I’m not going to go into alot of detail over gilded age, but here’s what you REALLY need to know in case of an FRQ:

Gilded Age equals complete laissez-faire economy (aka government puts no regulations on any businesses and does not help failing businesses)

this makes way for monopolies 

major monopolies in this time period were oil (rockefeller & his Standard Oil Company), steel (carnegie & then jp morgan), railroad (vanderbilt)

during this time period, all the presidents were termed “Forgettable Presidents” because they did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING (Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, Cleveland, Harrison, McKinley)

Sherman Anti-Trust Act (1890) - passed, but not used or put into affect until progressive era by teddy roosevelt

Social Darwinists (think biology & evolution here!) whoever is the best and most “fit” should handle the money & wealth - main argument

gospel of wealth - carnegie (if you had money, you should use it to benefit society and others)

Railroad strikes - depression

Alright enough of the bullshit you continuously hear. With the whole “you’ll learn to love yourself” or “you have to accept yourself.” Because you know what? If you do that for things you know you can change, you will just be hiding your hate for it. Not loving it. Not liking it. But tolerating it. And you can’t tolerate shit all your life.

So you know what? Enough with that bullshit. Don’t learn to love yourself. Change yourself so YOU can love yourself. 

Don’t like this trait of yours? Start making amends to change it.  Hate this habit? Start trying to avoid it. Dislike this certain thing you do? Change it. Hate the way you look? Fucking dye your hair or whatever, do what YOU want to love yourself. 

Only you and you alone know how you want to be and what you dream of being so go ahead and make that change.  Learning to love yourself over things you can’t change is good but you can change anything you want if you think about it hard enough. Do NOT let anyone guilt you into doing or being something you don’t want because they appreciate it. You have to love yourself first and foremost. 

I fucking hate myself, alright? I still do, I have to admit it. But you know what? I hated myself way more years ago or hell, months ago. I wanted to be a cute as fuck baby who’s radiating pure happiness and love. And I’d say I’m close to getting there. And I’m so much happier. 

Life is suffering. It is hard. The world is cursed. But still, you find reasons to keep living.