The abuses of power that seemed to characterize the late 19th century political scene left many Americans deeply troubled. Some people called for political reform. Others-such as industrial workers and farmers-took matters into their own hands, organizing to protect their interests and to win their share of prosperity.
Your Assignment:
1) Write a letter, as Americans living in the Gilded Age, to your senator or representative. Letters should express their views of conditions in government and why civil service reform is needed. Use examples from the text to support your arguments.
Due: Sunday by no later than 11:59pm
Dear senator,
ReplyDeleteour political conditions are bad it feels like they took away our rights. Our opinions doesn't count anymore. People are more interested which favor they get from the political machines and not which person is the best to run the political office. It's more corruption right now then politics. The only goal right now in our political system is to stay in power.
One thing which is even worse then our political conditions are our working conditions. We have to work for 10 hours, 6 days a week for less then 10 dollars a week. In my opinion it is brutal in what conditions the children have to work. That's why I personally joined the Knights Labor because they fight for better working conditions. We fight for 8 hour work days, equal payment for equal work and the child labor.
Dear Senator,
ReplyDeleteWe Americans are living in what we call the Gilded Age right, well we are having trouble with corrupted representatives and presidents. Also, we are having trouble with these political machines. All these politicians do is try to keep their political power. These bosses did whatever necessary to stay in power. They did things like rigging the elections, bribery, even used violence. President Arthur, who became president after the assassination of Garfield, responded to that by helping gain passage of the Pendleton Civil Service Act in 1833. This allowed a Civil Service Commission to administer competitive examinations to those seeking government jobs. This was charged for limited value because it only covered about 10 percent of federal jobs.
By 1890, close to 75 percent of the nation's wealth was controlled by just 10 percent of the population, and many Americans industrial workers lived in poverty. All of these industrial workers worked for long hours for little pay. The laborers, mostly white unskilled men, worked at least 10 hours a day, 6 days a week, for less than $10 a week. African American, Mexican American, and Asian American men worked the same number of hours for even lower wages. Women worked for less than that even. The children laborers worked for pennies a day.
While these conditions worsened, Terrence V. Powderly founded the Knights of Labor in 1869. This union fought for the eight-hour workday, equal pay for equal work, and an end to child labor. Powderly opened the Knight's membership to both skilled and unskilled laborers and to women. Mary Harris Jones organized strikes, marches and demonstrations. She earned her title "the most dangerous woman in America."
As you can see from this, we are dealing with a lot of stress and work right now. This is just the midst of it. If you could please help us to make it better living around here for all people. It would help us a lot.
Dear Senator,
ReplyDeleteI thought this was going to be a very prosperous time for Americans. But all America has is corrupt leaders that just want to keep their jobs. These political machines are killing our country!
Dear senators,
ReplyDeletewe living in a era where I thoughts and opinions don't seem to matter at all! especially if one is poor. Its sad to see all of this political argument going around. Not only is our political side hurting, but also our work conditions are hurting us too. We have to work so long and hard for such low work wages. Plus our kids are unhealthy because they are having to work right along with us. its really sad to see. I hope one day we will be able to change all of this.
Dear senators,
ReplyDeleteI think that this time period is not going so well. Only the rich are doing well and some of the middle class are doing ok, But sometimes ok is not good enough. If you are poor there sometimes is no hope. Our leaders need to step it up a little, and do their jobs. If they are going to have the job they need to do it correctly. The political side AND work conditions are terrible. Working wages are getting lower and lower. All it is doing is hurting our country.
Dear Senators,
ReplyDeleteThe ideas and opinions of the people are not at all important to our government. There are people in power that should not because they are a political machine and does everything they can to keep the power they have. Just because they are able to stay in power with threats or bribery does not mean that they know what is best for the people of the United States. Another thing that is hurting the American citizen is the work hours and conditions. We are forced to work long, hard hours and for little pay. Most the work children do could kill them or permanently injure or impair them for life. The conditions are extremely unhealthy for everyone in there. By keeping the windows closed in the cotton mills they are limiting our clean air supply. With saw dust in the air along with other things it is polluting our lungs and causing life threating injuries or even premature death. These are not suitable conditions for our American workers. I hope that once the government is reformed you can turn your attention to helping the American citizens by helping the poor. You could also help with their jobs by raising their pay and helping clean up and make working conditions better.
