“All that Glitters is not gold”…. Mark Twain

“of the monopolists, by the monopolist, for the monopolists….”

The Politics of the Gilded Age AIM: How corrupt was politics during the Gilded Age?

I. The Gilded Age Grant Administration Old Radical Republicans pass away Replaced by new guard: Sen. Roscoe Conklin of NY Sen. James Blaine of Maine

2. Grant Administration Scandals Gold Market Scandal: Jay Gould and James Fisk corner the gold market Credit Moblier – 1872 1. Bogus RR company sold Stock to U.S. congressman at reduced prices to avoid investigation. 2. No RR build

Whiskey Ring Affair: 1. Distillers were bribing tax officials 2. Grant’s personal secretary involved Indian Affairs Scandal 1. Sec. of War Belknap involved in shady dealings to cheat Indians of land

II. Politics of the Gilded Age Campaign Strategy 1. “Get the vote out!” brass bands, flags, campaign buttons, free beer issue free campaigning!!!

B. Party Patronage No legislative agenda just a rewards game of gaining office and giving friends jobs. Stalwarts: opposed reform Half-Breeds: support halfway reforms Mugwumps: reformers

Pendleton Act 1881 CIVIL SERVICE REFORM!!! b. Exam, civil servants prohibited from making political contributions

C. Political Machines and Party Boss

1. Tammany Hall Society of St. Tammany – 1789 During the Civil War – it tied itself to the Democratic Party in New York City Controlled city politics and power until 1931

Benefits Negative

III. Government Laissez Faire??? Government Assistance Government Assistance

IV. Opposition to the “Evils” of Industrialism A. Henry George, Progress and Poverty, 1879 B. Edward Bellamy, Looking Backward, 1888

C. Jane Adams, Settlement Houses 1892

1. Goals of the Settlement House

D. Walter Rauschenbusch on the Social Gospel