Gilded Age Gilded Age 1870-19001870-1900

Presidents of the Gilded AgePresidents of the Gilded Age

U.S. Grant 1869-1877 Rutherford B.

Hayes 1877-1881James Garfield

1881Chester A.

Arthur 1881-1885

Grover Cleveland 1885-1889 and

1893-1897Benjamin

Harrison 1889-1893

William McKinley 1897-

1901

Gilded Age-originGilded Age-origin► Gilded Age -Period when -Period when

corruption existed in society corruption existed in society but was overshadowed by the but was overshadowed by the wealth of the period (“gilded” wealth of the period (“gilded” is when something is is when something is golden/beautiful on the surface golden/beautiful on the surface but is really cheap/worthless but is really cheap/worthless underneathunderneath

► Abuses in business and Abuses in business and government caused problems government caused problems for immigrants, laborers, and for immigrants, laborers, and farmersfarmers

► Term comes from a book Term comes from a book written about the time period written about the time period by Mark Twain and Charles by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner in 1873 Dudley Warner in 1873 The The Gilded AgeGilded Age

View Intro to America’s Industrial Revolution

Inventors/Inventions Inventors/Inventions ► Thomas Edison

Perfected the light bulb in 1880, Perfected the light bulb in 1880, and motion pictureand motion picture

Organized power plantsOrganized power plants Established first research labEstablished first research lab

► Alexander Graham BellAlexander Graham Bell Telephone (1876)

► Henry FordHenry Ford Assembly LineAssembly Line

► George EastmanGeorge Eastman Camera (1885)Camera (1885)

► Samuel MorseSamuel Morse Telegraph (1837)Telegraph (1837)

► Wright BrothersWright Brothers Airplane (1903)Airplane (1903)

► Christopher SholesChristopher Sholes Typewriter (1867)Typewriter (1867)

► Guglielmo MarconiGuglielmo Marconi RadioRadio

Samuel Morse

Alexander Graham Bell

19th Century Camera

19th Century Typewriter

Wright Brothers on 1903 Flight

Marconi

The Steel Industry’s Impact on The Steel Industry’s Impact on AmericaAmerica

► Bessemer Process-Bessemer Process- developed around 1850 developed around 1850 injected air into molten injected air into molten iron to remove impurities iron to remove impurities and make steel-a lighter, and make steel-a lighter, more flexible, rust more flexible, rust resistant metalresistant metal

► Steel is used in railroads, Steel is used in railroads, farm equipment, canned farm equipment, canned goodsgoods

► Engineers use steel to Engineers use steel to create skyscrapers and create skyscrapers and longer bridges (Brooklyn longer bridges (Brooklyn Bridge)Bridge)

View Steel Industry Video

Impact of Railroads on America Impact of Railroads on America during the Gilded Ageduring the Gilded Age

► BenefitsBenefits Stimulated growth of other Stimulated growth of other

industries (steel, iron, coal, industries (steel, iron, coal, lumber, glass)lumber, glass)

Helped cities growHelped cities grow Helped increase westward Helped increase westward

expansion of Americaexpansion of America Standard time zones were Standard time zones were

created to get everyone on created to get everyone on correct timecorrect time

► CorruptionCorruption Charged much higher rates to Charged much higher rates to

western farmerswestern farmers Credit Mobilier Scandal 1868Credit Mobilier Scandal 1868

► Union Pacific Union Pacific ► Fake construction companyFake construction company► Bribed members of Bribed members of

CongressCongress► Represented corruption of Represented corruption of

periodperiodView Corruption in Railroads

Standard Oil Cartoon based on Ida B. Tarbell’s book- The History of Standard Oil

The Rise of Big BusinessThe Rise of Big Business► Andrew CarnegieAndrew Carnegie

Industrialist who made Industrialist who made a fortune in steel in a fortune in steel in the late 1800’s, as a the late 1800’s, as a philanthropists, he philanthropists, he gave away some $350 gave away some $350 million.million.

► John D. RockefellerJohn D. Rockefeller Industrialist who made Industrialist who made

a fortune in the oil a fortune in the oil refining industryrefining industry

U.S. Standard OilU.S. Standard Oil

The Rise of Big BusinessThe Rise of Big Business► J.P. MorganJ.P. Morgan

Industrialists who Industrialists who started U.S. Steel started U.S. Steel from Carnegie Steel from Carnegie Steel and other and other companies. Became companies. Became 11stst Billion dollar Billion dollar Corporation.Corporation.

