Gilded+Age

The Gilded Age The [|Gilded Age] (1877-1896) was a period of corruption, conflict, and great change in American history. Within this period were prime examples of meaningless laws, corrupt politicians and political organizations, modern politics, and even elections in which the candidates were more concerned about making the other look bad than making themselves look good.

__**Laws**__

Throughout the Gilded Age, there was much corruption in society, which through the government was in many ways being removed and in many ways being spread. Many of the laws passed at this time, to "purify" society, were either unnecessary or ineffective, as they did not target root causes of the corruption.


 * Examples of some of the laws passed during this period:
 * Comstock laws to outlaw obscene media (books on birth control, etc.)
 * attempts at outlawing alcohol
 * many states outlawed horse racing, boxing, and manufacturing cigarettes
 * lotteries outlawed
 * prohibiting many forms of business on Sunday
 * attempts at restricting foreign immigration
 * first group restricted were Chinese in 1882

__**Corruption**__

During this period could also be found examples of corrupt politicians wasting or stealing money. Examples of this include: Also, citizens drove down the pay of politicians in some cases. In even more extreme examples, pay would be cut by half if the politicians met more often than the citizens wanted. This was in order to prevent overpowering legislation.
 * New Iowa state capitol, foundation broke and had to be replaced
 * New York spent $13 million on county courthouse (including $100,000 for a table and chairs)
 * Louisiana state treasurer accused of stealing $777,000
 * Counterpart in Tennessee accused of stealing $400,000
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">one Republican Senator got $44,000 in “lobbying fees” from John Rockefeller in one year

__**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">1883 Pendleton Act **__

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">The 1883 Pendleton Act created a federal civil service system and also partially eliminated the patronage system, in which an <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">incoming president would dismiss thousands of officials to be replaced by people of his own political party in order to appeal to the members of his party and increase political power. Some facts about the Act follow:
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">President who led this campaign was known for abusing the spoils of office (had even been fired previously for giving away too many patronage jobs)
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Act made government jobs be gained through merit
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Selection through competitive examinations
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Unlawful to fire or demote employees for political reasons
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Unlawful to require employee’s political service
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Civil Service Commission made to enforce these laws
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">During this time Democrats and Republicans roughly the same power level, very different views

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">__**Cleveland and the Election of 1884**__

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">The election of 1884 was surrounded with controversy. The Republican nominee [|James Blaine] was competing with Democrat nominee [|Grover Cleveland], and neither candidate was above downing the other to gain favor of the people. Cleveland was attacked constantly for his avoidance of Civil War service, as he had hired a substitute, and was also rightly accused of having a child out of wedlock. In turn, he attacked Blaine with accusations of having <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“sold influence in congress to business interests"

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ultimately, Cleveland won the election. He then lost the 1888 election and won the following election in 1892. Grover Cleveland is, to date, the only president to have served non-consecutive terms. During his terms as presidency, Cleveland signed the Indian Emancipation Act, established the Departments of Agriculture and Labor, lowered tariffs, and defended the gold standard. His second term, though, was ultimately defined by economic depression.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">__**Trust System and Sherman Anti-Trust Act**__

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Throughout the Gilded Age, there was fear of the trust system, in which large companies bought out locally-owned factories. Citizens worried about the monopolization of the country <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> (that a few rich citizens would control entire business of the country for their own profit). In response to this problem, the Sherman Anti-Trust Act was signed, which restrained "any combination which would be in restraint of trade". This also caused restrictions on Unions, as during the U.S. vs. Debs case the Supreme Court ruled that this Act could <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">also apply to Unions which were "interfering with commerce". After this Act was signed, the Federal Government filed many suits based on it's terms, four of which were against labor unions.

__**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Summary **__ <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">The Gilded Age was a time of severe corruption in the politics of this nation. The elections for presidency were a mess, politicians were stealing money (set precedent for modern history?), laws were made which simply compounded the situation, etc. In short, this time was one of the final major factors in modern politics and legislation.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">**__Citation:__** <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">. Michael Beschloss, Hugh Sidey. "Cleveland, Grover." //Grover cleveland|the white whouse//. U.S Gov., 2011. Web. 17 Jan 2012. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/grovercleveland22>.

PBS, //Gilded age//. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Jan 2012. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/carnegie/gildedage.html>.

Simkin, John. //Spartacus Educational//. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Jan 2012. <http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAblaine.htm>.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">"The Gilded Age." //Digital history//. Digital History, 2012. Web. 12 Jan 2012. <http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=142>.