Time of Ignored Problems Gilded Age Time of Ignored Problems

What does the term Gilded Mean?

The Gilded Age is 1865-1900 A period of seemingly extravagant wealth, growth and opportunity.

The “Good” and The Glamorous The Upper Class Nouveau Riche (Noo-Voh-Reesh) – Newly Rich Carnegie, Rockefeller and Vanderbilt Public Displays of Wealth Conspicuous Consumption The development of the Middle Class Rise of corporation and business created jobs in middle management Accountants, Engineers, Clerks and Sales people. Need for educated workers. Professional School developed.

Other Positives Growth in Public Education Growth in Literature Compulsory Education Laws Hoped to instruct children in “proper behavior” Civic Loyalty, American Values, Yet Schools were still segregated by race African Americans, Asian Americans and Hispanic Americans Growth in Literature Growth in Journalism

Leisure Time Large Urban Parks Large Extravagant Sky Scrapers Sports Baseball 1869 – First professional baseball team in Ohio By 1890 – Baseball had 60,000 fans 3 years later the first World Series was held between the Pittsburg Pirates and the Boston Pilgrims (Red Soxs) Racism was a large problem in professional sports. African Americans formed their own league Football Many thought was too dangerous – but grew in popularity Basketball James Naismith – Gym teacher invented the game in 1891 One of the few sports women were allowed to play

Entetainment Theater Ragtime Portraying Shakespear Vaudeville – Many short performances Animal acts, Comedy, singers, magicians, skits Ragtime Created by African American Musicians 1890’s - Ragtime Pianists played a stomping or driving rhythm with the left hand and a syncopated improvised melody with the right. Scott Joplin became famous from Ragtime

The Bad and the Ugly Corrupt Politics Racism Women’s Rights Working Conditions Monopolies and Trusts Urban Slums Education Conservation

Corrupt Politics Big City = Big Responsibility Political Machines Well Organized political parties dominated city governments during the late 1800’s Were excellent at getting certain people elected to office. Political Bosses Managed political machines Would bully people into voting for certain candidates Would make promises to businesses for convincing their workers to vote for certain candidates. Won support Providing jobs, services and political favors.

Political Machines Cont. Often helped the urban poor. Gained support from immigrants Met them at Ellis Island, helped them get settled Tammany Hall Met immigrants ensured they were citizens and registered to vote, so they could vote for Tammany hall candidates.

Graft and Corruption Corruption – Corrupt voting practices Voting multiple time Bulling people for votes Graft- The acquisition of money or political power through illegal or dishonest methods. Almost all Political machines participated in this practice. Kickbacks – Payments of part of the earnings from a job or contract.

The Tweed Ring An era of the Tammany Hall Political Machine Political Boss was William Marcy Tweed LOTS OF GRAFT Estimated 200 million in Kickbacks Thomas Nast Series of Political Cartoons – in Harpers Weekly Exposed William Marcy Tweed for corruption Published some 50 images that exposed Tweed “Stop them pictures. I don’t care so much what the papers write about me. My constituents can’t read. But they can see pictures” William Tweed

The problems Grow Racism Existed across all parts of life. In jobs, in leisure, in education Working Conditions Triangle Fire Monopolies and Trusts No one was making sure business were not taking advantage of the consumer (the citizen buying the product) Urban Slums Tenement Houses Education Was required, but was focused on memorization and making immigrants good citizens Was restricted, and difficult to attend Not equal for all races

The Comparison Tenement House Wealthy Banquet

Why do we call this the Gilded Age?

Progressive Era – Age of Reform Choose your Historical Character.

Progressive Era

Gilded Age – 1865-1900 Progressive Era - 1897-1920

What does the word Progress mean?

What do you think the Progressive Era is?

The Progressives Chapter 9 Group of people who work to make change. Focused on the number of problems in society. Proposed reform. Progressives had individual goals based on their own priorities.