Bailed out the U.S. Bailed out the U.S. economy on more economy on more than one occasion. than one occasion.

The Rise of Big BusinessThe Rise of Big Business► Vertical IntegrationVertical Integration

A process in which a A process in which a company buys out all of company buys out all of the suppliers. (Ex. coal the suppliers. (Ex. coal and iron mines, ore and iron mines, ore freighters, rr lines)freighters, rr lines)

► Horizontal ConsolidationHorizontal Consolidation-A process in which a -A process in which a

company buys out or company buys out or merges with all merges with all competing companies (JP competing companies (JP Morgan bought out Morgan bought out Carnegie steel and other Carnegie steel and other companies)companies)

The Rise of Big BusinessThe Rise of Big Business► TrustsTrusts -A group of -A group of

separate companies separate companies placed under the placed under the control of a single control of a single managing boardmanaging board

Critics called these Critics called these practices unfair and practices unfair and the business leaders the business leaders ““Robber Barons”Robber Barons”

The Rise of Big BusinessThe Rise of Big Business► Social DarwinismSocial Darwinism

Used Darwin’s theory to Used Darwin’s theory to explain businessexplain business

Natural Selection, Natural Selection, Survival of the FittestSurvival of the Fittest

Govt. should not interfere Govt. should not interfere Laissez-faireLaissez-faire -policy that -policy that

US had followed since US had followed since inception to not allow inception to not allow govt. to interfere with govt. to interfere with businessbusiness

► Captains of IndustryCaptains of Industry A positive idea that A positive idea that

industrial leaders worked industrial leaders worked hard and deserved their hard and deserved their wealthwealth

Carnegie Hall

Carnegie Library

Vanderbilt University

The Rise of Big BusinessThe Rise of Big Business► Gospel of WealthGospel of Wealth -belief -belief

that the wealthy are that the wealthy are “chosen by God” to be “chosen by God” to be successful and were successful and were therefore responsible to therefore responsible to look out for the well look out for the well being of those less being of those less fortunate. Many fortunate. Many Industrialist shared Industrialist shared wealth although rarely wealth although rarely through direct welfare. through direct welfare. Started museums, etc. Started museums, etc.

► MonopolyMonopoly-complete -complete control of a product or control of a product or serviceservice

The Rise of Big BusinessThe Rise of Big Business► Sherman Anti-Trust Sherman Anti-Trust

Act of 1890Act of 1890 Law outlawing a Law outlawing a

combination of combination of companies that companies that restrained interstate restrained interstate trade or commerce; trade or commerce; important to prevent important to prevent monopolies. Not monopolies. Not initially enforced initially enforced properly.properly.

Benjamin Harrison

“What can I do when both Parties insist on kicking”

Poor Working Conditions in the Poor Working Conditions in the Late 1800’sLate 1800’s

► Most factory workers Most factory workers worked 12 hour days, 6 worked 12 hour days, 6 days a weekdays a week

► Steel mills often demanded Steel mills often demanded 7 days a week7 days a week

► No vacations, sick leave, No vacations, sick leave, unemployment unemployment compensation, or workers compensation, or workers compensation for injuries on compensation for injuries on the jobthe job

► Children as young as 5 Children as young as 5 often worked as much as 12 often worked as much as 12 or sometimes 14 hours a or sometimes 14 hours a day, for as little as .$27 a day, for as little as .$27 a day.day.

The Rise of Labor UnionsThe Rise of Labor Unions► The Purpose of a labor The Purpose of a labor

union was “strength in union was “strength in numbers.” Attempted numbers.” Attempted to gain better working to gain better working conditions and pay.conditions and pay.

► The Knights of LaborThe Knights of Labor Was the first union to Was the first union to

accept workers of all accept workers of all races and gender. races and gender. Pushed for 8 hour Pushed for 8 hour workday, equal pay for workday, equal pay for women, accepted skilled women, accepted skilled and unskilled workersand unskilled workers

The Rise of Labor UnionsThe Rise of Labor Unions► The American The American

Federation of Labor Federation of Labor (AFL)-(AFL)- Accepted Accepted only skilled white only skilled white males, won higher males, won higher wages and shorter wages and shorter work weeks for its work weeks for its membersmembers

► Head of AFL was Head of AFL was Samuel GompersSamuel Gompers

The Rise of Labor UnionsThe Rise of Labor Unions► Industrial Workers of the Industrial Workers of the

World (IWW) or WobbliesWorld (IWW) or Wobblies Created in 1905, was a Created in 1905, was a

radical group of mostly radical group of mostly unskilled workers who unskilled workers who believed in socialismbelieved in socialism

SocialismSocialism-an economic -an economic or political philosophy or political philosophy that favors public (or that favors public (or social) control of social) control of property and income.property and income.

