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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
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