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The Gilded Age

• new prosperity impacts culture with displays of new wealth
• political corruption & spoils system
• lavish spending on houses, clothing, and entertainment (British Victorian)
• contrast with life of poor justified by Social Darwinism
• upside: philanthropy grows as well

• city gov’ts poorly structured - easy to control
• growing cities provide many opportunities for wealth & power
• “bosses” use “organizers” to get out vote, organizers then get gov’t jobs and the machine controls city gov’t

• hold all important city offices
• embezzle from the treasury
• bribery for contracts

Corruption in National Politics

• Grant’s presidency is scandalous
• Credit Mobilier: Congressmen get profits from RR company that overcharges the gov’t
• Election of 1876: Hayes wins but quits after one term, frustrated by spoils
• Hayes’ attempts at reform split Reps. into: Stalwarts oppose reform of spoils system, Half-Breeds want reform

• Election of 1880: Garfield (HB), Arthur (Stalwart) is VP
• Garfield is assassinated, Arthur becomes President & shifts position to favor reform
• 1883- Pendleton Civil Service Act reforms Civil Service System
• 1884- Cleveland beats Blaine the mudslinger

• economy booms
• westward settlement
• flood of immigrants
• urbanization
• new inventions

• Adam Smith
• “Invisible Hand” guides economy, no gov’t involvement
• competition will produce best product at lowest price

• Survival of the fittest
• justification of the wealthy
• Prosperity is sign of justification

• sell stock to raise capital
• legally separate from individuals

• formed by corporations to reduce competition
• goal of pool is to divide market to set rates & guarantee profits
• Trusts band together for sweetheart deals
• Rockefeller’s Standard Oil & Carnegie’s United Steel

• lack of competition/no Laissez Faire
• inferior goods at higher prices
• cyclical national economy
• poor working conditions

• attracted by economy, democracy & land ownership
• political & social conditions in Europe & Asia allow many to leave
• “new” immigrants dramatically change face of America (religious, ethnic & linguistic differences)

• Midwest through Northeast
• streetcar, phone, electricity, steel
• industry demands cities
• immigrants & young from rural
• “districts” begin to form
• lack infrastructure
• tenements bad solution
• cable cars lead to districts & class separation
• city tied to industry (beer, candy, steel, etc.)
• crime, sanitation, etc.
• political machines

• Working Conditions: cold/heat, long hours, low wages, dangerous machinery, piece work, no job security
• Knights of Labor(utopian & moralist)
• AFL (hardcore) & Gompers
• Haymarket, Homestead, Pullman, Great RR
• Government favors employers

• End of continent = start of international ($$$ & ports)
• Monroe Doctrine in Lat. America (Mexico & Venezuela)
• Missionaries & traders in Hawaii, L.A., & Philippines
• 1898- we annex Hawaii
• Mahan pushes for big navy (need coaling stations)

• Yellow Journalists
• USS Maine
• Manilla Bay
• Rough Riders/San Juan Hill
• We get P.R. & Guam, annex Philippines

• White man’s burden
• hypocrites?
• public debate ensues, but economics win out

• 1902- Bunau-Varilla gets Panama’s independence with help from U.S.
• Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty gives U.S. canal zone for $10m + $250k/year
• Basically makes Panama U.S. territory
• 1914- Canal completed, $400m, disease, heat, etc.
• 1900- Open Door & Boxer Rebellion
• 1903- Squash Philippines Ind. movement
• Roosevelt Corollary to MD & GWF
• 1914- Wilson sends troops Mexico after Pancho Villa, who’s  causing problems for Huerta’s successor

• Colonial rivalries are huge
• Triple Alliance (A-H, Germany & Italy)
• Triple Entente (GB, France & Russia)
• Balkans center of tension
• Big military build up, new industrial weapons
• This all sets the stage for...

• Heir to A-H throne killed by Serbian
• A-H goes to punish Serbia
• Russia backs up Serbia
• War-O-Rama TA becomes Central powers & TE becomes Allies
• Schlieffen Plan: Ger. sweeps into France