Setbacks for Labor UnionsSetbacks for Labor Unions► Great Railroad Strike of Great Railroad Strike of

18771877 RR workers strike to RR workers strike to

protest wage cutprotest wage cut Violence erupted in Violence erupted in

many cities for a weekmany cities for a week President Rutherford B. President Rutherford B.

Hayes sends in Federal Hayes sends in Federal Troops to put down strikeTroops to put down strike

ScabScab –worker called in by –worker called in by an employer to replace an employer to replace strikersstrikers

Courts and Federal govt. Courts and Federal govt. often sided with business often sided with business during Gilded Ageduring Gilded Age

Setbacks for Labor UnionsSetbacks for Labor Unions► Haymarket Riot 1886Haymarket Riot 1886

Workers protesting and Workers protesting and holding demonstrations holding demonstrations in Haymarket Square in Haymarket Square ChicagoChicago

Speakers are socialist Speakers are socialist and anarchist (no govt.)and anarchist (no govt.)

Police arrive and bomb is Police arrive and bomb is thrown at police killing thrown at police killing some and causing riotsome and causing riot

Public blames labor Public blames labor unions and views them unions and views them as radical, violent, and as radical, violent, and mostly foreignersmostly foreigners

Setbacks for Labor UnionsSetbacks for Labor Unions► Homestead Strike-1892Homestead Strike-1892

Workers strike against Workers strike against Carnegie Steel plantCarnegie Steel plant

Henry Frick was anti-Henry Frick was anti-union leader of plantunion leader of plant

► Pullman Strike 1894Pullman Strike 1894 Railroad industry strike in Railroad industry strike in

which 120,000 striking which 120,000 striking railroad workers were railroad workers were stopped only by the stopped only by the intervention of the intervention of the federal governmentfederal government

The New ImmigrantsThe New Immigrants► New ImmigrantsNew Immigrants -Between -Between

1870 and 1920-20 million 1870 and 1920-20 million Europeans-mostly from Europeans-mostly from Southern and Eastern Southern and Eastern Europe came to America- Europe came to America- ((Jews/Catholics)Jews/Catholics)

► Hundreds of thousands Hundreds of thousands more came from Mexico, more came from Mexico, Caribbean, and ChinaCaribbean, and China

► Looked and sounded Looked and sounded different than nativesdifferent than natives

► NativismNativism-Movement to -Movement to ensure that native-born ensure that native-born Americans received better Americans received better treatment than immigrantstreatment than immigrants

Russian Jews

1888 Puck Magazine cartoon about American 1888 Puck Magazine cartoon about American businessmen encouraging immigration for cheap businessmen encouraging immigration for cheap

labor which hurts Americanslabor which hurts Americans

The New ImmigrantsThe New Immigrants► Ellis Island-Ellis Island- In New In New

York harbor where York harbor where most European most European immigrants came to immigrants came to get processedget processed

► Angel Island-Angel Island- In San In San Francisco where Francisco where most Asians entered most Asians entered USUS

► Culture ShockCulture Shock► Melting PotMelting Pot

The New ImmigrantsThe New Immigrants► 1882-Chinese Exclusion 1882-Chinese Exclusion

Act-Act- prohibited Chinese prohibited Chinese laborers from entering laborers from entering the country. Was not the country. Was not lifted until 1943.lifted until 1943.

► Gentlemen’s Gentlemen’s AgreementAgreement 19071907– was – was reached between U.S. reached between U.S. and Japan in which and Japan in which Japan agreed to restrict Japan agreed to restrict immigration to the U.S. immigration to the U.S.

Political Cartoon depicting how Chinese immigrants workers lived and regular American workers lived. Rats, Yummy!

Problems of Rapid UrbanizationProblems of Rapid Urbanization► Urbanization-Urbanization- growth of growth of

citiescities► 3 reasons cities grew in 3 reasons cities grew in

late 1800’s and early late 1800’s and early 1900’s1900’s New immigrants arrived New immigrants arrived

in cities for workin cities for work As farm machines As farm machines

replaced farmers they replaced farmers they moved to citiesmoved to cities

African Americans left African Americans left South after Civil War and South after Civil War and came to Northern cities.came to Northern cities.

