Chapter 19 Notes PDF

The Gilded Age  Gilded Age…what was it? Gilded Age: Corruption Mixed with Attempted Reform Gilded Age- Mark Twainʼs term-he believed wealth was gilding the corruption of American society  Types of Corruption graft- dishonest use of political office to acqui...

The Gilded Age  Gilded Age…what was it? Gilded Age: Corruption Mixed with Attempted Reform Gilded Age- Mark Twainʼs term-he believed wealth was gilding the corruption of American society  Types of Corruption graft- dishonest use of political office to acquire money or favors example: use insider information before public knows of deal a. bribes- gift/promise given unethically in return for a favor b. voting fraud- voting the graveyard (ghost votes), pay voters, multiple votes c. spoils system (PATRONAGE)- win election, appoint loyal friends to office, public works jobs d. conflict of interest- mix personal business with public duties  Local Corruption Tweed Ring- New York City- “Boss” William Marcy Tweed, George Washington Plunkitt political machine = Tammany Hall; political party = Democrat ward and precinct captains gave immig jobs (patronage), housing, food, citizenship in return for votes Boss Tweed used corruption to milk NYC of over $200 million pay bribes to do business in NYC (exam: liquor license), kickbacks for construction work, rigged elections eventually convicted of fraud, died in prison  Thomas Nast political cartoonist who exposed Tweed in newspapers and magazines Mugwumps – left Republican party because of financial corruption  Government Response to Patronage Pendleton Civil Service Act- comprehensive civil service exams for some govʼt jobs- police, postal, foreign service People for Patronage- Standpatters  Govʼt Response to Trusts 1. early in Indus Era: Laissez-faire- hands off (Munn v. Illinois) 2. As abuse mounted, Congress “tried” to intervene: a. Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 (Grover Cleveland) – Congress is responsible for regulating commerce between states (Wabash vs. US) – aimed to stop RR-outlawed rebates, no higher rates for long vs. short hauls – joke=no enforcement possible (too ambiguous wording), but looks good b. Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 (Benjamin Harrison) – worthless: failed to define terms; not enforceable, court decisions limited its effectiveness; at first used to halt labor unions (U.S. vs. E.C. Knight)  Govʼt Response to Labor Unions old way: laissez-faire = non-involvement or made unions illegal new way: as reform movement spread and there was more publicity on poor conditions and unfair wages, government started to favor labor (workers) 1. eliminate child labor 2. limit work hours 3. regulate working conditions 4. regulate wages Industrial America The Gilded Age… Farmer/Gold Controversy  Farmer Problems overproduction- low prices for farm products, wanted inflation railroads- larger shipments, longer distances=cheaper, rebates given to certain businesses trusts- high priced plow, fertilizer; low prices for raw materials, high prices for finished goods bank- high interest rates, high price mortgages, foreclosures taxation- farmer had ¼ of wealth, but paid ¾ of taxes; corporations dodged taxes  The Gold Standard Silverites (easy/soft money)- for inflation; South, West, farmers, debtors wanted silver coinage to inflate the currency, raise wages, and crop prices Bland Alison Act- 1878- U.S. had a limited form of silver coinage Sherman Silver Purchase Act- 1890- federal govʼt had to buy a certain amount of silver, no free coinage though versus Hard/Sound Money people- bankers, creditors, businesses wanted money to be based on gold b/c gold was more valuable, thus the value of the dollar would be greater  Populist Party (Peopleʼs Party)- 1870-1900=farm discontent, no gold standard Mary E. Lease Ocala Platform- 1. free coinage of silver 2. subtreasury system- store crops in govʼt warehouses 3. no protective tariff 4. yes to federal income tax 5. yes to direct election of Senators  Populist Rise Caused by growthof corporate power Panic of 1893 repeal of Shermanʼs Silver Purchase Act- no mandatory govʼt buying of silver 1894-1896- resurgence of silver movement William Jennings Bryan- public speaker – “You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold” Election of 1896- Dem and Pop nominated Bryan, Repub=McKinley Repub (McKinley) won 1900 Gold Standard Act – paper money only exchanged for gold (until 1933) End of Populist Party-why? Some people were racist, radical nature alienated some non-farmers, Democrats took some ideas, West/South differed on solutions  Legacies of Populists RAISED ISSUE OF UNCONTROLLED INDUSTRIAL CAPITALISM graduated income tax crop loans to farmers Australian ballot (secret ballot) direct election of U.S. Senators  Culture/Test Review Ralph Waldo Emerson – individualism Literature: – Herman Melville- Moby Dick – Washington Irving- “Rip Van Winkle” – Nathaniel Hawthorne- Scarlet Letter – Edgar Allen Poe- “Raven”, “Fall of the House of Usher” – James Fenimore Cooper – The Last of the Mohicans Frederick Jackson Turner- wrote Turnerʼs thesis about expansion westward and how people on the frontier turned America into what she is today Helen Hunt Jackson- Century of Dishonor (1880)- injustices against Nas Romanticism- escapism, sentimental, unrealistic Hudson River School of Art- wonder/mystery of nature, 19th century Social Darwinism – people need to adapt, only the strong survive Plessy vs. Ferguson (Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education) – “Separate but equal” Jazz music- European music influence + African music- 1890ʼs, New Orleans