During the Gilded Age
During the Gilded Age, the United States of America experienced a number of societal and economic changes. (1865-1900). An industrialized and modern civilization was created during this transformative period. (Wagner 76).
Condemned Haymarket Anarchist by George Engel
There is a clear connection between the writers' experiences and the Gilded Age events in three documents by George Engel, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, and Lee Chew. Condemned Haymarket Anarchist by George Engel, published in 1886, describes the author's adventures after immigrating to the US in search of higher living standards. Radical labor responses during this time era led to violence in Chicago.
George Engel left Germany for the United States in 1878. Nevertheless, his experiences in Philadelphia were disappointing. The introduction of machinery increased unemployment in the United States of America. Moreover, George Engel highlighted that socialism had no space in the country and the workingmen were politically enslaved. In this regard, he developed discrete attributes. He did not respect the laws of the land because he believed that the upper class thrived at the expense of the working class. Finally, he held the belief that people should not vote. Instead, they should use all means at their command to liberate humanity.
From a Red Record (1895) by Ida B. Wells-Barnett
On the other hand, in his document, From a Red Record (1895), Ida B. Wells-Barnett highlights the rise of racial segregation and violence. The author's property was destroyed, and she lived in exile in attempts to defend her race. Notably, Ida B. Wells-Barnett lived at a time when the blacks were murdered by the southern white men on accusations of rape charges. In 1894, for instance, 197 people of color were killed without lawful defense. In this regard, the author portrays various attitudes. She pleads for all victims of terrible injustice. Moreover, she is content that threats will never suppress the truth.
Life of a Chinese Immigrant by Lee Chew
Lee Chew's document, Life of a Chinese Immigrant, explained the historical context in the United States of America in 1903. Born in Canton village, Lew Chew grew up with in the hope that he would travel to the U.S.A. and search for wealth. Later on, he moved to the United States of America, and the experiences were fascinating. He worked for an American family, earning $ 3.5 per week. He gradually learned some English and religion. Through his savings, he returned to China and opened a laundry. Lew Chew learned that Chinese prejudice against the Americans was unsubstantiated. Moreover, he believed that the cheap labor cry in China was a wild tale.
The Significance of the Documents
The three documents by George Engel, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, and Lee Chew relate significantly to the social and economic developments that took place in the United States during the Gilded Age. During this historical era, social impacts included immigration, populism, and racial discrimination (Wagner 190). Besides, this historical period was characterized by lynching and social activism (Marten 508). As evident in the documents by George Engel and Lew Chew, the two authors are immigrants. They moved to the United States of America in search of improved living standards. They believed in social activism and free-thinking. For instance, George Engel became a member of the International Working People's Association that aimed at freeing people from capitalism. In addition, the documents highlight aspects of economic developments. The Gilded Age was associated with industrialization, employment, mechanization, wealth, expanding infrastructure, investment, and banking (Storey 96).
Works Cited
Marten, James. "A Running Fight against Their Fellow Men: Civil War Veterans in Gilded Age Literature." The Journal of the Civil War Era, 5.4, 2015, pp. 504-527.
Storey, Mark. Rural Fictions, Urban Realities: A Geography of Gilded Age American Literature. Oxford University Press, 2015.
Wagner, David. Ordinary People: In and out of Poverty in the Gilded Age. Routledge, 2015.
