John D Rockefeller- april 11th

During the gilded age, the most powerful influences obtained their success through schemes, bribes, abuse of power, and illegal activity. John D Rockefeller, for example, exploited his workers and paid unreasonable wages. In many ways we can see this in today's politicians, many of them using tax loopholes to pay less to the government, hoarding their own money. In politics, money is the most important aspect of success. This was demonstrated during the gilded age as well. Politicians like Donald Trump and companies like siemens would right off their money and get it tax-exempt. Abuse of power is also seen through bribes, whether it's hiring someone to get inside-word, or illegally digging up emails, this is apparent in the gilded and present age. 

There are many similarities between now and the gilded age leading people to believe we have entered another  ‘golden age’, and maybe even another progressive era. The political polarization during the 1870s-1900s, was so strong it caused divides within families, companies, and classes. This political divide is still very much, if not more, present today. Along with this the rising in wealth inequality and voter suppression also continue to plague this country, as it did over a century ago. In the 1900s when voter suppression was really a threat group like the KKK would terrorize black people into not voting. More recent examples of voter suppression are through laws and legislation. Literacy tests, poll taxes, and scarcity of mail-in ballot boxes have all been used to suppress minorities votes, by about 90%. This coincides with anti-immigration policies that have been implemented, which mirror some during the gilded age. As we recovered from the gilded age, through a progressive era, some are hopeful we will have this again. 


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