1. Politics in the Gilded Age
Ms. Harvey
US History
Fall 2013

2. Politics in the Gilded Age
Age of corruption in politics. Everything looks good on the surface, but the underneath is poor and corrupt.

3. Politics in the Gilded Age Review
We have talked about immigrants and their poor living conditions
The mass settlement of these immigrants led to Urbanization of cities. Let’s take a closer look at the city before moving on

4. Problems of Rapid Urbanization
Urbanization- growth of cities
3 reasons cities grew in late 1800’s and early 1900’s
Immigrants
To work in the factories
Farmers
Being replaced by machinery
African Americans
Leaving the South for the North
View Rise of NYC video

5. Problems in Cities
1. Housing shortages- Tenement – crowded apartment building with poor standards of sanitation, safety, and comfort
2. Transportation–struggled to keep up with growth
3. Clean water – was difficult to produce and transport
4. Waste and garbage removal was a challenge and often neglected
5. Fires were very common
Great Chicago Fire -1871
6. Crime rose with urbanization

6. Early Reforms to fix problems of Urbanization
Settlement House – Community center organized to provide various services to urban poor
Hull House – most famous settlement house established by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr
Social Gospel Movement – social reform movement that sought to fix social problems in the name of Jesus

7. Politics in the Gilded Age
Why are these immigrants living in such horrid conditions?
Poverty. They come poor and expect to get rich. The owners of the factories the immigrants work for do not care about anything other than getting rich quick.
So let’s look at the attempt to “fight” the Robber Barons

8. Poor Working Conditions in the Late 1800’s
Most factory workers worked 12 hour days, 6 days a week
Steel mills often demanded 7 days a week
No vacations, sick leave, unemployment compensation, or workers compensation for injuries on the job
Children as young as 5 often worked as much as 12 or sometimes 14 hours a day, for as little as .$27 a day.

9. The Rise of the Labor Union
In reposnse to the horrible working conditions, labor unions formed. “Strength in numbers” for better conditions and better pay.
The Knights of Labor was formed by Uriah Stephens in 1869, and included both skilled and unskilled laborers.
Both of these pushed for an 8 hour workday by law.
The KOL also wanted equal pay for men and women.
The first large scale union of workers was organized in 1866 by iron worker William Sylvis. It was called the National Labor Union, or NLU. It admitted only skilled workers.

10. The Rise of Labor Unions
The American Federation of Labor (AFL)- Accepted only skilled white males, won higher wages and shorter work weeks for its members
Head of AFL was Samuel Gompers

11. Samuel Gompers served as President of the American Federation of Labor (AFL), and focused on collective bargaining, or negotiations, between employers and employees.
*When collective bargaining failed, though, the AFL went on strike: refusal to work.
*These strikes often turned violent, as employers tried to bring in new workers (called “scabs”) to replace those on strike.

12. The Great Strike of 1877
broke out when workers for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad struck to protest their second wage cut in two months. Most freight trains were unable to run for a week. Federal troops finally ended the strike.

13. Haymarket Massacre
1886, a strike broke out at the McCormick Harvester factory in Chicago. When a striker was killed by the police, a protest erupted in Chicago’s Haymarket Square. A bomb was thrown, and seven police officers and several protesters were killed. Eight people were convicted, four were hanged, and one committed suicide in prison.

14. Homestead Strike 1892
steelworkers at Carnegie’s Homestead Plant went on strike after their wages were cut. The plant manager hired armed Pinkerton Guards to break the strike, and a pitched battle broke out, leaving nine workers and three Pinkerton guards dead.

15. Pullman Strike
During the Panic of 1893, the Pullman Sleeping Car company cut wages, but not rent and prices, for its workers, meaning many workers took home only $6 a week. A strike was called, led by socialist Eugene V Debs, and Pullman trains were boycotted. After the strike turned violent, President Grover Cleveland sent in federal troops. Pullman fired most of the workers.

16. Politics in the Gilded Age
So now we’ve seen the people who combated the factories, monopolies, and the Robber Barons…but is the government really accepting how the US is operating? What’s in it for them.

