Gilded~Progressive
Kelsey Park, Nicholas Lunceford, Taylor
Travis, Alizah Charaniya
Social Issues/Ideologies
Gilded Age
Business vs Worker’s rights
Corruption and Political Machines
Racial/Ethnic Conflict and Immigration
Reconstruction
Social Darwinism and the Gospel of Wealth
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Business vs Worker’s
Rights
Included issues such as:
Working hours
Wages
Unionization
Women’s protection
Child labor
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Major Strikes:
The Great Railroad Strike of 1877
Haymarket Riot (1886)
Homestead Strike (1892)
Pullman Strike (1894)
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Business vs Worker’s Rights
Notable Groups:
Knights of Labor
National Labor Union
American Federation of Labor
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Corruption and Political
Machines
General Concepts:
Political Machines
Spoils System/Patronage
Bribery
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Notable events:
The Tweed Ring
Credit-Mobilier Scandal
Compromise of 1877
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Racial/Ethnic Conflict and Immigration
Increased Immigration from:
Asia (Most notably China)
Eastern Europe
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Decreased Immigration from Western Europe
Industry welcomed new, cheap labor, workers detested the job-stealing
Continuing racial tensions over African American rights, etc.
Chinese Exclusion Act
Eventually evolved into the Red Scare
Reconstruction
What to do with emancipated African Americans?
Stances on reconstruction:
Republican/North: Harsh reconstruction, insertion of African Americans
into legal system, eliminate discrimination once and for all
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Democrat/South: Reconstruct little, finish as quickly as possible, maintain
white superiority (became Jim Crow laws), end occupation and reintegrate
into the union
Ended with the Compromise of 1877
Social Darwinism and the Gospel of Wealth
Survival of the Fittest
Those who survived:
Andrew Carnegie
John D. Rockefeller
J. P. Morgan
Cornelius Vanderbilt
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Gospel of Wealth - Andrew Carnegie’s personal philosophy when it came to
his fortune. The rich are obligated to spread out their money for the
betterment of society by donating funds to various charitable organizations.
Criticized for the priority of these donations over increased worker wage
and/or standard of living.
Social Darwinism and the Gospel of Wealth
Supporters:
Andrew Carnegie
Cornelius Vanderbilt
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Notably NOT Rockerfeller or Morgan
Social Issues/Ideologies
Progressive Era
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Consumer/Worker Protection
Imperialism
Prohibition
Trust-Busting
Women’s Suffrage
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Direct election of senators, initiative, referendum, recall, dealing with
corruption, local government reorganization, tariffs, corporate regulation,
urban conditions, African American equality, settlement houses, etc.
Consumer/Worker
Protection
Rise of the Muckrakers
Worker’s Rights:
Right to Organize
Working hours
Wages
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Women Labor Protection:
Brandeis Brief
Triangle-Shirtwaist Fire
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Consumer/Worker
Protection
Child Labor:
Special protections for children
Minimum working age
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Consumer Protection:
Meat Inspection Act/Pure Food and Drug Act
Railroad price regulation
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End of Laissez-Faire
Imperialism
The United States acquired the Philippines in 1898, as well as Cuba
Cuba given independence in 1902
Debate over what to do with the Philippines
Pro-Imperialism:
Access to new markets/commodities
Strategic location (Became more important in WWII)
“Teach them democracy, then let them be independent”
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Imperialism
Anti-Imperialism:
Dealing with revolts
Impractically costly
Morality
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Republicans generally pro-imperialism
Democrats generally anti-imperialism
Prohibition
Reform headed by women to remove alcohol from the United States
Reasoning:
Alcohol wastes money they could be spent on family
Alcohol keeps husbands at bars and away from the family
Alcohol leads to family abuse
Alcohol doesn’t offer any benefits
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Major Figures/Groups:
Woman’s Christian Temperance Union
Carrie Union
Anti-Saloon League
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Trust-Busting
Are all trusts bad?
