The Gilded Age is often seen as an age of prosperity--a time where technology advanced and the quality of life rose. Due to the Industrial Revolution, America was experiencing an overall boost in industry and production, but at a cost. With the increase of factories, there was a move to the cities. The populations boomed, but the cities found that there was not sufficient space or supplies for those that came to work in the factories. The standard of living for the factories workers was abysmal. There was rarely the amenities that we enjoy today such as heat, lighting, or general sanitation. Millions died from these poor conditions. But due to desperation, the workers continued in these conditions in order to make a living, even if that living was barely getting them by. All this time the monopolies capitalized on the cheap labor and built their corporate empires. The poor got poorer and the rich got richer.
Meanwhile in Europe, these same principles were driving nationalistic mentalities that lead to countries like Germany to embark on a mission to monopolize power to promote their agenda at the expense of the countries around them. Nationalism seems to be on the same wave length as monopolies but on a national rather than corporate or individual scale. These ruthlessly ambitious agendas paved the way into World War I and eventually to the fascist systems that perpetuated World War II.
While The Gilded Age seemed to be a golden age, it fueled the sentiments and passions that led the world into two consecutive world wars that rocked the societies and governments of multiple nations. Progress comes at a cost. All the advances allowed people to gain power and wealth, but it also gave us crucial technology and medicine that has allowed us to continue our societal growth clear into the twenty-first century. Without it we could have avoided millions of deaths, but we wouldn’t be where we are today. How do we choose between progress and peace?
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In answer to your question, I think Liberalism may offer part of a solution. In my limited understanding, the concept of a liberal education is to teach people how to make mature, thoughtful decisions. When we have progress as a society, we often acquire new toys without having a new level of maturity or responsibility to match. As we become better equipped intellectually to handle those toys, I think that is the point where progress protects peace rather than destroying it.
ReplyDeleteYour last phrase reflects what Dr. Burton has mentioned in class a couple times regarding the struggle between order and chaos. I think both are necessary, and there isn't one without the other. Any person or family or country who has experienced peace had to triumph some obstacle and therefore, progress.
ReplyDeleteI think that progress and peace can be achieved through a more unified, global economy and society that would keep accountable the world powers and big business leaders. The ideas in the gilded age definitely have their merit, and the medicine and science were never a step in the wrong direction, however the raw form of capitalism with less labor unions and laws protecting workers led to extreme poverty in many cases.
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