If you were absent yesterday or didn’t turn in your spiral & poem you need to do so now! FYI: Gilded Age Test Next Thursday. Vocab Quiz Monday

Section 2 # 19

Section 2 # 20

The Gilded Age The period from 1870-1900 that was marked by the belief that things looked better on the outside than they really were on the inside was known as the GILDED AGE. The person who coined the term ‘gilded age’ was the American novelist MARK Twain.

Politics in the Gilded Age Gilded Age = Age of corruption in politics. Everything looks good on the surface, but it was really corrupt.

????? 1. How many presidents can you name? 2. Now how many Presidents can you name that served during the Gilded Age (1876-1900)

Politics During the Gilded Age Real politicians of the time were the Big Business owners. – Laissez--faire-- Theory that the government should play a very limited role in businesses. – “Business Ran politics and politics was a branch of business” Business Giants during the Gilded Age often times bribed politicians with gifts of money. Spoils System – Elected officials appointed friends and supporters to government jobs. Ensured politicians a loyal group of supporters in future elections.

Ulysses S. Grant 3/4/1869-3/4/1877 President during Reconstruction in the South following the Civil War Goals of his presidency: remove the remnants of Confederate nationalism and slavery protect African-American citizenship (enforce amendments 13-15) and support economic prosperity nationwide

However…. During his second term scandal and corruption ‘tainted’ his presidency Combine this with an economic depression that saw an increase in unemployment and we see that not all of his goals will be achieved…..

PRESIDENTS OF THE GILDED AGE: Rutherford B Hayes 1877-1881 Wanted to Reform the Civil Service System Called for a new set of rules to establish a MERIT SYSTEM for Civil Service—Nonelected government workers President that ended reconstruction

PRESIDENTS OF THE GILDED AGE: James Garfield 1881 His election saw the republican party split into 3 fractions: Stalwarts-- supported the spoils system Half Breeds-- reform spoils system Independents-- opposed spoils system Assassinated by Charles Guiteau on July 2, 1881 who claimed upon shooting the President that he was a Stalwart, and Arthur is President now! ( Chester Arthur was Garfield's vice president)

PRESIDENTS OF THE GILDED AGE: Charles A Arthur 1881-1885 Although he was a Stalwart, actually became advocate of reform! Signed the Pendleton Civil Service Act Established Merit Exams if you wanted a Federal Job

Presidents of the Gilded Age: Grover Cleveland 1885-1889 Won election in 1884-- became first democratic president since 1856 Favored tight money policies, opposed high tariffs took back from the railroads some 80 million acres of land that had been granted to them.

Presidents of the Gilded Age: Benjamin Harrison 1889-1893 Won 1888 election Harrison promised a higher tariff than Cleveland which won him a lot of support from businesses. Republicans had majority of the seats in Congress during the first 2 years of his presidency which meant he could get almost anything passed he wanted. 1890-- Sherman Anti-trust Act McKinley Tariff Highest Tariff in the history of the country at that time. (very low public support)

Working & Living Conditions