Theodore Roosevelt - Attack bad trusts, but allow good trusts to survive
William Taft - Attacked all trusts, including Roosevelt’s steel trust
Woodrow Wilson - Clayton Antitrust Act, continued to attack trusts, but
spared labor unions
Major Trusts destroyed: Railroads, oil, tobacco, steel
Women’s Suffrage
Seneca Falls Convention (1848) - Start of women’s rights movement
Rose to prominence by supporting other reforms such as child labor
reforms and temperance
Important Groups:
National American Women Suffrage Association (NAWSA)
National Woman’s Party (NWP)
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Important People: Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Carrie
Chapman, Alice Paul
Ended with the 19th amendment
Famous Publications
Gilded Age (1878-1889)
❖ Helen Hunt Jackson- A Century of Dishonor (1881)
➢ Spoke of the cruel treatment of the Native Americans by the US
government, lead to Dawes Severalty Act
❖ Edward Bellmay- Looking Backward (1888)
➢ Laid out the possibility of a classless and caring society by 2000
❖ Andrew Carnegie- The Gospel of Wealth (1889)
➢ Competition creates order and wealth should be given to the poor
Famous Publications
Progressive Age (1890-1920)
❖ Alfred Thayer Mahan- The Influence of the Sea Power upon History 16601783 (1890)
➢ A country’s strength is determined by the size of their Navy
❖ Jacob Riis- How the Other Half Lives (1890)
➢ Pictures of the poor in the ghettos, lead to housing reform and the
Progressives
❖ Frederick Jackson Turner- the Significance of the Frontier in American
History (1893)
➢ published after the census declared the frontier was “closed” in 1890
Famous Publications
Progressive Age (1890-1920)
❖ Booker T Washington- The Atlantic Compromise (1895)
➢ Blacks should learn a trade to earn respect, Accommodationist
❖ Rudyard Kipling- The White Man’s Burden (1899)
➢ white man’s job is to domesticate “barbarians”
❖ W.E.B. DuBois- The Souls of Black Folk (1903)
➢ called for the immediate end to segregation
❖ Lincoln Steffens- The Shame of the CIties (1904)
➢ Corruption in city governments
Famous Publications
Progressive Age (1890-1920)
❖ Upton Sinclai- The Jungle (1906)
➢ described the horrors of meat packaging, lead to the Meat Inspection
Act
❖ Jane Addams- Twenty Years at Hull House (1910)
➢ detailed the good works of the Settlement Houses
❖ Frederick Taylor- Principles of Scientific Management (1911)
➢ increased efficiency leads to lower costs of production and greater
profits, lead to Assembly Line Factory
Platforms of the Gilded Age
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Similar platforms, close elections; no active agenda
Conservatism and moderation
laissez faire, social Darwinism
crowd-pleasing campaigns- free food, music, beer
strong party organization
Republicans: largely Protestant, businessmen and middle class; high
tariffs; waving the bloody shirt, Lincoln murdered by a Democrat; protemperance
● Democrats: Jews, Lutherans, Catholics; states’ rights; former
Confederate states; political machines in the North & immigrant votes;
objected to temperance
Campaign vs. Presidency
Ulysses S. Grant
March 4, 1869 – March 4,
1877
Rutherford B.
Hayes
March 4, 1877 – March
4, 1881
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Waving the bloody flag
The Old Guard
Scandals: Credit Mobilier, Gould & Fisk
Radical reconstruction in the south
accepted bribery
Public Credit Act, Specie Resumption Act
Compromise of 1877
protection of african american rights in the south
promised honest civil service system
power to local governments
financial conservatism
ended reconstruction
cut off liquor in White House
vetoed restrictions on Chinese immigration
Campaign vs. Presidency
James A. Garfield
March 5, 1881 – September
19, 1881
Chester A. Arthur
September 19, 1881 –
March 4, 1885
Grover Cleveland
March 4, 1885 – March 4,
1889
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“dark horse” nominee
Half-Breed
Gave out spoils to Half-Breeds
assassinated by a Stalwart attorney
Garfield’s Stalwart VP
supported civil service
approved modern navy
supported railroad regulation
not renominated
Supported by Republican “mugwumps”
Jeffersonian government
civil service system by merit
vetoed hundreds of private pension bills
Campaign vs. Presidency
Cleveland ctd.
Harrison
March 4, 1889 – March
4, 1893
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regulated business (Interstate Commerce Act)
tried to help Native Americans (Dawes Act)
retrieved government land from cattle ranchers and
railroads
higher tariff
support businesses
attacked Cleveland’s pension vetoes for veteran support
Billion dollar Congress
Raised tariffs to over 48% (McKinley Tariff)
increased pensions to veterans, widows, children
Antitrust act
Increased coinage of silver (but too little)
Campaign vs. Presidency
Back to
Cleveland
March 4, 1893 – March
4, 1897
McKinley
March 4, 1897 –
September 14, 1901
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support from the unpopularity of McKinley Tariff
support from Republican measures prohibiting alcohol and
Sunday closing laws
Panic of 1893; gold drain caused repeal of Silver Purchase
Act
borrowed gold from J.P. Morgan
crushed Pullman Strike
Wilson-Gorman Tariff
high protective tariff
friend of labor
Sponsored by Mark Hanna
blamed Panic of 1893 on Democrats
uphold gold standard
Campaign vs. Presidency
McKinley ctd.
