Gilded Age- Week 8

During the past week of American Studies, we learned about the Gilded Age and that time period in U.S. history after the end of the Reconstruction Era. The Gilded age was a time period of business and industries in the United States. It was the birth of the idea of "the great American dream", where immigrants would come to the United States in hope to be the next example in the rags to riches stereotypes. We also learned about big influential businessmen, such as Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller. It was a coincidence since my main focus for the NHD project is the influence of John D. Rockefeller. We analyzed Carnegie's rags to riches story, starting off very poor, and eventually transforming into a wealthy socialite who controlled the steel industry. We also learned of the monopoly Rockefeller had constructed within the oil business, and how his company was the only major company in the industry. I believe that these two men influenced many different immigrants to come to the United States, but in reality, when they arrived, their conditions were not much better than their status in their home country. It was very rare for someone to emerge successful from the cesspool of immigrants.