Premium Essay

Political Corruption In The Gilded Age

Submitted By
Words 1209
Pages 5
The Gilded Age sparked several changes in America, one being industrialization, which hit its peak during the Progressive Era. This boom in industrialization was demonstrated by tycoons such as Andrew Carnegie and Cornelius Vanderbilt. These individuals introduced large companies that essentially changed life as it once was. The Progressive Movement, which took place during the same time period, consisted of key reformers who strived to repair American society which became corrupt following the recent flare of industrialization. Political corruption was a consequential issue during the Gilded Age that was addressed by two key reformers, Lincoln Steffen and Robert La Follette. Political corruption was a critical issue that greatly hindered …show more content…
It was earlier addressed by the well-known writer and entrepreneur Mark Twain, who co-authored the book The Gilded Age. Not unlike today, the political corruption during the Gilded Age consisted of …show more content…
La Follette was known as an anti-war activist, civil rights activist, and women’s rights activist who was focused on influencing American government to become honest and uncorrupt. He spent many years dedicated to disassembling business trusts, advocating environmental stability, ensuring the right to strike, and encouraging more good deeds. La Follette addressed the issue of political corruption by giving speeches to the public and by exposing the Teapot Dome Scandal, which was one of the largest bribery scandals in American history at the time. La Follette confessed his opposition to the U.S. joining the war in a speech in which he claimed that “...[he protests], in the name of humanity, against the taking away of husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers to be butchered, as proposed by the proallies' paid press, from the American women and children, leaving the latter to meet financial ruin, misery, and, in some cases, death from broken hearts” (La Follette, Robert M. Senate speech against the entry of the United States into the World War: delivered in the United States Senate on April 4, 1917). La Follette believed that the government was corrupt in the way that their motivation to join the war was based solely on obtaining money and

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

The Gilded Age: The Corruption And Dysfunction Of The Progressive Reform

...The corruption and dysfunction of the Gilded age led to the organization of the Progressive reform. The economy of the Gilded age was building and changing drastically but with unethical morals. The progressive reform wasn’t to take away the ideas and production the gilded age brought to America but was to build upon its foundation. The Gilded age was a time period of monopolies, corruption and ultimately greed. The money that was produced due to the up building of industries such as steel, oil and many others was just the beginning. The Progressive reform began with progressivism, producing a more efficient economy and political movement to show America’s progress with the industrialization and urbanization. During the Gilded age there...

Words: 362 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Progressive Era Dbq

...The progressive era was a period which eliminated the political corruption in the united states of America. progressive era opposed monopoly leaders and authorities related to the political corruption. Progressive leaders combatted the corruption that industraial leaders created by forming their bussniesses to monopolies. The progressive leaders was formed of the middle class to identify problems in society and solve it. The gilded age Although many people would argue that the reformers did not fill the gap between the rich and the poor, but the reformers successfully solved the major problems of the gilded age such as putting an end to child labor, corruption and combating monopolies. During the gilded age children faced risks while working...

Words: 623 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Compare And Contrast The Gilded Age And The Progressive Era

...The Gilded Age and the Progressive Era are time periods that were significant in the growth of the American society. The Gilded occurred during the 1870’s to about 1900. Gilded, meaning wealth, refers to the flawless and neat society. However, underneath the gold, there is discrimination, corruption, and poverty. Although the gilded age was a time of industrial, economic and innovative accomplishments, discrimination against immigrants, poverty, gender oppression and political corruption were notable. The term was created by Mark Twain. Known as the second industrial revolution The Gilded Age was manufacturing and transporting goods became increasingly easy with the aid of machines and new railroads. Many breakthroughs and technological innovations...

Words: 422 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Monopolies In The Progressive Era

...essentially trying to build itself and find itself, thus leading to vast growth. Too much of a good thing is not such a good thing, however, and this lead to the Gilded Age. A Period of political machines, monopolies, harsh industrial conditions, and many other horrendous happenings. The goal of the Progressive Era was to fix these issues. (Contextualization) Progressive reforms were remarkably successful in achieving the improvement of society, primarily by implementing more tolerable working conditions and ending corruption in politics....

