They were classified into four social classes: the king and aristocracy, the military, artisans and craftsmen, and peasants. Members of the aristocracy were the most respected social class, and were responsible for governing smaller areas of the dynasty.
Land, mining, and improved transportation by rail brought settlers to the American West during the Gilded Age. New agricultural machinery allowed farmers to increase crop yields with less labor, but falling prices and rising expenses left them in debt.
