- It started in the 1870s and continued on until the turn of the 20th century. The era is called Gilded because of the massive inequality that existed in the United States.
- Gilded Age politics were marked by a number of phenomenons, most of them having to do with corruption. On the local and state level, political machines wielded enormous power.
- One of the most powerful political machines was Tammany Hall, Tammany Hall ran New York City for a long, long time, notably under Boss Tweed.
- Graft, kickbacks, and voter fraud were rampant, but not just at the local level.
- Ulysses S. Grant ran one of the most scandalous presidential administrations in U.S. history, and two of the best scandals, the Credit Mobilier scandal and the Whiskey Ring.
- There were a few attempts at reform during this time, notably the Civil Service Act of 1883 and the Sherman Anti-trust act of 1890. The Grange Movement of the western farmers, and the Populist Party that arose from that movement.
- The Populists, who threw in their lot with William Jennings Bryan, never managed to get it together and win a presidency, and they faded after 1896.
The Gilded Age Summarized
http://youtu.be/Spgdy3HkcSs
Historical Links
1.http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/carnegie/gildedage.html
2.http://www.besthistorysites.net/index.php/american-history/1800/gilded-age
3.http://gildedage3.blogspot.com/2010/03/what-is-gilded-age.html