Words: 989 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Gilded Age: Shift To The Progressive Era

...towards the beginning of the Gilded Age. Although the Gilded Age brought great economic improvement, many suffered. The economic development that this era brought to America was very appealing to immigrants, and America experienced a large influx of European immigrants towards the latter part of the 1800’s. Despite the technological and economic improvements of the Gilded Age, only a small percentage of the population in America reaped the benefits of this. Living and working conditions were abysmal, and tensions rose within the large, yet poverty ridden middle...

Words: 1962 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

The Gilded Age

...The Gilded Age The purpose of this essay is to show how the Industrial Revolution of the Gilded Age contributed to increased problems in gender, race and class in the latter half of 19th century America. Mark Twain coined the term "The Gilded Age" between the years 1870 and 1900 America in reference to the gold gilding that became popular in the era, but also masked very serious social conflicts that arose across the country (Twain, 1996). Ultimately, with economic growth came wider income gaps and brutal social issues with gender, race and class that divided the country. Throughout the Gilded Age, swift financial growth simultaneously increased the size of the labor force, which in turn increased wages (Roediger, 1991). Given that these wages were higher than in Europe, people immigrated to America en masse, which then increased the overall poverty rates (Roediger, 1991). The Gilded Age also transferred industry from independent craftsman toward railroads, factory manufacturing and mining, which created less skilled and more regimented labor forces. This meant that people were forced to work under poor conditions, which stripped workers of their independence, which was the American way prior to the Industrial Revolution (Twain, 1996). These mass-production methods were created as offshoots of the steam engine with technical advancements expanding the size of workforces, making them larger and set up to accommodate more production, which created new jobs with a higher...

Words: 1480 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

The Gilded Age Analysis

...In the late 19th century, Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner, penned a novel about the momentous expansion of the American economy and the unjust corruption of politics and corporations. The publication was entitled The Gilded Age. The reference to the word “gilded” means an object is covered in a thin layer of gold paint or gold leaf. The object Twain and Warner are referring to that was gilded was the state of the economy and the corporate corruption. This period was an era of greed, oppression, and umbrageous business practices. The inception of a modern age industrial society boomed in the late 19th century. Prior weak or small businessmen were able to establish and grow large corporations and accumulate immense wealth by the use...

Words: 915 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Gilded Age DBQ

...The Gilded Age was inspired by the ending of the Reconstruction Period. Mark Twain named this age in one of his books because it meant it brought in wealth and business to powerful white men and left the lower classes in poverty. Though on the surface it seemed like the gilded age would bring in good business and wealth, and it did, behind the wealth was corruption. During 1870 to 1900, big business were controlled by political bosses and they were able to have the economy and political system in the palm of their hand. As a result, they were allowed to regulate labor conditions and influenced the political system, and in return the people of America created labor unions and fought to improve the working conditions of the growing lower class. During the overtake of big businesses in America, the government took a laissez-faire approach and didn’t take action to stop the growing monopolies. It would take a couple years for the government to finally take action with the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, which would limit the monopolies power. But this proved to have little impact because of its ambiguous writing of the law the Supreme Court was able twist the law as it...

