Politics in the Gilded Age

Ch 8, Sec 1

The Gilded Age

• “Gilded” – covered with a thin layer of gold.• Coined by Twain; Thin layer of prosperity

covering problems of the poor and corruption in politics.

• Roughly 1870-1900.

Politics• Very little gov’t regulation in business.– Laissez-faire gov’t – “Let it be”, “hands-off”.

• Businesses would pay bribes for gov’t contracts, favorable laws/regulations.

• Many scandals of politicians accepting bribes.• Would get subsidies, or payments made by

gov’t to encourage business growth.• Lots of railroad subsidies.

• The spoils system was used in gov’t.– Elected officials appointed friends, relatives,

supporters to gov’t jobs, regardless of qualification.• Ensured politicians had plenty of supporters.• Used by both political parties.

• Republicans supported by bankers, industrialists, big farmers.

• Democrats supported by immigrants, laborers, small farmers.

Political Reform• 1877, President Rutherford B. Hayes refused

to follow spoils system upon election.– Began reform of civil service system. (non-elected

gov’t workers)• 1880, President James A. Garfield elected.– Assassinated July 2, 1881 by Charles Guiteau.

• 1881, President Chester A. Arthur passed Pendleton Civil Service Act.– Created Civil Service Exam, prevented firing for

political reasons.

Rutherford B. Hayes James A. Garfield

Charles Guiteau

Chester A. Arthur

• 1884, Grover Cleveland elected.– “Ma, Ma, where’s my Pa?”

• Began regulation of railroads.– RR’s charged more for short hauls, offered rebates

to preferred customers, kept rates secret.• 1887, Congress passed Interstate Commerce

Act.– RR’s charged by distance, made rates public, no

special rates, creation of the ICC.– Did not give ICC power to enforce; had to sue RR’s.• Usually lost.

Grover Cleveland

Depression of 1893• 1888, Benjamin Harrison elected.– Passed Sherman Anti-Trust Act, raised tariffs high,

huge pensions to Civil War widows.• 1892, Grover Cleveland wins 2nd term.– Huge depression, millions laid off, banks closed.– Gov’t did not help.

• 1896, William McKinley elected.– Strengthened gold standard.• American money backed by gold held in federal banks.

– Assassinated in 1901 by anarchist Leon Czolgosz.

Benjamin Henry Harrison William McKinley

Gold at Fort Knox

Leon Czolgosz

Execution of Czolgosz