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The Progressive Era 1876 - 1920

The Progressive Era 1876 - 1920. Reform in the Gilded Age. Gilded Age- period in U.S. lasting from the 1870s-1890s marked by political corruption and extravagant spending. Wealthy spending mixed with a large population of poor who suffered. 2/5 Americans were out of work

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The Progressive Era 1876 - 1920

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  1. The Progressive Era1876 - 1920

  2. Reform in the Gilded Age Gilded Age- period in U.S. lasting from the 1870s-1890s marked by political corruption and extravagant spending

  3. Wealthy spending mixed with a large population of poor who suffered • 2/5 Americans were out of work • “Gilded Age” comes from Mark Twain in an 1873 novel • Gilded: coated in a thin layer of gold paint, implying falseness beneath the surface (cheap jewelry, knockoff clothing)

  4. Politics • Political power split between the two major parties • N & W voted Republican & South voted Democrat

  5. Politics • No true power behind parties – more entertainment than anything else • Politics driven by concern

  6. Concern Included… • Fear that bankers, industrialists & the wealthy were controlling politics at the expense of the public • Fear that bribery and voter fraud would cause corruption • Spoils system – practice of rewarding political supporters with government jobs

  7. Reforming the Spoils System • People offered political support in exchange for jobs • Patronage: giving jobs to political followers, which lead to corruption • James Garfield (president in 1881) introduces the concept of government jobs as rewards based on merit

  8. Merit: ability and worth versus politics • Might have been effective…but Garfield was shot • VP Chester Arthur takes over & tries to work on reform

  9. Civil Service • Civil Service Commission: 1883 – conduct exams for federal jobs in order to fill them on the basis of merit • Civil Service: includes all federal jobs except elected offices & the military (about 40% jobs)

  10. Regulating Big Business • Big business controlled the government due to illegitimate politics • Under Constitution the federal (nation) government had the power to regulate interstate commerce: business that crossed state lines.

  11. Interstate Commerce Act: signed by President Grover Cleveland in 1887 – forbade practices such as pools & rebates. • The ICC (interstate commerce commission) oversaw these rules. • Sherman Antitrust Act: prohibited business from trying to limit or destroy competition …Sound familiar?

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