A New Spirit of Reform Chapter 21

The Gilded Age Mark Twain gives this time period a great nickname! Mark Twain The rich get richer The poor get poorer Reformers want change

Scandals Corrupt politicians and businessmen erode confidence in government Credit Mobilier Scandal Whiskey Ring Scandal

Corrupt Politicians Political bosses corrupt city governments Boss Tweed rules New York City

Reformers in the Press Thomas Nast draws political cartoons exposing the corruption of Boss Tweed

Political Reformers Mugwumps criticize the political spoils system They urge civil service reforms

Rutherford B. Hayes Elected our 19 th president in 1876 Republican He won a highly disputed election Turned out to be a reformer at heart Promised to serve only one term

James Garfield Becomes our 20 th president in 1881 Republican Fights corruption in the Post Office Appoints several African Americans to federal posts Assassinated 200 days into his term

Chester A. Arthur Garfield’s V.P. becomes President after his assassination Enforced new civil service laws He made many political enemies Not renominated by the Republican Party

Grover Cleveland First Democratic president since the Civil War Served two non- consecutive terms Received high praise for his integrity

Labor Unions Organized groups of workers seek workplace reforms Uriah Stevens forms the Knights of Labor in 1869 Samuel Gompers founds the American Federation of Labor in 1886

Strikes Union workers refuse to work until their demands are met Strikebreakers or scabs hired to end strikes Haymarket Square bombing scares the public

Jane Addams A social worker and reformer Committed to the relief of poverty in the cities Founded Hull House Advocated for women and children Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize

Businesses Grow Too Powerful Giant industries strangle competition Wages for the common man remain low Trusts companies get wealthier A few control the many

Reformers Fight Back Congress passed new laws to limit the powers of trust companies Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) Sherman Anti-Trust Act

The Populist Wish List A graduated income tax Publically owned railroads, telegraph, and telephone Direct election of senators Increase the money supple by making silver coins again

A New Political Party The Populist (Peoples) Party is founded in 1892 Appeals to farmers and factory workers They support Democrat William Jennings Bryan in the election of 1896 He lost to the Republican candidate William McKinley