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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).

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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 stratification on classes on the basis of wealth, social status, honor, religious and political views and prestige. Talcott Parsons was of the view that mass industrialization and institutionalization can reduce the importance of class as a factor for social stratification as development progresses. Experts still argue whether human beings in pre-historic ages could be categorized as being hunters or gatherers, since the current factors of classification do not apply to the that era.

There is also widespread debate over the extent of inequality among the masses for social stratification to be effective. Human beings will always be striving to achieve more. Therefore the term inequality becomes relative to the person is question. It is more an issue of quantifying how much difference qualifies as the basis of stratification. This can be understood form the divide that was created during the Gilded Age following intense changes in society and economy.

The Gilded Age

Historically, prior to the Gilded Age, United States was a country that comprised of craftsmen and farmers. The massive economic growth in the country led to the creation of the society that drove the rich and the poor further apart. The financial situation of farmers ...