroad | Primary Source Documents." The New York Times. The New York Times, 11 May 1869. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. <https://static01.nyt.com/images/blogs/learning/pdf/2015/TheFirstTranscontinentalRailroadPrimarySourceDocuments.pdf>.