1 / 10

Politics and Corruption in the Gilded Age

Politics and Corruption in the Gilded Age. The term “Gilded Age”. “ The Gilded Age ,” was a term coined by the author  Mark Twain  hinting that times looked good , yet if one scratched a bit below the surface , there were problems . Photograph (1871). The Era of Good Stealings.

gustav
Download Presentation

Politics and Corruption in the Gilded Age

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Politics and Corruption in the Gilded Age

  2. The term “Gilded Age” • “The Gilded Age,” was a term coined by the author Mark Twain hinting that times looked good, yet if one scratched a bit below the surface, there were problems. Photograph (1871)

  3. The Era of Good Stealings • Despite the Civil War, the populationstill grew, partially due to immigration. • During this time, politics became very corrupt. • Stock-market investors were unethical • Too many judges and legislators put their power up for hire.

  4. Laissez-faire • Federal government had a hands-off approach towards businesses. NO regulation or interference in business practices • Reflected a belief in social Darwinism • The best-run businesses led by the most capable people would survive and prosper.

  5. Tammany Hall • The infamous Tweed Ring(AKA, “Tammany Hall") of NYC, headed by “Boss” Tweed, employed bribery and fake elections to cheat the city of as much as $200 million. • Thomas Nast, political cartoonist, constantly drew against Tammany’s corruption.

  6. The Billion Dollar Congress • The 51st, or “Billion Dollar” Congress—one that legislated many expensive projects • The Populist Party emerged in 1892 from disgruntled farmers. • They called for items including: a graduated income tax, government regulationof railroads and telegraphs/telephones, a one term limit, a shorter workday, and immigration restriction.

  7. Partner Talk • One thing I know about the government during the Gilded Age is… • One connection between the Gilded Age and politics today is… • One question I still have is…

  8. Depression • Depression of 1893: First such panic in the new urban and industrial age, and it caused much outrageand hardships. • About 8,000 American businesses collapsed in six months.

  9. Government Bailout • President Cleveland was embarrassed at having to resort to J.P. Morgan (capitalist/NYC businessman) to bailout the depression (government). • Further, the Supreme Court struck down an income tax. Rich can get richer. It looked like all politicians were tools of the wealthy.

  10. The Gap Widens • Industrialistsamass great fortunes • Poor workers living in extreme poverty and experiencing awful working conditions

More Related