The Gilded Age & Progressive Reform Chapter 19-Section 1

Corruption Recall-By the late 1800’s GIANT corporations controlled much of American business. These were known as- Trusts/Monopolies

The Gilded Age 1870’s-1890’s The period after the Civil War was known as the Gilded Age. Gilded means “coated with a thin layer of gold paint”. Many Americans feared that industrialists and wealthy people were enriching themselves at the expense of the public. The other fear Americans had was that of corruption. Examples of corruption were: dishonesty in government, bribery, and voter fraud.

The Spoils System The practice of politicians rewarding government jobs to their political supporters. Who did this start with and what are the problems with it? In 1881 James Garfield became President of the United States. Four months later he was shot by an angry office seeker. This demonstrated the problems with the spoils system and sparked new efforts to end it.

President Chester A. Arthur Succeeds Garfield Owed his own rise to the spoils system but worked with Congress to reform how people got jobs. In 1883 Arthur signed the Pendleton Act which created the Civil Service Commission. The aim of the Civil Service Commission was to fill jobs on the basis of merit.

Controlling Big Business As a result of the rising power and corruption of “big business” Americans demanded that their power be limited. Under the Constitution, the federal government can regulate interstate commerce, this led President Grover Cleveland to sign the Interstate Commerce Act. The Interstate Commerce Act setup a commission to oversee the railroads and end practices such as rebates.

The Sherman Antitrust Act Was signed by President Benjamin Harrison in 1890. The idea was that it would limit businesses from trying to destroy competition. Often judges would side with trusts. Ultimately it limited the power of labor unions because they said that strikes blocked free trade and threatened competition.

City Corruption They were especially popular with the immigrants. Politicians who controlled locally performed work and demanded payoffs from businesses were known as Bosses They provided jobs , handed out turkeys on Thanksgiving, and provided extra coal in the winter. They were especially popular with the immigrants. What did they get out of this arrangement? The poor voted for the bosses or his chosen candidate.

Boss Tweed William Tweed He cheated New York City out of $100 million dollars. Journalists exposed him and cartoonist Thomas Nast drew him as a vulture feeding on the city. He fled to Spain, was arrested, and died soon after. Many poor New Yorkers mourned him.

Progressives and Political Reform The Progressives were a diverse group of reformers united by a belief in the public interest, or the good of all people. They fought against greed, trusts and city bosses.

The Wisconsin Idea Governor Robert La Follette introduced various programs for reform. He: opposed bosses, appointed commissions and decrease the railroad rates. Introduced the primary system for elections. A primary is an election in which voters, rather than party leaders, choose their party’s candidate.

More Power to Voters States wanted to give more power to actual voters and as a result came up with recalls, initiatives and referendums. Recall-a process by which people may vote to remove an elected official from office. Initiative-a process that allows voters to put a bill before a state legislature. Referendums- is a way for people to vote directly on a proposed new law.

The Changes Continued Graduated income taxes came out at this time. It is a method of taxation that taxes people at different rates depending upon their income. The 16th Amendment allowed the income tax to be passed. The 17th Amendment called for the direct election of senators.

Muckrakers The press exposed the problems and corruption within society. President Theodore Roosevelt compared them to men who raked up dirk, or muck, in stables. This led to their muckraker name that became a term for a crusading journalist. One such journalist was Upton Sinclair.