In the late 19th century the United Sates underwent a huge economic transformation, marked by the maturing of the industrial economy, the rapid expansion of big businesses, the development of large-scale agriculture, the rise of national labour unions as well as industrial conflict. During that time, the economic growth was fuelled by an increase in technological innovation and an influx of immigrant labour from southern and eastern Europe, Asia, Mexico, and Central America.
Nevertheless, the accompanying rise of the American corporations and the birth of big business resulted in a concentration of the nation's productive capacities in the hands of a small percentage of the population. The rapid implementation of mechanization also brought farming into…show more content… The ideas purported by Sumner and Carnegie in their respective publications are particularly very interesting because both, during that time, would be considered aristocrats or amongst the wealthiest in society yet the views regarding the class struggle differed immensely. Sumner and
Carnegie both agree that the capitalism is an ideal system as well as acknowledge that there is enormous income gap however, their respective analysis are different. In ‘The Gospel of Wealth’
Carnegie concedes that one of the negative byproducts of the capitalist system is income inequality.
Nonetheless, he argues that this system resulted in a general improvement in the quality of life across all social classes. In other words, although there was a large divide between rich and poor, the quality of life of the poor was better than before. He also believed that the system ensured society’s smartest
Gabrielle Barnett
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and most talented businessmen rose to the top. Therefore, he purported that the way to resolute the issue of income inequality was not to adopt the communism principle of the redistribution of wealth but instead that the wealthy people in society should strive to be philanthropic. He stated that
