The Gilded Age of America occurred in the 19th century and lasted until the early 20th century, specifically from 1860 – 1914. During this time period, America underwent drastic social and economic changes culminating from the onset of industrialization prior to World War I. A new industrial order arose from the creation of corporations and factories that created a mass influx in production of manufactured goods. Through the advent of new machinery, the cost of production, as well as the time it took, decreased dramatically – allowing factory owners to see an increase in profit while being able to produce at a quick and efficient pace that was not possible before. Due to the massive increase in production, people from all over the world immigrated to the United States in hopes of working in the factories to fashion themselves a better life. The “American Dream” was the pursuit of every immigrant and one that fed the industrialization of America. Through new technologies, such as: steel, electricity, the telephone, the typewriter, etc. America was becoming an economic powerhouse – urbanizing and producing goods at a rapid rate that soon surpassed that of our neighbors across the Atlantic. This allowed for the rise of the corporation and big businessmen or “Robber Barons” to take hold of American social and economic life through the guise of industrialization – essentially creating the building blocks for our modern day capitalist society. The big businessmen of the 19th century were most commonly known for their ruthless business tactics, but were they in fact “Robber Barons?". According to Howard Zinn, that was exactly what they were – shrewd businessmen that sought monopolies to stifle competition, maintained high prices of goods and low wages for workers to maximize profit, as well as taking government subsidies to invest in their corporations and potential capital gains. All-in-all, Zinn believes that the “Robber Barons” were greedy, narcissistic and manipulative – only doing what was in their best interest. Although much of what Zinn states is true to a certain extent, the big businessmen were not “Robber Barons,” but were ambitious innovators of the 19th century who created an advanced urban industrial society that improved the lifestyle of the average American. There are three main reasons that support this position: First, establishment of the factories, mills, shops and the rehabilitation of corporations led to an increase in jobs that allowed for the opportunity for economic growth for the working-class American. Second, big business gave rise to new inventions and the subsequent modernization of the nation. And finally, due to the corporations and big businessmen that controlled them, the US became a leading economic power in the world. The institution of factory labor created an increase in available jobs and economic opportunity, and was one of the cornerstones of the industrialization of the 19th century. In the 19th century, due to the creation of new machinery that streamlined the manufacturing process, more and more skilled artisans and farmers were taking to the cities and into the factories where there was a constant need for laborers. From 1860 to 1890 real daily wages increased by fifty percent as prices dropped, allowing working-class Americans to have a