2. Chapter 22, Section1: Reform in the Gilded Age Main Idea: During the Gilded Age, reformers worked to end political corruption and limit the power of big business.

3. A. Politics in the Gilded Age Gilded Age – name given (by Mark Twain) to the late 1800s due to greed & political corruption (gilded = gold covered looks good, but not real) Republicans (N & W) & Democrats (S) traded power in Congress back & forth, but Presidents were Republican for 25 years in a row. Elections were entertaining (bands, parades, picnics) & voter turnout was high (almost 80% now < 50%) 2 issues shaped politics: power of rich – wealthy were controlling politics at expense of common good corruption – bribery, voter fraud (blamed on spoils system – giving govt. jobs to political supporters)

5. B. Reforming the Spoils System Patronage (giving jobs to followers) led to corruption & incompetence in government Early Reform Efforts Pres. Hayes ordered investigation of NYC customhouse. Hundreds of appointed officials were getting high salaries for doing no work. Pres. Garfield tried to award jobs in his administration based on merit (ability), rather than political favors. For this, he was assassinated by an angry office seeker. assassinated by an angry office seeker Civil Service Exams Congress passes the Pendleton Act to create the Civil Service System, which required all federal job seekers to take exams. Highest scorers earned the jobs (merit). By 1900, 40% of federal jobs were determined this way.

6. Spoils System – practice of rewarding supporters with government jobs Taming the Spoils System "The Civil Service As It Is" February 3, 1872 by, Frank Bellew Caption: "The Civil Service As It Is" Hon. Member of Congress presenting a Few of his Constituents for Office

7. Examples: · Jobs were frequently given to unqualified people. Patronage – practice of giving out government jobs as favors to loyal party workers Patronage oftentimes led to corruption. I’ve got to thank Uncle Billy for getting me this cool job. Well…a little joke never hurt anyone, right?

8. THENNOW Political Corruption

9. Garfield believed that civil service jobs should be given to people based on merit and ability, not political connections.

10. 1881:Garfield Assassinated!

11. "The True Meaning of Republican Harmony" by Bernhard Gilliam Puck, March 11, 1883

12. C. Regulating Big Business Bribery of government officials by big business was widespread and common. Money controlled the actions of most politicians & business was too powerful to be controlled by the government. Interstate Commerce Act forbade practices such as pools (when several big companies agree to divide up business in an area) & rebates (discounts to biggest customers) and created ICC to oversee the railroad industry Sherman Antitrust Act prohibited businesses from trying to limit or destroy competition Both measures were weak at first (judges tended to side with RRs & big business), but gained strength after a while

15. “Congress—Who’s In It and Who Owns It” The Sherman Anti-Trust Law Returns From the Dead, 1904