Gilded Age: A thin but glittering layer of prosperity which covered the poverty and corruption of much of society.

Economy Industry expansion helped some Americans prosper Depression, low wages, and debt plagued the working class Laissez faire  Let it be  Government should not interfere with business

Business and Politics Most businesses liked laissez faire policies when they benefited them but… Would accept high tariffs on imported goods Would accept subsidies to encourage development of key industries

Political Parties Republicans Favored by industrialists, bankers, and farmers. Nonexistent in the South. Wanted: Tight money supply backed by gold High tariffs Strict limits on immigration Enforcement of Blue Laws: Regulations that prohibited certain private activities (ex: drinking on Sunday) Democrats Favored by people who believed they were “less privileged” in American society. Included immigrants, laborers, southern planters Wanted: Increased money supply backed by silver Lower tariffs Higher farm prices Less government aid to business Fewer blue laws

Spoils System “To the victor goes the spoils” Favored by politicians System led to corruption and dishonesty for personal profit

Hayes and Civil Service 1877 – Hayes wins (Compromise of 1877) Appoints qualified political independents to his Cabinet and fires employees who were not needed First reform of Civil Service  Government’s non-elected workers

Pendleton Civil Service Act Ends the Spoils System Act created a Civil Service Commission which classified government jobs and tested applicants fitness for them Stated that federal employees could not be required to contribute to campaign funds and could not be fired to political reasons.

People on the move The Immigrant Experience WHY: Fleeing crop failures, shortage of land and jobs, rising taxes and famine HOPES: Dreams of getting rich, free government land through the homestead act, personal freedom, education opportunity, democratic government

Crossing the ocean Steerage: Limited toilets, no privacy, poor food, stale air, cheap price.

Waves of Immigration 1865-1890- most from northern Europe. Germany, Great Britain, Ireland. 1890-1920 Southern and eastern Europe, Middle East. Italians, Greeks, Slavs, Russians, Jews, Armenians. 1891- Office of the Superintendent of Immigrations was formed to determine who was fit for life in America. 70% of all Immigrants come through NY.

What happens to Immigrants once in the U.S. Physical Exams: Quarantine; isolation to prevent spread of disease. Work opportunity: Immigrants paid less than Americans., Women paid less than men. Labor Unions are angered by this.

Immigrants from Asia China: 1800 RR Co. recruited Chinese to build the railroad. Immigrants worked off the cost of passage to the U.S. American labor unions fought to exclude Chinese Immigrants because they accepted low wages. Chinese exclusion act 1882- only allowed immigrants from China into country if they had family in the U.S. In place until 1943

Japan Most come from Hawaii

The Gentlemen’s Agreement San Francisco school board ruled that all Chinese, Japanese, and Korean children should attend separate schools. Japanese government condemned this segregation claiming it violated an 1894 treaty giving Japanese citizens the right to enter the U.S. freely. Created tension. The Gentlemen’s Agreement: Compromise which called on San Francisco to end its school segregation and Japan to stop issuing passports to laborers.