CHAPTER 8

1. CHAPTER 8 The Gilded Age

2. Politics during the Gilded Age 1870-1900

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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)

12. 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

13. Welcome to the Big City Chapter 8 Section 3

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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”

19. Ideas for Reform Section 4

20. 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

21. 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.

22. 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).

23. 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

24. 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