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Chapter 15 Section 1
Politics in the Gilded Age
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Gilded Age
 Gilded
means
covered with a thin
layer of gold
 Gilded
Age suggests
that a thin but
glittering layer of
prosperity covered
the poverty and
corruption of much of
society
Is
the
term
Gilded
Age
a
positive
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or negative description of this
period? Explain
 Negative
 It
suggests that the
positive and
prosperous aspects
of society were a
thin, golden layer
masking numerous
problems, such as
poverty and
corruption
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Laissez Faire
A
hands off approach to
economic matters
 Government
should
play a very limited role
in business
 Supporters
would say
that if government stays
out of the way, strong
businesses will succeed
and bring wealth to the
entire nation
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Subsidy
A
payment made by
the government to
encourage the
development of
certain key industries,
such as railroads
 To
ensure
government aid, some
business owners
would support
friendly politicians
with bribes
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What is the purpose of a subsidy?
To
promote the
expansion of
industries
deemed
essential by the
government.
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Blue Law

Regulations that
prohibited certain
private activities that
some people considered
immoral

Republicans supported
these laws, Democrats
did not

Blue laws were just one
of many issues that
divided Republicans and
Democrats
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Civil Service
 The
government’s
nonelected workers
 Very
corrupt during
the Gilded Age
 Many
civil service
workers hired because
they had powerful
friends, bribed the
right person, or made
a campaign
contribution to the
right politician..rarely
hired because they
were qualified
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Pendleton Service Act
 Passed
in 1883
 Created
a Civil
Service Commission
which tested how
qualified applicants
were for Civil Service
jobs
 Signed
into law by
President Chester
Arthur
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Rebate
 Partial
refunds to
favored customers
 This
would give an
advantage to one
business over another
when it comes to
railroad transportation
 RRs would also keep
rates secret so they
could charge
whatever they
wanted or charge
more for short hauls
than long hauls
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Munn v. Illinois
 1877
Supreme Court
Case
 Allowed
states to
regulate certain
businesses inside their
borders (including
railroads)
 However, this
does not
regulate interstate
railroad traffic
 Corruption could still
exist there
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How did the Interstate Commerce
Act affect railroads?
 It
required
railroads to set
rates according to
distance and to
make rates public
and universal for
all customers