Insignificant Presidents and Ineffective Laws: Politics of the Gilded

Age

Chapter 8, Section 2September 28, 2010

The Gilded Age

In 1873, Mark Twain and Charles Warner wrote a book called The Gilded Age.

Something that is gilded is gold on the outside, but made of cheap material on the inside.

Twain and Warner were saying that society in the late 1800s looked good, but it was rotten underneath with corruption, poverty, and crime.

Historians have come to refer to this period of history as “The Gilded Age.”

The Gilded Age Who? Mark Twain, Charles

Warner What? Coined this phrase to

say that society looked good on the outside, but was rotten on the inside.

When? 1873 Where? America

How? Twain and Warner said that gov’t corruption,

poverty, and crime in big cities was making the country rotten, although it looked like a time of great progress.

So What? Historians use Twain’s phrase to describe both the

benefits and the negative aspects of late 1800s urbanization.

Individualism

The idea that no matter where a person started in life, they could accomplish whatever they wanted as long as they worked.

Horatio Alger novels demonstrated this idea.

SOCIAL DARWINISM Who? Herbert Spencer (based off of Charles Darwin’s

theory) What? The idea that society progresses because the

fittest people survive. When? Late 1800s Where? America

How? Those who work hard

and succeed will do well and be successful, while those who do not will be left behind to be low paid workers.

So What? It was embraced by big

businessmen as a justification of their extreme wealth while their workers made little and worked in poor factory conditions.

A softer side of Social Darwinism…

Although Andrew Carnegie believed in Social Darwinism, he felt that those who “made it” had an obligation to provide society something in return.

This becomes known as the GOSPEL OF WEALTH.

Carnegie believed in PHILANTHROPY – using one’s money to contribute to good causes.

Problems in the White House

Throughout the 1800s, government jobs were often given to supporters of the winning party in an election. This is known as PATRONAGE or THE SPOILS SYSTEM.

In 1881, President James Garfield attempts to end this system. Some people like it, others don’t.

STALWARTS and HALFBREEDS

People who supported the Spoils System were known as STALWARTS.

People who wanted to reform the system (mainly Republicans) were known as HALFBREEDS.

PENDLETON ACT

The Spoils System gets out of hand when a crazed Stalwart kills President Garfield (halfbreed) in hopes that new President Chester Arthur (stalwart) will get him a job.

In response, Congress passes the PENDLETON ACT, which made the hiring of many government jobs based on MERIT, not PATRONAGE.

Garfield and Arthur

REPUBLICANS and DEMOCRATS

During this time, the power of Democrats and Republicans were almost equal.

REPUBLICANS had support in New England and the Midwest (big business and farmers).

Democrats had support in the South and in big cities.

Presidential elections were close during this time.

Election of 1884

Democrats nominate GROVER CLEVELAND

Republicans nominate JAMES G. BLAINE

Cleveland wins because many Republican reformers, known as MUGWUMPS, disliked Blaine and voted for Cleveland.

Cleveland wins a close race.

Big Pimpin’Grover Cleveland

INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION

Some people believe that the RRs are giving preferential treatment to big businesses.

These businesses (like Standard Oil) got lower rates and REBATES (partial refunds).

In Wabash v. Illinois, the Supreme Court says only the FEDERAL gov’t can regulate the RRs.

In 1887, Congress passes the INTERSTATE COMMERCE ACT. – It limited what rates the railroads could charge– Forbade rebates to big businesses– Makes it illegal to charge more for shorter

routes.It attempts to even the playing field for smaller

companies

McKinley Tariff

In Congress, Democrats want to lower the tariff, but Republicans want to keep it high.

Republicans got contributions from businessmen who wanted the tariffs high.

Due to supporters of high tariffs, Benjamin Harrison is elected president in 1888.

Congress passes the McKINLEY TARIFF. It lowers the tariff on some goods, but raises it on others.

Turns the nation’s budget SURPLUS into a Budget DEFECIT.

Benjamin Harrison

SHERMAN ANTITRUST ACT

Congress also wants to deal with trusts.

In 1890, they pass the SHERMAN ANTITRUST ACT.

It was not effective, because the courts did not do a great job of enforcing it.