17. The Influence of Business
Powerful individuals forced and intimidated Americans and politicians
Used tactics similar to mafia
Targeted immigrants for labor exploitation and votes
Used bribery, violence, and extortion to get job done

18. Presidents of the Gilded Age
U.S. Grant
Chester A. Arthur
Rutherford B. Hayes
James Garfield 1881
Grover Cleveland and
Benjamin Harrison
William McKinley

19. Political Scandal Federal government known for constant scandal
Credit Mobilier Scandal
Pres. Grant ignored a private contract to a railroad company, V.P. made a ton of money
Whiskey Ring
Cabinet stole money from whiskey excise tax
Sec. of War sold junk to Indians for profit
Panic of 1873
Economic depression due to over-speculation in industry and inflation
Pres. Garfield assassinated by office-seeker
Cartoon from Puck: “Bosses of the Senate”

20. Some wealthy businessmen of the time became corrupt through riches and power.
*One of the most famous schemes of the time happened when stockholders in the Union Pacific Railroad formed a company called Credit Mobilier.
*The stockholders gave this company a contract to lay track at 3 times the actual cost, and stole the profits.
*To keep the scheme going, and to avoid the law, the stockholders donated shares of stock to 20 representatives in Congress.
*Reports in the New York Sun prompted an investigation, and it was discovered that the officers of the Union Pacific had stolen about $23 million.
*Congressman James Garfield was implicated in the investigation, but received only a slap on the wrist. He later became President.
*Most of those involved were Republicans, however, and the party’s name was tarnished.

21. Corruption in Government
Patronage or Spoils System- giving government jobs to loyal party workers or friends
Were not qualified
Used position to get money from government (graft)
President James Garfield is assassinated by disappointed office seeker favoring Spoils System
President Chester Arthur signs Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883
James Garfield
View video #2
View video #3
Charles Guiteau

22. Pendleton Civil Service Act 1883
Attempted to end Patronage/Spoils System
1. Creating the Civil Service Commission which required appointed govt. officials to pass the Civil Service Exam to base jobs on merit instead of friendship
2. Federal employees did not have to contribute to campaign funds
3. Federal employees could not be fired for political reasons
Chester A. Arthur signed Pendleton Act into effect

23. Politics in the Gilded Age
Moving from federal to local business

24. The Rise of Political Machines
Political Machines –an organized group of people that controlled the activities of a political party
By giving voters services they needed, the machine won their vote and controlled city government
City Boss was head of Political Machines
Controlled
Jobs in police, fire, and sanitation departments
Agencies that granted licenses to businesses
Money to fund large construction projects
“All Politics center around the Boss”
View Gangs in New York Clip #1

25. Political Bosses Ran local business and politics
Forced immigrants to vote for specific candidates in exchange for citizenship
Forced lower class to pay “protection” money
Stole money from city coffers through extortion, graft, bribes, private contracts, and misallocation of funds
Most famous political bosses were in the biggest cities (i.e., Boss) William Tweed of NYC
Political bosses cartoon by Thomas Nast

26. Political Machines Political machines loved immigrants, WHY?
Never voted, tried to sway votes by bribery, intimidation, and other means
Political machines used power to
Rig elections
Become wealthy from kickbacks-illegal payments
Control police force to stay out of trouble

27. “Boss Tweed” and Thomas Nast
William “Boss” Tweed City Boss of Tammany Hall- Democratic Political Machine in New York City
Thomas Nast –political cartoonist who was critical of machines and Tweed

29. In Sum
Local and federal politics were influenced by business leaders and political bosses
Few Americans believed that the federal government would positively affect their lives and improve their future
The “democratic” process did not reflect the diversity of beliefs, peoples, and classes in the U.S.

30. Era Characteristics
Strong and rapid growth of industry, mass production, mechanization, and the factory system
Consolidation of wealth and creation of an American aristocracy
Political and corporate corruption and laissez- faire/hands off approach to government involvement
Exploitation of cheap, immigrant labor
The creation of the American city and the expansion and urbanization of the West
Rapid population growth (natural and migratory)
Increased social, racial, and labor tension
The beginning of social, political, and labor reform movements