The Progressive Era1876 - 1920

Reform in the Gilded AgeGilded Age- period in U.S. lasting from the

1870s-1890s marked by political corruption and extravagant spending

Wealthy spending mixed with a large population of poor who suffered

- 2/5 Americans were out of work- “Gilded Age” comes from Mark Twain in an 1873 novel• Gilded: coated in a thin layer of gold paint, implying falseness

beneath the surface (cheap jewelry, knockoff clothing)

Politics• Political power split between the two major parties– N & W voted Republican & South voted Democrat

Politics– No true power behind parties – more entertainment than

anything else– Politics driven by concern

Concern Included…

• Fear that bankers, industrialists & the wealthy were controlling politics at the expense of the public

• Fear that bribery and voter fraud would cause corruption• Spoils system – practice of rewarding political supporters with

government jobs

Reforming the Spoils System

• People offered political support in exchange for jobs

• Patronage: giving jobs to political followers, which lead to corruption

• James Garfield (president in 1881) introduces the concept of government jobs as rewards based on merit

– Merit: ability and worth versus politics– Might have been effective…but Garfield was shot – VP Chester Arthur takes over & tries to work on reform

Civil Service• Civil Service Commission: 1883 – conduct exams for

federal jobs in order to fill them on the basis of merit• Civil Service: includes all federal jobs except

elected offices & the military (about 40% jobs)

Regulating Big Business• Big business controlled the government due to

illegitimate politics

• Under Constitution the federal (nation) government had the power to regulate interstate commerce: business that crossed state lines.

• Interstate Commerce Act: signed by President Grover Cleveland in 1887 – forbade practices such as pools & rebates.

• The ICC (interstate commerce commission) oversaw these rules.

• Sherman Antitrust Act: prohibited business from trying to limit or destroy competition…Sound familiar?