1. US History/Geography Chapter 6 Section 3
The Gilded Age
US History/Geography
Chapter 6 Section 3

2. Social Darwinism The “Gilded Age”
Name came from book by Mark Twain and Charles Warner for era from
Lots of jobs, new inventions and wealthy business owners
BUT Gilded can mean just covered with gold…not gold all the way through
While many good things also a lot of corruption

3. Social Darwinism “Individualism” “Social Darwinism”
No matter how humble origins, can rise in society and go as far as talents and commitment take them.
Big idea…. Lots of people agreed including Horatio Alger who wrote over 100 rags to riches stories
“Social Darwinism”
“survival of the fittest” – based on Darwin’s theory of evolution
Went in hand with the idea of laissez-faire… only the fittest would gain wealth and be successful
No matter how many obstacles faced success is possible….still big idea today
Social Darinism not popular with church…opposed the bible

4. Social Darwinism “Gospel of Wealth” Andrew Carnegie
Softer version of survival of fittest
Believed Wealthy should start “philanthropies”
Money to start programs that will help people help themselves
Better to build a hospital than give handouts

5. A Changing Culture REALISM movement began in 1800s
In writing /paintings try to portray world in a realistic way
Best known realist author “Mark Twain”
Wrote “The Adventures of Huckleberry Fin”
Real name Samuel Clemens
Novel was a more accurate depiction of American life…everyone clearly American

6. A Changing Culture Popular Culture The Saloon
Industrialization improved living standards… more time for fun activities (“going out”)
The Saloon
Were more saloons then groceries and other stores.
Place of social gathering for MALE workers
Drinks, free toilets, water for horses and free newspapers
Also big political centers

7. A Changing Culture Amusement Parks and Sports
Working families and singles like amusement parks b/c cheap…. Example: Coney Island
Watching professional sports more popular
Work less strenuous so many started playing sports like tennis for physical exercise

8. A Changing Culture Vaudeville and Ragtime Adapted from French theatre
Mix of animal acts, acrobats and dancers… went on all day and all night
Ragtime music also fast paced with rythems
Famous Ragtime composer Scott Joplin

9. Politics in Washington
Spoils of Office
Government jobs given to supporters when won election (Patronage)
1880 Pres. Garfield didn’t believe in practice so did not give out any.
Was assassinated by a man who thought that he deserved a spoil of office and thought Vice President Arthur would give him one

10. Politics in Washington
Civil Service Reform
Garfield death = need for political reform…no more patronage!
Pres. Hayes tried to reform in 1877 by firing people with jobs through spoils
Divided Republican party into 2 parts
“Stalwart” – those who supported patronage
“Halfbreeds” – those who opposed patronage
1883 Pendleton Act
No more spoil system….
Assignation really changed American thought of spoils system… passed Pendleton Act = required some gov’t jobs be filled by people who passed written exam (or who were qualified). Started trend of more and more gov’t workers having to be qualified…not just a supporter

11. Politics in Washington
Election of 1884
Democrats nominate Cleveland for Pres.
Republican’s who supported him and not republican candidate called “Mugwumps”
Thought Cleveland would not give out Spoils!
With those supports Cleveland won election
Didn’t fully end Spoils but didn’t fully support them either!

12. Politics in Washington
Interstate Commerce Commission
Concerned with power of large corporations
Corporations like Standard oil could get rebates and lower rates because of volume of goods they shipped
Small corporations had to pay more because didn’t ship as much stuff
Gov’t Didn’t move fast to fix b/c believed gov’t shouldn’t interfere with companies private property
Some states had rules but Supreme court cases over ruled
Ruled states could not regulate railroad rates between states only federal gov’t could do that

13. Politics in Washington
Interstate Commerce Commission
Gov’t had to act 1887 with Interstate Commerce Act
Created ICC (interstate commerce commission)
1st federal law to regulate commerce
Commission was not effective
Debating Tariffs
Democrats wanted tariffs cut
Made sense after Civil War but no need for it now in 1880s
High US tariffs made other countries respond with high tariffs which hurt farmers
1887 Cleveland proposed tariff reduction
Passed in house but rejected in senate
Major issue in 1888 election
Debating Tariffs … didn’t need them because big companies now able to compete internationally
Farmers had hard time exporting their surplus with high tarrifs

14. Politics in Washington
Republicans Regain Power
One of the closest elections (1888) in history
Harrison (republican) won the electoral vote but NOT popular vote
The McKinley Tariff
Republicans controlled congress and white house
1890 William McKinley wrote tariff bill the passed
Cut taxes on tobacco and sugar
Raised rates on other goods like textiles
Meant to help against foreign competition but just raised price of all goods
Angered Americans and may have helped contribute to Harrison’s defeat in 1892

15. Politics in Washington
The Sherman Antitrust Act
Congress response to American dislike of large business power
Passed in 1890, “prohibited any combination or conspiracy in restraint of trade or commerce among several states”
Weak b/c
Vaguely worded
Poorly enforced
Judicial interpretation of law
Example: Supreme court ruled law didn’t apply to manufacturing… not interstate commerce

16. The Rebirth of Reform
Industrialization and Urbanization triggered debate on how to solve society problems
Individualism vs. gov’t intervention
Gov’t began to take more active role in helping those in need
Challenging Social Darwinism
People like journalist Henry George believed that laissez-faire and Darwinism made society worse not better
Bigger gulf between rich and poor…
People at time believed this and encouraged reformers to change society
But reality is while was a gulf…standard of living overall improved

17. The Rebirth of Reform Lester Frank Ward
1883 published Dynamic Sociology
Stated Humans different from Animals
Not survival of fittest, but succeed because of ability to cooperate with each other
So Gov’t should get involved more
Lester : Gov’t regulate economy, cure poverty, promote comepetion better than market place

18. The Rebirth of Reform Looking Backward
Published 1888 by Edward Bellamy
Novel where man falls asleep 1887 wakes up in 2000 to a perfect society
No Crime
No poverty
No politics
Gov’t owns everything and shares wealth equally with all

19. The Rebirth of Reform Helping the Urban Poor “The Social Gospel”
Reformers found new ways to help Urban poor… started many new organizations
“The Social Gospel”
Worked to better conditions in cities according to biblical ideas of charity and justice
Inspired Churches to start taking on new roles in community
Gyms, social programs, child care
Helping Poor

20. The Rebirth of Reform The Salvation Army and the YMCA
Combine faith and reform
SA:
Provided religious counseling and practical aid
YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association):
organized bible studies
Citizenship training
Group activities
Libraries
Gymnasiums,
Auditoriums
Low cost hotel rooms

21. The Rebirth of Reform “The Settlement House Movement”
Began as part of Social Gospel
Reformers (college education women mostly) established houses in poor/immigrant neighborhoods
Community center… offered
Medical care
English classes
Kindergarten
Recreational programs
“Jane Addams”
Opened Hull House in Chicago 1889

22. The Rebirth of Reform Public Education
Industrialization/ urbanization called for more educated workers
Public Schools increased after Civil War
6,500,000 in 1870 to 17,300,000 in 1900
Important to immigrant children success
Learned English, American history and culture (AKA “Americanization”)
Grammar Schools taught lessons for workplace
Punctuality
Neatness
Efficiency
Not everyone had schools…. Rural areas and African Americans did not have equal educational opportunities
Created their own schools like Booker T. Washington (Tuskegee Institute 1881)

23. EXIT QUESTIONS What was the main idea of Social Darwinism?
What was the importance of the saloon in city life?
What actions did Congress take to regulate big business?
What was the purpose of a settlement house?