gilded era

gilded era







15 May 2014












The Gilded Era in America



Introduction

After the civil war in the United States ended, divided groups of campaigners came together to construct a nation that would become a world power. This marked the dawn of the Gilded Age, which was period in the 19th century when the United States saw exponential growth in all factions of the country. Economy of the United States soared to new heights following the mass industrialization. Businesses and manufacturing facilities were set up to in major cities of the country. During the Gilded Age, the economy of the United States generated extraordinary levels of income and wealth for entrepreneurs and the country. The development of infrastructure, technology (telephones) and railway lines paved the way for the boom to reach to all corners of the country. Basic necessities became readily available at cheaper rates for consumers. The age of mass production had arrived (Edwards, 2007, pp. 175). .



Social Stratification

Sociology defines the term of social stratification as a notion of class that involves categorization of individuals into groups on the basis of their social status and economic well-being. These elements are compared to the existing groups and classification is made accordingly. Stratification is also done on the basis of a person political and ideological point of views. In the today’s Western societies, social stratification divides people into three broad classes of society: upper or elite class, the middle class and the lower class. These classes may also have sub-divisions depending on the occupations of the people. This form of stratification is characteristic of the societies that follow a democratic system of governance. In feudalistic societies, this stratification is generally in the form of two basic classes; nobility and peasants. Social classes can also be in the form of castes, creeds and kinship. Max Weber defined social...

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