1. The Progressive Era

2. Reform in the Gilded Age
Gilded Age- period in U.S. lasting from the 1870s-1890s marked by political corruption and extravagant spending

3. Wealthy spending mixed with a large population of poor who suffered
2/5 Americans were out of work
“Gilded Age” comes from Mark Twain in an 1873 novel
Gilded: coated in a thin layer of gold paint, implying falseness beneath the surface (cheap jewelry, knockoff clothing)

4. Politics Political power split between the two major parties
N & W voted Republican & South voted Democrat

5. Politics
No true power behind parties – more entertainment than anything else
Politics driven by concern

6. Fear that bribery and voter fraud would cause corruption
Concern Included…
Fear that bankers, industrialists & the wealthy were controlling politics at the expense of the public
Fear that bribery and voter fraud would cause corruption
Spoils system – practice of rewarding political supporters with government jobs

7. Reforming the Spoils System
People offered political support in exchange for jobs
Patronage: giving jobs to political followers, which lead to corruption
James Garfield (president in 1881) introduces the concept of government jobs as rewards based on merit

8. Merit: ability and worth versus politics
Might have been effective…but Garfield was shot
VP Chester Arthur takes over & tries to work on reform

9. Civil Service
Civil Service Commission: 1883 – conduct exams for federal jobs in order to fill them on the basis of merit
Civil Service: includes all federal jobs except elected offices & the military (about 40% jobs)

10. Regulating Big Business
Big business controlled the government due to illegitimate politics
Under Constitution the federal (nation) government had the power to regulate interstate commerce: business that crossed state lines.

11. The ICC (interstate commerce commission) oversaw these rules.
Interstate Commerce Act: signed by President Grover Cleveland in 1887 – forbade practices such as pools & rebates.
The ICC (interstate commerce commission) oversaw these rules.
Sherman Antitrust Act: prohibited business from trying to limit or destroy competition
…Sound familiar?