Slide 1:GILDED AGE POLITICS Scandals, Corruption, Murder, and Reform during Americas Industrial Revolution


What does Gilded mean? :What does Gilded mean? Mark Twain coined the term He said it represents something cheap dipped in gold to make it look better than it really is


How does this apply to the time period? :How does this apply to the time period? America looked good on the outside to many people: Wealth Jobs Technological gains Population growth But if you looked closer you would find: Political scandals Huge gap between rich and poor Unsafe working and living conditions Unfair business practices


America: Land of the Haves :America: Land of the Haves Some of the nations businessman were getting filthy rich off of the newly booming economy They held lavish balls, wore fine clothes, lived in mansions, and even lit cigars with 100 dollar bills


…and the Have Nots :…and the Have Nots Most of the nation’s people middle and lower class laborers This immigrant family living in a New York slum represents what was the more common scene in American cities


Where was the government to protect its people when they needed it most? :Where was the government to protect its people when they needed it most? There were six presidents from 1865-1897… all Republican except for 1 City governments controlled by political machines


Tammany Hall :Tammany Hall New York City Boss Tweed Patronage/spoils system Graft


Slide 8:Helped with: Jobs Citizenship Housing Social Activities


Slide 9:Republicans Generally conservative Native Born Citizens Union Civil War Vets Protestant Tight money policy Favored Laissez-Faire Small Government. Low Taxes for rich Against Social Welfare Programs High Tariffs


Slide 10:Democrats Generally liberal Immigrants/Laborers Lower/Middle Class Catholic/Protestant Hate Laissez-Faire Big Government Pro Social Welfare Programs Higher taxes for rich People’s rights come first Soft money policy


Slide 11:Ulysses S. Grant 1869-1877 REPUBLICAN A war hero, not a politician Presidency controlled by big business; riddled with scandal FAILURE Supported Spoils System: jobs given to friends + supporters despite qualifications for positions (a.k.a. patronage)


Slide 12:Scandals Credit Mobilier: Paid millions for work reportedly done building Transcontinental RR Whiskey Ring Scandal: Government lost millions when Grant’s government friends allowed whiskey distillers to report less production resulting in lower taxes on their goods Belknap Scandal: Grant’s Secretary of War made money off of selling licenses to people who were supposed to take care of Indian Reservations…they didn’t


1876 Election :1876 Election Hayes (R) OH vs. Sam Tilden (D) New York Hayes initially lost popular vote and electoral vote 4 states electors disputed (FL, SC, LA, OR)…worth 20 electoral votes Great Compromise of 1877 Electoral votes for troop removal in South Popular Vote


Slide 14:Rutherford B. Hayes 1877-1881 REPUBLICAN Civil War Hero Mostly ineffective Illegitimate president Wanted to reform spoils system; lost support of his party but… Outlawed mandatory campaign contributions from federal employees Fired employees not needed Didn’t run for 2nd term AVERAGE


Slide 15:James Garfield 1881 REPUBLICAN Civil War Hero Honest man that was a moderate republican (Half-Breed) Balanced with V.P Chester Arthur who supported old time republicans (Stalwart) Killed first year in office by Charles Guiteau NOT RATED


Slide 16:Garfield’s Assassination


Slide 17:New technology used to try and save President Garfield…not successful What is it?


Slide 18:Chester A. Arthur 1881-1885 REPUBLICAN Turned Against old time Republicans Got Pendleton Civil Service Act passed Must now pass qualification test to get government job Government employees cannot be fired because of political beliefs. AVERAGE


Loses Support :Loses Support Broke from party on issue of tariffs: he supported lowering when government was running a surplus Passed Chinese Exclusion Act 1882


Slide 20:Grover Cleveland 1885-1889 Elected despite fathering a child out of wedlock In fun, Republicans chanted “Ma, Ma, Where’s My Pa?” Democrats responded, “Going to the Whitehouse, Ha, Ha, Ha!”


Slide 21:Democrats in the Whitehouse DEMOCRAT Favored regulation of Big Business Rejected: Spoils system High tariffs Supported free competition in business


Slide 22:Cleveland’s Biggest Achievement:Interstate Commerce Act 1887 Aimed at regulating business practices of Railroads (first attempt to regulate business) RR must publicly post schedules and charge fares according to distance traveled Outlawed rebates to powerful customers Set up Interstate Commerce Commission to manage the law…struggled in court at start (lost 15 of 16 cases)


Slide 23:Benjamin Harrison 1889-1893 REPUBLICAN Ex-Civil War Vet Support High Tariffs and won support of big business Gave millions to pensions of Civil War veterans AVERAGE


Slide 24:Harrison’s Greatest Achievement:Sherman Anti-Trust Act 1890 Made it a crime to conspire to destroy competition Now illegal to combine businesses into monopolies and hurt free interstate trade Aimed at curbing abuses of big business Not as effective early on because few courts or government officials would enforce it


Slide 25:Cleveland’s Back 1893-1897 DEMOCRAT Only president to ever serve two non-consecutive terms Put back in office by immigrants/laborers flooding the Democratic party Also favored reversing Harrison’s tariff hike NEAR GREAT


Slide 27:Cleveland’s Reputation Hurt By Labor Problems America was at beginning of economic depression Millions lost jobs or had wages cut severely Government did nothing Jacob Coxey led march demanding government create jobs Arrested for trampling grass of Whitehouse lawn


Slide 28:Cleveland’s Reputation Hurt By Labor Problems Pullman Railroad workers went on strike in Chicago, in 1894 Protesting job cuts and 25% pay reduction All trains with Pullman cars stopped running Cleveland sends in army to operate trains and continue mail delivery Union strikers upset


Slide 29:Angered farmers by repealing Silver Purchase Act Returned country to Gold Standard Reduced amount of money in circulation Made it harder to pay off debts Cleveland’s Reputation Hurt By Labor Problems