Reform, Politics, & the Gilded Age

1. Reform, Politics, & the Gilded Age Created by Katherine Lacks

2. Reformers • Social Gospel Movement • preached salvation thru service to the poor • inspired people to build churches in poor communities and convinced some business leaders to treat workers more fairly Created by Katherine Lacks

3. Reformers • Settlement-house Movement • community centers in slum neighborhoods that gave assistance and friendship to locals - especially immigrants • ran mostly by middle-class, college-educated women • promote education, culture, and social services • provide classes - English, health, crafts, drama, music, etc. • sent nurses to homes of sick, injured, etc. • Jane Addams - co-founder of Chicago's Hull House - 1889 • Locust Street Social Settlement - Hampton, VA - 1st one for African Americans Created by Katherine Lacks

4. The Political Machine Organization (city bosses) • organized group that controlled activities of a political party in a city • offered services to voters and business in exchange for political and financial support • voters received city jobs, contracts, political appointments in exchange for votes • organized like a pyramid Created by Katherine Lacks

5. The Political Machine • City Boss – controlled the political party throughout the city • Ward Boss – worked to gain all precinct’s support during elections • Local precinct workers and captains – gained voter support on block or in neighborhood Created by Katherine Lacks

6. The Political Boss • controlled 1000s of city jobs (including police, fire, sanitation), business licenses and inspections, influenced courts and agencies • helped solve many urban problems which won loyalty from voters • built parks, sewer systems, waterworks, gave money to schools, hospitals, orphanages, etc. Created by Katherine Lacks

7. The Political Boss • many were 1st or 2nd generation immigrants and had worked their way up from poverty • spoke language and could relate to immigrant problems • able to provide solutions • helped immigrants become naturalized, find place to live and get a job in exchange for votes Created by Katherine Lacks

8. Corruption was widespread during this era in the government The rapid industrialization led to rapid urbanization and local governments could not keep up with the fast rate of city growth Immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe had no knowledge of democratic society and were easy prey for city bosses Businessmen were closely linked with big city bosses making corruption hard to fight Created by Katherine Lacks

9. Graft & Scandal • fraudulent elections - use names of dogs, kids, deceased as voters • graft - misuse of power • turning in a bill higher than actual cost and "kickback" (illegal payments) go to the machine • granting favors to businesses in return for cash • accepting bribes to allow illegal activities Created by Katherine Lacks

10. Tweed Ring • William Marcy Tweed - head of Tammany Hall - NYC's powerful Democratic political machine (1863) • pocketed @ $200 million from city in kickbacks (1869-1871) • finally broken up in 1871 • Tweed indicted on 220 counts of fraud and extortion - sentenced to 12 years • escaped after serving 2 years but recaptured in Spain later Created by Katherine Lacks

11. William Marcy “Boss” Tweed Created by Katherine Lacks

12. The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today (1873) A novel by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner which explored political and economic corruption in the U.S. The phrase “Gilded Age”, commonly given to the era, comes from the title of this book. The term gilded means to be covered with gold. Twain and Warner used it in the novel to refer to a city, which from a distance, looked as if it was made of gold, but instead, was covered in cheap gold paint. This was a symbol of the truth about America, where corporations like the railroad companies told lies about streets made of gold to attract immigrants to work for them. The two major characters, Colonel Beriah Sellers and Senator Abner Dilworthy, are linked together by a government railroad bribery scheme. Twain and Warner depicted an American society that on the surface appeared prosperous and full of opportunities but underneath was corrupt and scandalous. Twain Warner Created by Katherine Lacks

13. Gilded- “to make appear more bright and attractive” “An era of slums and palaces” Created by Katherine Lacks

14. Reasons that the RICH were so rich (and there were few of them) and the POOR were so poor (and there were so many of them) • No income taxes • No Government regulations on business (at first) • No unions to protect workers & help increase wages • Lack of proper education & Child Labor • Strong Belief in Social Darwinism (among “Rich”) • Massive graft and corruption Created by Katherine Lacks

15. The Palaces of The Gilded Age Created by Katherine Lacks

16. Biltmore Created by Katherine Lacks

17. Built by George Washington Vanderbilt between 1888 & 1895 Ashville, NC Largest privately owned home in the US 255 rooms; 175,000 sq. ft. Created by Katherine Lacks

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20. George Washington Vanderbilt Created by Katherine Lacks

21. The Breakers Newport, RI Summer home of Vanderbilt Created by Katherine Lacks

22. Hearst Castle San Simeon, CA William Randolph Hearst Created by Katherine Lacks

23. Chateau-sur-Mer Newport, RI William Wetmore Created by Katherine Lacks

24. Marble House Newport, RI Vanderbilt’s grandson Created by Katherine Lacks

25. Rose Cliff Created by Katherine Lacks

26. Whitehall Created by Katherine Lacks

27. The wealthy who built the amazing homes were “industrial giants” and the new “ultra” rich who’s families had succeeded in America beyond belief Created by Katherine Lacks