Background: Too Much Corporate Influence In Politics

Background: Too much corporate influence in politics; the specter of socialist policies undermining capitalism and individual freedoms

After reviewing your Instructor’s Guidance and completing the weekly reading assignments (including those in the resource section below), please post a substantive discussion post of at least 200 words that analyzes how the revolutionary nature of this period impacted either Native Americans, Immigrants, or Farmers, using the following questions as the basis of your analysis: What were the most revolutionary social and economic developments of the last quarter of the nineteenth century? How did different groups of Americans respond to those changes and how effective were their responses? What role did government play in these developments? Your initial post should be no fewer than 200 words in length, which does not include works cited or the questions being answered. It should address all of the components of the question in a way that demonstrates independent, critical thought and command of the required material. All sources need to be cited using proper APA format. If you borrow wording from a source, the wording absolutely must be marked as a quotation.

Paper For Above instruction

The final quarter of the nineteenth century in America was a period marked by profound social and economic upheaval, fundamentally reshaping the landscape for Native Americans, immigrants, and farmers. The revolutionary developments during this era included rapid industrialization, the expansion of railroads, and the monopolization of key industries, which fostered unprecedented economic growth yet also precipitated significant societal disparities. For Native Americans, this period was particularly devastating; federal policies like the Dawes Act of 1887 aimed to assimilate and dispossess indigenous peoples, eroding their traditional cultures and territorial sovereignty (Gompers, 1894). The reservation system and forced removals culminated in the loss of their lands and autonomy, symbolizing a catastrophic clash between government policies and Native American sovereignty.

In contrast, farmers experienced a revolution driven by technological innovations such as mechanized equipment and improved transportation networks but responded with organized resistance. The rise of populist movements, exemplified by the Populist Party’s platform in 1892, reflected their discontent with monopolistic practices and government neglect. Farmers demanded reforms such as price controls, regulation of railroads, and an expanded silver standard to combat deflationary pressures (United States Populist Party, 1892). Their efforts, although spirited, achieved limited success, highlighting the effectiveness of their grassroots activism amid entrenched economic interests.

Immigrants, arriving in large numbers through Ellis Island, faced social upheaval yet contributed significantly to the industrial workforce (Clark, 1912). They responded by forming ethnic enclaves and labor organizations to advocate for better working conditions. The government played a complex role—sometimes facilitating their integration through policies encouraging settlement and labor, but often neglecting or opposing immigrant labor rights amidst rising nativist sentiments. The industrial revolution's transformative impact on these groups was thus met with mixed responses, shaped significantly by government policies that often prioritized business interests over social equity.

Ultimately, these responses underscored the varied ways groups grappled with the transformative forces of the period. Native Americans faced systemic dispossession, immigrants contributed to and organized within the industrial economy, and farmers fought for reforms through political activism—all shaped by a government that was often protective of corporate power and economic consolidation. This period’s revolutionary changes laid the groundwork for future social and political struggles, reflecting the enduring tension between progress and equity.

References

• Clark, F. E. (1912). Our immigrants at Ellis Island. Boston, MA: United Society of Christian Endeavor. Retrieved from the Library of Congress.
• Gompers, S. (1894, September). Letter on labor in industrial society to Judge Peter Grosscup. Retrieved from United States Populist Party archives.
• United States Populist Party. (1892, July 4). Populist Party platform. Retrieved from official party documents.
• Hardy, E. (Producer). (2001). The American industrial revolution [Video]. United States: Media Rich LLC.
• Robbins, A. (Director). (2011). Industrial New York. [Television series episode]. In E. Hardy (Executive producer), Filthy Cities: A History of Public Sanitation. United Kingdom: BBC Productions.