1. Aim: How did the Gilded Age affect American politics?
Do Now:
Review: “Crash Course in US History: Gilded Age Politics”
Read the passage on the Gilded Age and complete the discussion questions in complete sentences.
Homework:
The Rise and Fall of the Populist Party Worksheet: Read the document and answer the discussion questions on the Google Form – due: Thursday

2. The Gilded Age
Gilded Age - Name comes from the title of an 1873 Mark Twain book
Referred to the “superficial glitter” of the new wealth that developed in the late 1800s from industrialization
Dominated by a belief in limited government, laissez-faire economics, & Social Darwinism
Marked by political corruption & ineffectiveness

3. Group Activity – Politics of the Gilded Age
Each group member will be assigned one reading about Politics in the Gilded Age
Each group will identifying the main idea of each reading.
Identify: the who, what, when, where, why, and how.
After each group member has completed their section, they will present to the group and then complete the remaining sections of their chart.

4. Municipal Grafts and Scandals
Political Machines provided services to urban poor and immigrants in exchange for votes. Many political machines rigged elections to insure that their candidate won.
Methods Used:
Grafts – illegal use of political influence for personal gain
Kickbacks – workers on city construction projects would charge a higher price for services and then “kick back” part of the fee to the bosses
Bribes – Political Bosses accepted money in return for allowing unsafe or illegal activity
Political Machine in NYC was Tammany Hall run by Boss William M. Tweed – his practices were exposed by political cartoonist Thomas Nast

5. “We're burying a lot of votes tonight”
Boss Tweed Quotes
“Remember the first rule of politics. The ballots don't make the results, the counters make the results. The counters, keep counting”
“The appearance of law must be upheld, especially when it's being broken”
“We're burying a lot of votes tonight”

6. Civil Service Replaces Patronage
Patronage was the practice of giving political jobs to people of the same political party who helped get them elected.
(Similar to Andrew Jackson’s Spoils System)
Many Unqualified people were given Government Jobs
Reformers wanted this system changed to the Civil Service System
Government administration, would go to the most qualified people, regardless of their political views.

8. Business Buys Influence
Tariffs became and import issue in the 1880s.
Many questioned the need to maintain high tariffs in the 1880s, when large American companies were fully capable of competing internationally.
Other nations began imposing tariffs on the United States – this hurt farmers trying to sell their surplus of goods.
Election of 1888 – Republicans gain control of both houses of Congress and the White House.
Passed the McKinley Tariff - to promote American industry from foreign competition and encourage consumers to buy American made goods .
Instead, it helped trigger a steep rise in the price of all goods that angered many Americans.

11. Pendleton Act of 1883
The Pendleton Act provided that Federal Government jobs are awarded on the basis of merit and those Government employees must be selected through competitive exams.
Federal jobs became more specialized and required special and specific skills.
More qualified workers did fill government positions, but because politicians had no jobs to offer, they had trouble seeking money from supporters.
Politicians turned to wealthy leaders for financial support. This strengthened the ties between government and businesses.

13. How did the Gilded Age affect American politics?
Closing Question
How did the Gilded Age affect American politics?