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The Gilded Age

The Gilded Age. Gilded Age Explained. Name given to the time period in American history between Reconstruction and the turn of the 20th century (late 1870s-1900 ).

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The Gilded Age

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  1. The Gilded Age

  2. Gilded Age Explained • Name given to the time period in American history between Reconstruction and the turn of the 20th century (late 1870s-1900). • Mark Twain coined the term... Describing, satirically, a society whose serious problems had been veiled by a thin coating of gold. • Marked a change in society from agrarian dominated by small producers to urban dominated by industrial corporations.

  3. Gilded Age Explained • Rampant greed (robber barons—Carnegie, Rockefeller, Morgan). • Political corruption (Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall). • Economic growth (American economy doubles in size). • Poor labor practices (low wages, long hours, poor working conditions). • Unionization (Knights of Labor). • Urbanization (% of Americans living in cities increases from 20% in 1865 to 40% by 1900). • Technological innovation (steel, oil, electricity).

  4. Gilded Age Explained • Political and social philosophies (socialism; Darwinism; American Dream; Russell Conwell and acres of diamonds). • Railroad expansion (miles of track increases from 35,000 in 1865 to 242,000 by 1900). • Mass immigration (5.5 million in the 1880s; 4 million in the 1890s). • Judicial rulings (Plessyv. Ferguson; Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad). • Racial Inequality (Chinese Exclusion Act). • Political Oversight (Interstate Commerce Commission; Sherman Anti-Trust Act). • Financial inequality (In 1890, 11 million of the nation's 12 million families earned less than $1200 per year; of this group, the average annual income was $380, well below the poverty line).

  5. Robber Barron or Captain of Industry? • John D Rockefeller—Standard Oil. • Andrew Carnegie—Carnegie Steel Company. • JP Morgan—JP Morgan bank. • Avoided Civil War service by way of payment; leaders in philanthropy. • Rags to riches? • A study of 303 business executives in from the1870s showed 90% came from middle to upper class families. • A Senate report from the early 20th century shows Morgan at his peak sat on the board of 48 corporations; Rockefeller37.

  6. Big Business and the Government • “…the purpose of the state was to settle upper-class disputes peacefully, control lower-class rebellion, and adopt policies that would further the long-range stability of the system.” - Howard ZinnA People’s History of the United States • Of the 14th Amendment cases brought before the Supreme Court between 1890 and 1910, 19 dealt with the Negro, 288 dealt with corporations. • "No harm shall come to any business interest as the result of administrative policy so long as I am President ... a transfer of executive control from one party to another does not mean any serious disturbance of existing conditions." – Grover Cleveland (22nd and 24th president of the United States)

  7. The Supreme Court • 2 major rulings: • Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad (1886). • Plessy v. Ferguson (1896). • Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad. • Decision: corporations were persons for the purposes of the 14th Amendment (citizenship and civil liberties). • Corporate personhood. • Plessy v. Ferguson. • Decision: segregation was legal as long as “equal” facilities were available. • “Separate but equal”

  8. The Supreme Court

  9. Financial Inequality

  10. Unionization • Poor working conditions, wages, violence, and overall mistreatment sparks unionization movement. • Early1880s = about 500 strikes a year involving about 150,000 workers; 1890s = 1,000 a year involving 700,000 workers; early 1900s = 4,000 annually. • Mass influx of immigrants (i.e., cheap, available labor) allowed for business owners to treat employees anyway the wanted. • Knights of Labor (1869) • Created to effectively negotiate with big corporations. • Organize workers into “one big brotherhood.” • Open to anyone regardless of trade (excluded bankers and lawyers). • Campaigned for 8 hour work day, abolishment of child labor, improved safety, equal pay for men and women, injury pay. • Declined after the Haymarket Square Riot in 1886.

  11. Political and Social Philosophies • Social Darwinism • Scientist Charles Darwin’s book On the Origin of Species (1859) expounded the theory of evolution whereby the stronger/adaptable animals and plants survive. • This idea began to spill over into society and became a basis for discussion when dealing with social issues. • Evolution was a natural process in society much like nature and the government should not interfere. • To place restrictions on society (legislation) would weaken society. • Failure to advance in society indicated a lack of character, determination and ability. • Socialism • The idea was made popular in America by the bookThe Cooperative Commonwealth by Laurence Gronlund. • The belief that private control of the economy should be replaced by government oversight/control to ensure fairness.

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