Problems in CitiesProblems in Cities

► 1. Housing shortages- 1. Housing shortages- TenementTenement – crowded – crowded apartment building with poor apartment building with poor standards of sanitation, safety, standards of sanitation, safety, and comfortand comfort

► 2. 2. TransportationTransportation –struggled to –struggled to keep up with growthkeep up with growth

► 3. 3. Clean waterClean water – was difficult – was difficult to produce and transportto produce and transport

► 4. 4. Waste and garbageWaste and garbage removal removal was a challenge and often was a challenge and often neglectedneglected

► 5. 5. Fires Fires were very commonwere very common Great Chicago FireGreat Chicago Fire -1871 -1871 San Francisco EarthquakeSan Francisco Earthquake

19061906► 6. 6. CrimeCrime rose with rose with

urbanizationurbanization

Early Reforms to fix problems of Early Reforms to fix problems of UrbanizationUrbanization

► Settlement HouseSettlement House – –Community center Community center organized to provide organized to provide various services to various services to urban poorurban poor

► Hull HouseHull House -1889 – most -1889 – most famous settlement famous settlement house established by house established by Jane Addams and Ellen Jane Addams and Ellen Gates StarrGates Starr

► Social Gospel Social Gospel MovementMovement –social –social reform movement that reform movement that sought to fix social sought to fix social problems in the name of problems in the name of JesusJesus

The Rise of Political MachinesThe Rise of Political Machines► Political MachinesPolitical Machines –an –an

organized group of people organized group of people that controlled the activities that controlled the activities of a political partyof a political party By giving voters services By giving voters services

they needed, the machine they needed, the machine won their vote and won their vote and controlled city governmentcontrolled city government

► City BossCity Boss was head of was head of Political MachinesPolitical Machines ControlledControlled

► Jobs in police, fire, and Jobs in police, fire, and sanitation departmentssanitation departments

► Agencies that granted Agencies that granted licenses to businesseslicenses to businesses

► Money to fund large Money to fund large construction projectsconstruction projects

“All Politics center around the Boss”

Political MachinesPolitical Machines► Political machines loved Political machines loved

immigrants, WHY?immigrants, WHY? Never voted, tried to sway Never voted, tried to sway

votes by bribery, votes by bribery, intimidation, and other intimidation, and other meansmeans

► Political machines used Political machines used power topower to Rig electionsRig elections Become wealthy from Become wealthy from

kickbackskickbacks-illegal payments-illegal payments Control police force to Control police force to

stay out of troublestay out of trouble

““Boss Tweed” and Thomas Boss Tweed” and Thomas NastNast

► William “Boss” William “Boss” TweedTweed City Boss of City Boss of Tammany Hall-Tammany Hall- Democratic Political Democratic Political Machine in New York Machine in New York CityCity

► Thomas NastThomas Nast – –political cartoonist political cartoonist who was critical of who was critical of machines and Tweedmachines and Tweed

Corruption in GovernmentCorruption in Government► Patronage or Spoils System-Patronage or Spoils System-

giving government jobs to giving government jobs to loyal party workers or loyal party workers or friends friends Were not qualifiedWere not qualified Used position to get Used position to get

money from government money from government ((graftgraft))

► President James Garfield is President James Garfield is assassinated by assassinated by disappointed office seeker disappointed office seeker favoring Spoils Systemfavoring Spoils System

► President Chester Arthur President Chester Arthur signs signs Pendleton Civil Service Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883Act of 1883

James Garfield

Charles Guiteau

Pendleton Civil Service Act Pendleton Civil Service Act 18831883

► Attempted to end Attempted to end Patronage/Spoils SystemPatronage/Spoils System

► 1. Creating the 1. Creating the Civil Civil Service CommissionService Commission which which required appointed govt. required appointed govt. officials to pass the officials to pass the Civil Civil Service ExamService Exam to base jobs to base jobs on merit instead of on merit instead of friendshipfriendship

► 2. Federal employees did 2. Federal employees did not have to contribute to not have to contribute to campaign fundscampaign funds

► 3. Federal employees could 3. Federal employees could not be fired for political not be fired for political reasonsreasons

Chester A. Arthur signed Pendleton Act into effect