America’s economy after the Civil war Essay Example for Free

Americas economy aft(prenominal) the Civil war Es showAfter the Civil war in the United States, Corporations grew significantly in number, size, and influence between the 1870s and 1900s. Big business impacted Americas economy, politics and as comfortably as the Americans responses to these changes. Big business began when entrepreneurs in search for wealth and success combined their business into abundant corporations. Vertical and horizontal integration were tactics used to make business grow faster. Vertical integration is the acquiring of material from the bottom up for means of mathematical production, for example Carnegie used this strategy. Horizontal integration is the positive of other companies that produce the same product, which Rockefeller used.The corporations were so large that they could and some did, force out the competition which resulted them in gaining control of that particular market. This allowed corporations to set the prices they desired, which aff ected the consumers pocket as that was the only place they could obtain the product or good from. Business men who ran these large industries became extremely wealthy, powerful and influential, often at the depreciate of many poor workers, and much of the public saw them as robber barons who exploited workers, in tell apart to accumulate immense fortunes.For example, in 1882 Rockefeller solidifies his control by establishing a monopoly or trust, which centralized control of a number of cover related companies under one board of trustee. By 1879, Rockefeller controlled 90% of the countys oil capacity. As a result of this, companies in other industries quickly imitated this trust model and used their free market control to raise prices. Also in document A, statistics atomic number 18 shown of the index prices to the average prices during a certain period of time and it is evident that as the years progressed, the cost for food, fuel and lighting reduced significantly but the cost of living of also decreased but not to the degree of the higher up mentioned. Trusts were a common way to force out the competition and control a market in the 1800s. Big business also impacted America policy-makingly as seen on document D. This political cartoon shows wealthy industrial owners, which are taking up most of the space in the US senate and are coming in from a door that is labeled Entrance for monopolist and all the trusts are lines up to enter.Also, in the remaining corner there is a door labeled Peoples entrance that had a closed hanging from it, which clearly shows that the people do not have a say in the senate. This means that industries have a great amount of power in the senate as wholesome as a big impact politically. Also in document B, from George E. McNeill, a sweat leader, is a short passage about The problem of today in 1887. He starts out explains how the squeeze line president holds so much power that it is almost as if he were the king of the ra ilroad. The article states that the railroad king collects his tithes, which is the 1/10th annual income given to clergy and to support the church, by lowering the workers wages. He also has the power to fire anyone, take away their income, delay trial on a suit at law, and postpone judgment indefinitely.This shows the amount of power in his hands, and how he has a say in politics and court. At the end, McNeill states, In his right hand he holds the government in his left hand, the people to show the sense of control he has in both areas and the degree of his influence on both, the people, and his government. Americans responses to the growing corporations were evident in document C. In this document David A. Wells claims that identity or independence of the producer in manufacturing has been in great degree destroyed as well as the pride workmen took in their work. Also, he says modern manufacturing systems have been brought into a condition similar of that of a military organizati on.This shows the rigidness of the bosses and the demand for their work to be perfect. It is also mentioned in this document that as a rule, workers are only good for one thing, and then are useless once there is no more work of that kind. Lastly, the works are no longer independent. But depend and have to attend rules to keep progressing. In document E, by Andrew Carnegie, he states that to set an example of modest he has to go forth to those who depend on him. Andrew Carnegie of the steel industry donated much of his wealth to building libraries, schools, and universities to support the less miraculous or poor. The growth of corporations evidently impacted the economy and politics, as well as the American responses to these changes, in 1870-1900.