Theodore
Roosevelt
September 14, 1901
– March 4, 1909
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Bryan (Democrat)’s Silver Crusade hurt by rise in wheat
prices & threats to factory workers
First modern president: active in international affairs
o See: Cuba, Philippines
End of Gilded Age, Republican dominance
Became president due to McKinley’s assassination by an
anarchist
Square Deal: Conservation, Consumer protection, Control of
corporations
Roosevelt Corollary & BIG STICK POLICY
Mediated Russo-Japanese War
“Gentlemen’s Agreement”
Great White Fleet
Campaign vs. Presidency
Taft
March 4, 1909 –
March 4, 1913
Woodrow
Wilson
March 4, 1913 –
March 4, 1921
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Roosevelt’s armpit of support
conservative; did not believe in Roosevelt’s powerstretching
several antitrust suits
Interstate Commerce Commission to regulate railroad
rates
created inner-party rift by going against Roosevelt
raised tariff (Payne-Aldrich)
New Freedom: limit both big business AND big
government
end corruption
support small business
Campaign vs. Presidency
Woodrow Wilson
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Tariff reduction & graduated income tax (Underwood Tariff,
Underwood bill)
Federal Reserve Board: a national banking system with 12
district banks
Strengthened antitrust law (Clayton Antitrust Act)
regulate trade against “unfair trade practices” with Federal
Trade Commission
Loans to farms
Child Labor Act: found unconstitutional
Major Supreme Court Cases
US v. Cruikshank (1875) Due process and Equal protection clauses of 14th
Amendment apply ONLY to Gov’t actions, not those of individuals; win for
the Advocates of limited gov’t; loss for Southern African-Americans and
Strong 14th Amendment proponents
Munn v. Illinois (1876) 14th Amendment does NOT prevent IL from setting
maximum rates for the storage of grain; Railroad freight shipments. Private
cos. had “public interest” which allowed regulation; win for State gov’ts and
Farmers (Grange movement); loss for the RR companies
Supreme Court Cases
Civil Rights Cases (1883) Federal Civil Rights Acts (ex. desegregating in
public facilities) were unconstitutional (Federalism argument); Win for State
gov’ts and Racially discriminatory laws; loss for Federal gov’t and Civil
Rights Would stand until the 1960’s Civil Rights movement (accomplished
via commerce clause)
Wabash v. Illinois (1886) Contradicted Munn; State regulations of interstate
commerce CANNOT place a direct burden on interstate commerce; win for
the federal gov’t and Commerce clause; loss for the state gov’ts Interstate
commerce commission ICC created to investigate and oversee RR activities
Supreme Court Cases
In Re Debs (1895) Federal injunction ordering RR workers back to work
during strikes IS valid under commerce clause; win for commerce clause
and employers/corporations; loss for unions and workers
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) Racially segregated facilities are permissible
under 14th amendment if they are equivalent (SEPARATE BUT EQUAL)
Lochner v. United States (1905) New York State law limiting hours bakers
could work is INVALID; win for Employers and corporations; loss for unions
and workers
Supreme Court Cases
Muller v. Oregon (1908) Oregon law limiting hours women can work IS valid
based on women’s “nature” and contradicted Lochner; win for women (?),
workers, Progressive args, and EXPERT testimony; loss for employers and
corporations Brandeis Brief (sociological Data)
Standard Oil v. United States (1910) Standard Oil is guilty of monopolizing the
petroleum industry in violation of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act; win for
stronger anti-trust regulations, federal gov’t and commerce clause; loss for
private corporations and trusts
Supreme Court Cases
Hammer v. Dagenhart (1918) found Child Labor Act to be unconstitutional
Schenck v. United States (1919) Socialist anti draft pamphlets NOT protected
by 1st amendment; present a “clear and present” danger (Note: Wartime
Case); win for Gov’t power and wartime measures; loss for free speech, first
amendment, and individual rights
Cheif Justices:
Morrison White (1874-1888) Restrict expansion of federal gov’t; federalist
Melville Fuller (1888-1910) Pro-Business; Limited commerce clause;
conservative
Edward White (1910-1921)
Amendments
16th Amendment (1913): establishes the graduated income tax
17th Amendment (1913): direct election of senators by popular vote
18th Amendment (1919): PROHIBITION! Forbade the sale and manufacture
of intoxicating liquors, but not the consumption, so people drank alcohol
more than ever before! Only Amendment to be repealed
19th Amendment (1920) Women’s suffrage!
