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TRANSCRIPT
The Gilded Age
“gilded” means to be covered in gold on the outside, but have cheap material on the inside
this term was the title of a Mark Twain novel, and stuck to describe the years 1870-1900
many believed while things looked all high-tech and shiny to the upper and middle class, the same was not true of the majority: the working poor
What were the characteristics of the Gilded Age?
The disparity of the Gilded Age
The Gilded Age
SOCIAL DARWINISMIndividualism and social Darwinism shaped Americans’ attitudes toward industrial society.
THE IDEA OF INDIVIDUALISM
individualism: belief that no matter how poor, anyone can rise in society and be successful
Horatio Alger: wrote popular “rags to riches” novels about people who became wildly successful all on their own
What were the characteristics of the Gilded Age?
Some Horatio Alger books
The Gilded Age
SOCIAL DARWINISM
applies biology theory of evolution (only the species that adapts can survive) to society
“survival of the fittest” became the phrase: society becomes better because only those who are fit to live in it find success and survive
Social Darwinism + laissez-faire economics = big business’ dream come true
Rockefeller claimed the two ideas were “the law of nature and of God”
What were the characteristics of the Gilded Age?
Herbert Spencer, British philosopher who founded
the theory of Social Darwinism
The Gilded Age
SOCIAL DARWINISM
the church doesn’t like this: they don’t like the theory of evolution because it contradicts the story of creation
Andrew Carnegie and the Gospel of Wealth: he says wealthy have responsibility to donate money and build things that will help people help themselves (libraries, schools, hospitals)
he does NOT believe in giving “handouts”
What were the characteristics of the Gilded Age?
Andrew Carnegie, philanthropist, with the faculty of the Tuskegee Institute
The Gilded Age
A CHANGING CULTUREArtist and writers began portraying life in America more realistically, and cities offered new forms of entertainment.
REALISM
visual artist and writers portray the world realistically
Mark Twain: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
What were the characteristics of the Gilded Age?
Mark Twain
The Gilded Age
A CHANGING CULTUREArtist and writers began portraying life in America more realistically, and cities offered new forms of entertainment.
REALISM: showing the world as it really is; not the “gilded” outside, but the real inside
visual artist and writers portray the world realistically
Mark Twain: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
What were the characteristics of the Gilded Age?
Mark Twain
The Gilded Age
POPULAR CULTURE
better standard of living > more entertainment
Saloons: socialize, drink, free toilets/newspapers, political centers
Amusement parks: Coney Island, NY
Pro sports: baseball, football
Recreation sports: golf, tennis, basketball (invented in MA!)
Vaudeville: variety shows on stage
Ragtime: exciting music, matched fast city pace
What were the characteristics of the Gilded Age?
A saloon in Cincinnati
Scott Joplin, composer
Coney Island, 1900
The Gilded Age
POLITICS IN WASHINGTONThe two major parties were closely competitive in the late 1800s; tariff rates and big business regulation were hotly debated political issues.
President Garfield didn’t hand out White House jobs when he was elected like most other Presidents did; he didn’t believe in that system
One job seeker was very frustrated--thinking he’d have better luck with the VP, he shot Garfield; the President died a few weeks later of infection
What were the characteristics of the Gilded Age?
President Garfield
The Gilded Age
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
Death causes most to agree to get rid of patronage: giving jobs to supporters as rewards
Pendleton Act: some jobs now require written test
today, most government jobs have minimum requirements
What were the characteristics of the Gilded Age?
Chester A. Arthur becomes President after Garfield’s death
The Gilded Age
Interstate Commerce
Grover Cleveland elected; 1st Democrat since before Civil War
Interstate Commerce Commission created by Congress in 1887; regulates rates for large corporations, especially railroads
a response to public concern over corporation power
somewhat slow to change things, as courts had to enforce the rules of the commission
What were the characteristics of the Gilded Age?
President Grover Cleveland
The Gilded Age
Tariffs
tariffs were raised after Civil War, many said they should be lower now that US companies can compete
Cleveland proposes lowering them, Republicans in Senate block the bill
tariffs become an issue in the next election...Democrats want to lower, Republicans do not...Cleveland is defeated, but barely
What were the characteristics of the Gilded Age?
President Benjamin Harrison(grandson of Pres. W.H. Harrison)
The Gilded Age
REPUBLICANS REGAIN POWER
McKinley tariff: cut agricultural tariffs, but raised them on manufactured products
this makes all prices go up, as corporate factories now have loads of protection--consumers are angry
Sherman Anti-Trust Act: supposed to prevent corporations from combining and monopolizing an industry
doesn’t work--it’s not clear and no one cares to enforce
What were the characteristics of the Gilded Age?
Rep. William McKinley(later becomes President)
The Gilded Age
THE REBIRTH OF REFORMReformers developed new methods and philosophies for helping the urban poor.
individualism/social Darwinism vs. regulation and social investment
journalists begin to point out the disparity between rich and poor, suggest Social Darwinism does NOT make society better
modern thinking: people WERE better off in general, though the gulf between rich and poor was wide
What were the characteristics of the Gilded Age?
The Gilded Age
THE REBIRTH OF REFORM
Author Lester Frank Ward: cooperation, not competition, can improve lives -- government can help carry out the cooperation plan with reforms
fiction authors’ themes: future reform utopia; characters who “fail” by no fault of their own; pursuit of wealth destroys character
What were the characteristics of the Gilded Age?
Lester Frank Ward
The Gilded Age
HELPING THE URBAN POOR
Social Gospel: Church must demand reform for people’s moral safety
Salvation Army/YMCA: religious counsel, training, group activities, aid
Settlement House: offered English classes, child care, medical
Public education: business needed trained, educated workers
Americanization: immigrant kids learned English and customs
taught all kids discipline, efficiency, neatness
cities have more schools than rural areas
What were the characteristics of the Gilded Age?
Schools in the late 1800s