CHAPTER 8The Gilded Age

Politics during the Gilded Age

1870-1900

Section 1

•The Gilded Age- A thin layer of prosperity covered the poverty and corruption in society.

•Modern Industrialists had immense wealth but that hid the fact that many suffered during this time period such as farmers, immigrants and laborers.

The Business of Politics

•Laissez-Faire Policies▫Laissez-Faire Hands off approach to economic

matters by the government▫Many Americans believed this in theory, but

most wanted government involvement, especially when it benefited them

▫EXAMPLES Tariffs to raise prices on imports Subsidies and land grants by the government

The Business of Politics•Bribes and Scandals

▫Central Pacific Railroad Budgeted $500,000/year in bribes

▫Credit Mobilier Scandal Union Pacific Railroad Company hired an outside

company to build the transcontinental railroad How the scandal works

Credit Mobilier overcharges Union Pacific to build the railroad

Credit Mobilier then gives shares of stock to representatives of congress to ensure more funding

Congress continues funding 3 years after the railroad is completed

Included in the scandal; The future president, the VP, and 30 other public officials

The Business of Politics•The Spoils System

▫Similar to nepotism▫Elected officials appoint friends and supporters

to government jobs, regardless of qualifications▫Initially the spoils system rewards loyalty, but

eventually corruption becomes so widespread that the system will collapse

The Business of Politics•The split of the political parties

▫Democrats and Republicans▫Republican platform

Favored the industrialists, bankers and eastern farmers Favored a tight money supply backed by the gold

standard High tariffs Pensions for union soldiers Government aid to the railroads Strict limits on immigration Enforcement of blue laws which were regulations that

prohibited certain activities that were considered immoral

The Business of Politics•The split of the political parties

▫Democrats and Republicans▫Democratic Platform

Attracted those in society who were less privileged Urban Immigrants, laborers southern planters, and

western farmers Increased money supply backed by silver Lower tariffs Higher farm prices Less aid to big business

Reforms of the spoils system•Rutherford B. Hayes

▫Abandoned the patronage system and only appointed qualified people to cabinet posts and fired those who were not needed

▫This did not sit well with people in power and Hayes was defeated in 1880 by James Garfield

▫Garfield's narrow victory was cut short when he was assassinated by an mentally unstable lawyer who expected a job from him under the spoils system

▫Public outrage of this murder effectively killed the spoils system

Civil Service Reform

•Chester A. Arthur reforms the spoils system ▫Pendleton Civil Service Act

Classified government jobs and qualifications needed for them

Federal employees could not be required to contribute to campaign funds

Could not be fired due to political reasons.

Reforming the Railroads•Investigations on railroads charging more for

short hauls than long hauls over the same tracks

•Rebates to favored customers•Charging different rates to different people•2 supreme court cases which helped keep

railroads unregulated▫Munn v. Illinois Only federal government could

regulate interstate commerce▫Congress finally creates the Interstate

Commerce Commission (ICC)

Depression sets in

•Depression A long period of declining economic growth.

•In 1893, an economic depression sets in due to a drained treasury, when millions of people lost their jobs or had their wages slashed.

•No government help increased the people’s anger towards the government

Welcome to the Big CityChapter 8 Section 3

Rapid Growth of cities

•Expanding Cities such as New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, St. Louis, New Orleans

•Movement from the rural areas to the cities along with immigration brought explosive growth to these cities.

Rapid Growth of cities•Changes in City life (Transportation)

▫Subways, Skyscrapers, and the start of suburbs▫Transportation helped create urban sprawl▫L-Trains (1868, NYC), Cable Cars (1873, San

Francisco), Subways (Boston, 1897) and finally the automobile (1910) contributed to mass transit and city expansion

▫Specialized areas developed with the growth of cities Banks, financial institutions, law firms and

government offices in one area Retail stores and shopping districts Industrial, wholesale and warehouse districts

formed another ring around the center of the city.

Rapid Growth of cities•Changes in City life (Living Conditions

▫Apartments and Tenements Tenements Low cost apartment buildings

designed to house many families as possible Dumbbell Tenements housing to conform to new

laws Slums Run down tenements caused by poverty,

overcrowding and neglect

Rapid Growth of cities•Major dangers Fires

▫Great Chicago Fire of 1871 When it was finally extinguished; 18,000 buildings

were destroyed, 250 dead and over 100,000 homeless.

▫Similar fires in Boston as well

•Major dangers Diseases▫Cholera, malaria, tuberculosis (TB), Diphtheria

and Typhoid.▫Epidemics

Rapid Growth of cities

•Political Divisions▫With the rise of many people in the cities

gave way to an increase in revenue▫With more power at stake, groups

competed for the most coveted spots in local governments

▫Graft- Use of one’s job to gain profit▫Political Machine- Unofficial city

organization designed to keep a particular party or group in power, usually headed by a single leader or “Boss”

Ideas for Reform

Section 4

Helping the Needy (Organizations)

•The Charity Organization Movement▫Keep detailed records on who they helped▫Forced ideas of child-raising, cooking and

cleaning on the poor and immigrants (Assimilation)

•Social Gospel Movement▫Apply the teachings of Jesus directly to society

as a whole.▫Focused on justice and charity, along with

equality•The Settlement Movement

▫Jane Addams & Ellen Fates Starr▫The Hull House in Chicago▫Centered on Community Activism and

neighborhoods

The Science of Sociology•The Settlement Movement

▫Jane Addams & Ellen Fates Starr▫The Hull House in Chicago▫Centered on Community Activism and

neighborhoods▫Began the use of neighborhood centered

learning and care, such as child-care centers, playgrounds, clubs, summer camps. Much like a YMCA

•Sociology- The science of describing how people interact with one another in a society.

Controlling Immigration & Behavior

•Nativism- favoring native born Americans rather than immigrants.▫Called for teaching only English language and

culture in schools.▫Tighter rules on citizenship ▫Targeted both western and eastern immigrants

•Prohibition▫Temperance Movement- 3 groups to eliminate

the consumption of alcohol▫Prohibition Party (1869), The Woman’s Christian

Temperance Union (1874), The Anti-Saloon League (1893).

Controlling Immigration & Behavior

•Prohibition- Why was alcohol considered to be a major problem?▫Connection of alcohol, saloons, immigrants and

political bosses▫The corruption of public morals▫Morals-A person's standards of behavior or

beliefs concerning what is and is not acceptable for them to do

•Purity Crusaders-▫Major problems in urban centers

Controlling Immigration & Behavior

•Purity Crusaders-▫Major problems in urban centers such as

alcohol, drugs, gambling, crime, and prostitution▫VICE- immoral or corrupt behavior▫Examples of legislation

Comstock Law- material deemed obscene was illegal, such as descriptions of preventing unwanted pregnancy