Important Legislation
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Pendleton Act (1883) Government service based on merit rather than on
patronage-- the Civil Service Commission
McKinley Tariff: increased tariffs to about 50%
Electoral Count Act (1877) related to Compromise 1877; the legislation
that set up a commission of fifteen men from the Senate, House, and
Supreme Court for the recounting of votes; it had one more republican
than a democrat so Hayes was elected after the ensuing deal
Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) prohibited all further immigration from China,
stayed active until 1943
Important Legislation
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Dawes Act: removed the status of legal entity from Indian tribes, divided
them into familial units of 160 acres; granted them citizenship if they would
behave as good Americans;
Sherman Anti-Trust Act: banned any formations (no distinguishing
between bad vs. good) that would restrict trade but was ineffective
because of its vagueness; showed gov. slowly moving away from laissezfaire
Morrill Act (1862) passed after South had seceded, provided grant of
public lands for support of education; many state colleges were founded
Hatch Act of (1887) extended Morrill Act, provided federal funds for the
establishment of agricultural experiment stations in connection with landgrant colleges
Important Legislation
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Resumption Act (1875) pledged the government to the further withdrawal
of greenbacks from circulation and to the redemption of all paper currency
in gold at face value; victory for hard money advocates
Pure Food and Drug Act (1906): forbade the sale of adulterated or
mislabeled food and drugs
Meat Inspection Act (1906): made inspectors visit meatpacking plants to
ensure that sanitation standards were being met
Important Legislation
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Interstate Commerce Act (1914) Clearly defined limits on rights of
corporations; strengthened Sherman Antitrust Act
Emergency Quota Act (1921 Amended 1924) Limited number of
immigrants, discriminated against eastern and southern Europeans;
outlawed Japanese
Clayton Antitrust Act (1914) : strengthened Sherman Antitrust Act,
excluded unions from trusts
Federal Trade Commission (1914): regulated “unfair trade practices”
Federal Reserve Act (1914): created Federal Reserve Board, a twelvedistrict national bank; created Federal Reserve Notes
Foreign Policies
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Seward’s Folly/ Seward’s Icebox: Russia’s colony, Alaska, became a financial
burden and threatened by British; Purchased at a cheap price
Naval power: Alfred Thayer Mahan-> third largest navy in the world
o Samoa
o modern steel ships
Blaine’s Pan-American Conference (1889): representative from W.
Hemisphere met to create a permanent organization of cooperation
Venezuela vs. British Guiana (1895~1896): Cleveland and secretary of state
Olney forced the the boundary dispute to be arbitrated, the British gave in for
future peace with U.S.
Foreign Policies
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Spanish-American War:
Philippines: Under Teddy Roosevelt, McKinley’s assistant secretary of
navy, Commodore Dewey defeated the Spanish and fought agaisnt Filipino
rebels (Treaty of Paris)
Cuba: attacked and defeated the Spanish again;
o Rough Riders- famous volunteer regiment led by Teddy Roosevelt
o Platt Amendment- tied Cuba to the U.S. despite its independence
Open Door Policy (1899): engineered by McKinley’s secretary of state,
John Hay
o no more spheres of influence
Panama Canal: Roosevelt support Panamanian revolt; independence
without bloodshed (Hay-Pauncefote)
Spanish American War
USS Maine: President McKinley sent this ship to Havana, Cuba, to
protect the American citizens & property (eventually blew up and the
U.S. blamed Spain) Yellow Journalism played a major role
De Lome Letter: The Spanish ambassador insults President McKinley in
this document; accused America of being weak
Teller Amendment: U.S. declared Cuba free from Spain, but this
amendment disclaimed any American intention to annex Cuba
Platt Amendment: Amendment to the Cuban constitution (passed b/c
of pressure from the US) that allowed the United States to intervene in
Cuba and gave the United States control of the naval base at
Treaties
❖ Treaty of Paris (1898)➢ ended Spanish-American War, Cuba freed from Spanish rule, U.S. got
Puerto Rico and Guam from Spain, U.S. paid $20 million for
Phillippines
❖ Treaty of Portsmouth➢ formally ended Russo-Japanese War, negotiations took place in New
Hampshire and were brokered by President Theodore Roosevelt
❖ Root-Takahira Agreement (1908)➢ Agreement between the U.S. and Japan pledging to respect each
other’s Pacific possessions and support the Open Door Policy