US History Since Reconstruction ~ Week Three Lecture
Download as PPT, PDF
1 like434 views
The document summarizes key economic, political, and social aspects of the Gilded Age in late 19th century America. During this time, the American economy expanded significantly across industries like farming, manufacturing, railroads, and oil. Politically, the government was controlled by corrupt political parties and big business with little regulation. There were cycles of economic booms and busts along with political corruption. Reform movements eventually began calling for changes to the political and economic systems in the 1870s-1880s.
US History Since Reconstruction ~ Week Three Lecture
- 1. 油
- 2. American economy expands on all fronts between 1860-1900 Farm Production Doubles. Manufacturing Grows Six-Fold. Real Wages Rise. Economy driven by new industries: railroad steel oil & coal. E. From self-employment to wage work
- 3. Speculation Laissez-Faire Economics Labor Problems Business Consolidation & Control Unfair Business Practices Little or No Business Regulation
- 4. Get rich dishonestly if we can, honestly if we must. ~ M. Twain & C. D. Warren, The Gilded Age A term for late-nineteenth-century America. Government was controlled by corrupt two-party system and by big business. A time of: Political Corruption and/or Inactivity Laissez-Faire Economics Social Darwinism Get-Rich-Quick Schemes Cycles of Economic Boom & Bust
- 5. 油
- 6. 油
- 7. To the victor belongs the spoils. Political machines that turned out the vote & won the elections distributed the spoils: government jobs & contracts. Strengths Machines Found Jobs for Party Supporters Machines Provided Some Social Welfare Services Participation in Elections was Very High Machines Built Urban Infrastructure Problems Corrupt Elections Embezzlement of Public Money by Machines Party workers Paid Kickbacks to Machines Corporations That Support Machine Get Special Treatment
- 8. 油
- 9. 油
- 10. Citizens & some politicians begin to call for political & economic reform in the 1870s & 1880s. Reformers in Republican Party (Goo-Goos / Mugwumps) Reporters Who Exposed Corruption (Muckrakers) Third-Party Movements Farmers in Granger Movement Granger Laws Workers in Labor Movement Knights of Labor, Union Labor Party, Workingmens Party Major Reforms: Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883) Interstate Commerce Act (1887) Sherman Anti-Trust Act (1890)
Editor's Notes
- #2: (copyleft 2007) Chad David Cover. Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 1.0 Generic. See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/1.0/