Text Box: The Gilded Age was a time of corruption and underhandedness in both business and politics. The rise of industry caused crafty businessmen to create large monopolies and control the country through money. Boss Tweed and John D. Rockefeller were the most influential businessmen in politics because they had extremely large sums of money. Boss Tweed and his work on both the New York Public Library and Tammany Hall showed how corruption permeated throughout Text Box: society. Congress was inefficient due to pay to play politics and the presidents were mediocre at best. The common man, the majority of the country, was left out of all political issues because the government focused on issues that concerned the wealthy businessmen. The result of Congress’s neglect towards the working man caused political parties to form such as the Populist party and the Greenback Labor party. An issue of specie occurred when Text Box: the entrepreneurs wanted a currency backed by precious metal because it combated inflation, while the farmers and workers preferred “soft” paper money because it was much more flexible. Therefore, the Gilded Age exemplified corruption in both business and politics with the rise of pay to play politics and the extraordinary power of the wealthy entrepreneur. Text Box: The Gilded Age 1868-1888 Text Box: Special points of interest: Boss Tweed Pay to Play Politics Rockefeller Cartoon Political Parties Corrupt Politics and Business Specie Text Box: Presidents Text Box: Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881) ·         pledged protection of African American rights in the South ·         "wise, honest, and peaceful local self-government." ·         Withdrawal of troops in the South   Text Box: Chester Arthur (1881-1885) ·         Was a Stalwart Republican who believed in the spoils system ·         Became a “man of fashion” ·         Tried to lower tariffs ·         Enacted an immigration law that kept out paupers, criminals, and lunatics.   Text Box: Grover Cleveland (1885-1889) ·         Believed in laissesz faire, leaving the free market alone ·         Stopped veterans taking advantage of pensions ·         Argued for lower tariffs ·         Dawes Act – designed to control Indians Text Box: Volume 1, Issue 1 Text Box: January 8, 2009

Tammany Hall

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Boss Tweed

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Senate Seats for Sale!

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Congress

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Currency Conflict

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Political Parties

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Summary

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