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A New Spirit of Reform

A New Spirit of Reform. Chapter 21. The Gilded Age. Mark Twain gives this time period a great nickname! The rich get richer The poor get poorer Reformers want change. Scandals. C orrupt politicians and businessmen erode confidence in government Credit Mobilier Scandal

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A New Spirit of Reform

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  1. A New Spirit of Reform Chapter 21

  2. The Gilded Age • Mark Twain gives this time period a great nickname! • The rich get richer • The poor get poorer • Reformers want change

  3. Scandals • Corrupt politicians and businessmen erode confidence in government • Credit Mobilier Scandal • Whiskey Ring Scandal

  4. Corrupt Politicians • Political bosses corrupt city governments • Boss Tweed rules New York City

  5. Reformers in the Press • Thomas Nast draws political cartoons exposing the corruption of Boss Tweed

  6. Political Reformers • Mugwumps criticize the political spoils system • They urge civil service reforms

  7. Rutherford B. Hayes • Elected our 19th president in 1876 • Republican • He won a highly disputed election • Turned out to be a reformer at heart • Promised to serve only one term

  8. James Garfield • Becomes our 20th president in 1881 • Republican • Fights corruption in the Post Office • Appoints several African Americans to federal posts • Assassinated 200 days into his term

  9. Chester A. Arthur • Garfield’s V.P. becomes President after his assassination • Enforced new civil service laws • He made many political enemies • Not renominated by the Republican Party

  10. Grover Cleveland • First Democratic president since the Civil War • Served two non-consecutive terms • Received high praise for his integrity

  11. Labor Unions • Organized groups of workers seek workplace reforms • Uriah Stevens forms the Knights of Labor in 1869 • Samuel Gompers founds the American Federation of Labor in 1886

  12. Strikes • Union workers refuse to work until their demands are met • Strikebreakers or scabs hired to end strikes • Haymarket Square bombing scares the public

  13. Jane Addams • A social worker and reformer • Committed to the relief of poverty in the cities • Founded Hull House • Advocated for women and children • Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize

  14. Businesses Grow Too Powerful • Giant industries strangle competition • Wages for the common man remain low • Trusts companies get wealthier • A few control the many

  15. Reformers Fight Back • Congress passed new laws to limit the powers of trust companies • Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) • Sherman Anti-Trust Act

  16. The Populist Wish List • A graduated income tax • Publically owned railroads, telegraph, and telephone • Direct election of senators • Increase the money supple by making silver coins again

  17. A New Political Party • The Populist (Peoples) Party is founded in 1892 • Appeals to farmers and factory workers • They support Democrat William Jennings Bryan in the election of 1896 • He lost to the Republican candidate William McKinley

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