Dear Senators,
ReplyDeleteWe as the people deserve to be heard. People are being bribed large amounts of money to put the wrong people in charge. These people are ruining our country and our freedom. Our leaders need to think about how they are running our country and maybe start to change some of the things that need changing in order to stay a free country.
Dear Senators,
ReplyDeleteThis is not a fair time. Wrong people have been put in charge. Our leaders do not think about how things are being ran. The working conditions in factories are not suitable for the workers. Children don't deserve this treatment of harsh unfair work environments.
dear senators,
ReplyDeleteIndustrial wages are too low and hours are too long in factories that are dangerous and unhealthy. children working in these conditions is very unnecessary. also people in charge are not doing a good job, changes need to be made.
Dear Senators,
ReplyDeleteAmericans are being treated unfairly. Our thoughts and opinions no longer matter. Only the rich are doing well, while we work unfair hours for unfair wadges. This needs to change.
Key Points
ReplyDelete•Rapid economic growth generated vast wealth during the Gilded Age
•New products and technologies improved middle-class quality of life
•Industrial workers and farmers did not share in the new prosperity, working long hours in dangerous conditions for low pay
•Gilded Age politicians were largely corrupt and ineffective
•Most Americans during the Gilded Age wanted political and social reforms, but they disagreed strongly on what kind of reform
America's economy did grow at an extraordinary rate, generating unprecedented levels of wealth. Railroads, and soon telephone lines, stretched across the country, creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs and cheaper goods for consumers. But a nation that had long viewed itself in idyllic terms, as a nation of small farmers and craftsmen, confronted the emergence of a society increasingly divided between the haves and the have-nots—a society in which many poor workers struggled just to survive while an emerging industrial and financial aristocracy lived in palatial homes and indulged in opulent amusements. Some Americans celebrated the new wealth, others lamented it; all could agree that profound changes were taking place in the country.
Dear Senators,
ReplyDeleteUs Americans are being treated very unfair and unequal. We have no say on anything anymore. You guys need to listen to the people. The rich are doing just fine, but we middle class are doing all the work and working unfair hours for unfair pay. This needs to change if you want America to prosper.
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ReplyDeleteDear Senator:
ReplyDeleteDuring the last few years, I, and others, have found that industry has changed almost every aspect of our lives. Railroads span the country, great buildings are being erected within cities, and many useful items can now be mass produced, all thanks to new technology. However, this so-called "Gilded Age" is not a paradise. The workers of aforementioned industries are overworked, spending 12-hour shifts on the job, and being paid very little in compensation. Working conditions on many railroad sites leave many workers dead. Even children are being exploited for the cause of labor. For pennies a day, children are forced to slave away in warehouses with hazardous equipment that could easily injure or kill them. I beg that you suggest government regulations for such industries to ensure the safety and welfare of their workers.
Sincerely,
A Humble Voter
Dear Senator,
ReplyDeleteOur jobs are not very good. We have terrible working conditions. We also get a very low wage. This is terrible. I feel like a slave. I also think you shouldn't let children work in factories any longer. We need high wages also, or else many of us will be quiting. Please take this into consideration.
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Dear Senator:
ReplyDeleteLife for urban dwellers is dramatically changing: new forms of transportation are being introduced and cities are growing upward and outward. How are people being treated, though? Certainly not very well. Bosses are duping their job-seekers into thinking that their businesses are worth working for, but they are being jipped and soon being forces to work in dangerous situations. People are dying in those factories. Children are even working in those environment! I believe they should be allowed to be children and go play, not work in a place that isn't even safe for adults. A civil service reform of some kind is also a serious need. Protests are breaking out across the country, causing even more deaths. The government isn't quite handling that situation correctly either. If someone throws a bomb, the police respond with gunfire (Chicago's Haymarket Square). If lives are wanting to be spared, how will gunfire on the government's part help this cause? Please see to it that these things are addressed.
Sincerely,
Kelsey Haidle
dear senator
ReplyDeleteI do not like they way our politics are going I feel like I cant even trust our government. they are so corrupt its not even funny. I hate how someone can buy their way into office.