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The period of rapid economic and population growth in American history was referred to as the Gilded Age during the Post-War and Post-Reconstruction in the 19th century. It is the period wherein modern industry and the economy grew at the fastest rate in the history. National transportation, communication, corporations, business organizations and business operations became functional. The country was able to bounce back after the Great Depression in 1930s and about 32 cycles of expansions and contractions since 1854. By the 20th century, the US economy became the most stable and the leader among the world.

It was really difficult to say when the industrial revolution started or when it was finished. During this era, inventions and manufacturing business and garment industry were famous. Sweatshops, where impoverished seamstresses worked as long as 16 hours during peak season, manufactured pre-cut fabric clothing for Southern slaves, Western miners and New England gentlemen. Sweaters, known notoriously for fault finding over the produced garments and withholding payment, were employers who underpay and overwork their employees, especially a contractor for piecework in the tailoring trade. Seamstresses worked under poor working environmental condition and were poorly compensated. Child labor was rampant during that period, was also acceptable because there were no laws prohibiting it. All these happened because there were no contracts to protect each party.

Due to the attention made by critics on child labor and sweatshops, mechanization and standardization, laws were formulated and implemented to benefit not just employers but also the workers. The Supreme Court regulated the employment of children, in 1918 and 1922. In 1910, the International Ladies Garment Workers Union was founded in an effort to improve the condition of sweatshop workers. As years went by, more laws covering labor and wages were implemented such as the presence of contracts to protect both the consenting parties.

Today, every legitimate businessmen and workers are protected by contracts. Both the consenting parties entering a contract agree and place into writing to abide by what was stipulated in the contract. Failure of both or one party to do so may result to litigation. Entering into federal contract involves millions of money and can be very profitable for a company.

If you plan to enter into contracting, you have to be familiar with your responsibilities as a contractor. Contractors have to know how the government buys such that you and your company must deliver the service expected. And then, you have to read the proposed contract and understand its content. Next, you have to know the identity of the government agency you are contracting with. You do not want to enter into an illegal contract, right? Neither you want to serve a sweater, do you?