of the gilded age and the zeitgeist of westward expansion. People were displaced, and lands reclaimed much in the way Eric Foner describes in his historical account of the gilded age and the transformation of the west.
Full of pathos, Merchant’s song also captures the lived experiences of those whose lives were lost. As many people “struck it rich,” (Foner 644), many others perished and the legacy of the gold rush and westward expansion included genocide. For example, Merchant refers to yellow fever and sings: “The land was free, yet it cost… Continue Reading...
legislators vote for and what their constituents prefer. In his book Unequal Democracy: The Political Economy of the New Gilded Age, Bartels argues that the increasing economic inequality in the US is evidence that legislators do not in reality represent the interests of their interests -- they represent the interests of more powerful groups or entities as opposed to the average citizen. With reference to matters of economic inequality, this paper discuses the discrepancy between the choices of legislators and the policy preferences of their constituents.
Who actually governs in the American political system remains a contentious question in political discourses, particularly due to inequality in the distribution of… Continue Reading...
theory of labor exploitation to help balance unbridled capitalist growth during the Gilded Age of industrial development. Progressivism welcomed social and technological progress both by suggesting reforms in both government and business to reduce corruption and ensure a higher quality of life for all Americans. Two of the progressive political party movements during the turn of the century included the Populist Party and the Bull Moose Party. Progressive values then later became embedded in the platform of the Democratic Party when President Franklin Roosevelt became president.
Some of the specific issues spearheaded by the Progressive movement included labor rights, women's suffrage, and… Continue Reading...
