Gilded Age: The Rapid Urbanization and Development in 19th Century USA - Kelly Mass

Category: History, Political
Language: English
Keywords: Financial

Written by Kelly Mass
Read by Chris Newman
Format: M4B
Bitrate: 128 Kbps
Unabridged

The Gilded Age was a period in American history that covered the late 19th century, from the 1870s till around 1900. The Gilded Age was a period of great financial development in the United States, specifically in the North and West. The time saw an increase of countless European immigrants, as American incomes were considerably higher than those in Europe, specifically for experienced workers, while industrialization demanded an ever-increasing common labor force.

Between 1860 and 1890, the quick growth of market led to a 60 percent boost in real salaries, which was dispersed over an ever-increasing manpower. The typical annual wage for a commercial worker (consisting of men, women, and kids) increased by 48 percent from $380 in 1880 to $564 in 1890. On the other hand, the Gilded Age was also a time of severe poverty and inequality, as countless immigrants—many from poor parts—gathered to the United States, bringing with them a high concentration of wealth that ended up being more obvious and controversial.