1. Gilded - glitter & glamour over something cheap. It looks nice and expensive but at its core its cheap. Glitter and Glamour = the ideals of America What made the core cheap = Corruption and lack of backbone of politicians. The Gilded Age 7.3

2. What problems existed in the Gilded Age? Over-production Irregular economic cycles low wages high farm debt

3. High Tariffs – encourages buying American- artificially high prices Land grants Subsidies: gov’t payments to develop essential industries Business bribed politicians with campaign contributions Write each government action on the proper side of the scale in your notes. DoestheGovernmentHelp? Does the Government Help? Laissez-Faire really meant government involvement that helped businesses.

4. Political Machines Can Help? An organized group that controlled the activities of a political party in a city, offered services to voters and businesses in exchange for support. Businesses Business licenses and permits, pass laws, other types of support Interest Group Give money and support. Build parks, hospitals, orphanages, schools, sewer systems, hired police force Immigrants Gain full citizenship, housing, jobs, anything they need to adjust * Make the issues of the community better and win loyalty and votes.

5. Political Machines also Hurt Voting Fraud: Used fake names and dead people to assure votes. Graft: Illegal use of political power for personal gain. Hire a friend to overcharge on construction and split the extra money. NY County Courthouse- total bill 13 million, actual cost 3 million. 10 million went into the pockets of city gov’t officials and their friends Extort, Steal, Lie, Bribe, and other Illegal Activities Are they worth it?

6. Political Machine: Tweed verses Nast William Tweed ran Tammany Hall in New York City. Infamous boss eventually charged with 120 counts of fraud and extortion. Thomas Nast was a political cartoonist (German immigrant) whose numerous Tweed cartoon enraged the public and help bring justice.

12. The Political Parties of the Gilded Age Republicans: (Business owners, wealthy) Gold standard (low inflation) High tariffs Aid to R.R. Limit immigration Blue laws (limit drinking, etc.) Democrats: (Immigrants, laborers, farmers ) Silver standard (high inflation) Higher farm prices, Railroad regulation Moderates: (D&R) avoid taking stand on issues to avoid upsetting party members.

13. New Fights in Politics: Spoils System Spoils System: Elected officials appoint friends to jobs regardless of their qualifications (patronage). Often using their jobs to make illegal money for themselves and friends.

14. Presidents of the Gilded Age 1876 – Rutherford B. Hayes(R): Congress passed Act to use silver standard (help farmers and debtors). *Hayes vetoes, Congress over rides the veto. Hayes avoids spoils system Hired qualified workers, fired unneeded employees 60 Second Presidents

15. 1880 – James A. Garfield (R): Republicans split into 3 factions ·Stalwarts – defended spoils system ·Half-Breeds – balance new reforms & traditional spoils systems ·Independents – no spoils system President Garfield (half breed) shot by Charles Guiteau (stalwart) on July 2, 1881 Public calls for end to spoils system 60 Second Presidents

16. 1881 – Chester A. Arthur (R) (Stalwart) Created Pendleton Act of 1883 *Civil service commission for gov’t jobs *Federal employees can’t be fired for political reasons 60 Second Presidents

17. Grover Cleveland (D) *TWO non-consecutive terms First Term (Before:1877 Munn v. Illinois: States can’t regulate INTERstate commerce) 1887: He Signed into law the Interstate Commerce Act: Gov’t can regulate private business Tried to lower tariffs but congress did not support him. Second Term 1892 – Grover Cleveland (D) –Economic Depression: millions w/o jobs, cut wages, no gov’t help –Jacob Coxey leads protest to get gov’t assistance – gets arrested –Cleveland sends troops to stop Pullman strike – angers laborers –Repeals silver standard – angers farmers 60 Second Presidents

18. 1888 – Benjamin Harrison (R) 1890 – Sherman Anti-trust Act Tariff increase Then... 1892 – Grover Cleveland (D) …again 60 Second Presidents

19. 1896 – William McKinley (R) New tariff & gold standard President McKinley shot by Leon Czolgosz (Anarchist) on Sept. 6, 1901 Public fear of immigrants 60 Second Presidents