Words: 797 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

The Rise of a Mass Society Summary

...Running Head: The Rise of a Mass Society Summary The Rise of a Mass Society Summary Team C Due Week 2 Erik Escobar Kimberly Foster Brianna Gomez Cristina Gonzalez Isabel Ortega Ricardo Ruiz The Rise of a Mass Society Summary The word Gilded is best described in the words of writer Mark Twain from his novel written in 1873; The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today. When asked today what we thought Gilded means people think of this novel and describe Gilded as a form a greedy political corruption. The first gilded age was in 1874 to 1900. Twains book and definition of Gilded definitely summarized the corruption in public lives during the late 1800s. The term “Free Market” is a voluntary agreement of the exchange between two or more people in society. The type of exchange do vary and in any combination of two economic goods either tangible commodities or the services from another person. (Rothbard, Murray, N. 2008) Like many new things there are benefits as well as disadvantages to any system. The Free Market has its high points one of which helped society out of the first gilded age in the 1890s. However even though the free market was successful certain social classes still struggled and did not get the opportunity to enjoy what the market had to offer. The department store was introduced to society back in the nineteenth century. The very first real department store was owned by a man named Aristide Boucicault in Paris, France. Before the free market Aristide sold...

Words: 1581 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Industrialization In The Gilded Age

...this time period went through grim employment, and horrible living conditions for the poor and working classes. At the same time this time, an age known as the Gilded Age, was an era of rapid growth, especially in the North and West America. In addition to Gilded Age, came a movement named the Progressive Movement. The Progressive movement's main goal was to wipe out corruption in government. At this very key time in history, there were many...

Words: 1599 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Juxtaposition Of Prosperity During The Gilded Age

...The Gilded Age, a period beginning in the 1870’s and lasting until the late 1890’s, was an era in American history characterized by unparalleled economic growth and technological advancements while also plagued by significant social and political challenges. The name Gilded Age is derived from famous author Mark Twain’s novel of the same name, written for the purpose of exposing the blatant corruption and excessive materialism of America’s most rich and powerful. This essay aims to analyze the juxtaposition of prosperity among the wealthy elite and inequality during the Gilded Age. The rampant industrialization of the Gilded Age propelled prosperity by fostering great economic growth and technological innovation, consequently exacerbating...

Words: 362 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Progressive Era

...progressive era was shaped by events that happened during the Gilded Age. These events were largely political, economic and social in nature, aspects which are central to the life of Americans till this day. During the Gilded era, one can see the scenario where there was a struggle between the status quo of the white upper class and larger percentage of people that were mostly poor laborers. Professor Kelley talks about the wealth being concentrated only among one percentage of the citizens. As the era came to an end to usher in the progressive era, aspects of labor unions, women's groups, politics and the macro economy had matured. Labor unions were formed during the Gilded Era to fight for workers rights and negotiate with employers on important affairs. The union leaders succeeded in many ways by championing industrial strikes that forced employers to the discussion table. For instance, the Railway Strike of 1877 is one of the most notable actions by workers to show their disapproval of the system. At this time, women also took the cue and formed groups that would empower them socially and economically. This because of the realization that unions were more effective since they were better organized and negotiated collectively. Ultimately, American woman’s rights began to be recognized bit by bit on matters concerning social independence and economical space during the Gilded Era. One positive aspect which the Gilded era contributed to the Progressive era was the maturity and...

Words: 358 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Corruption In The Gilded Age

...In the novel published by Mark Twain, titled The Gilded Age, the report of “glittering” and “greed and guile” is depicted by the unstoppable and questioned corruption – the “vulgar display” of hypocrisy to be divulged. An era of regression; enforced by the coat of avarice to obedience, by the means of economic gluttony, political inequality, and social iniquity. In the late 19th Century, the commodity and monopoly forced to mislead the minorities through the higher power of the bitter and richer businesses, companies, and corporations. The American’s degradation, exploitation, and oppression exposed the citizen’s and immigrant’s illusion for a democracy. The generation burned, while factories and machines championed and dictated to manipulate...

Words: 366 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Isaac Storm

...EXPAND ON GILDED AGE CORRUPTION IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT Was it innovation or greed and corruption that played a pivotal role in making the United States the leading industrialized nation in the world during the late 19th Century and early 20th Century, also known as the Gilded Age? In the book, Isaac’s Storm by Erik Larson the author describes how greed and corruption by the United States government ultimately leads to poor decisions after a horrific disaster in 1900 [Larson]. In addition, well-researched essays by Henry Demarest Lloyd and Emma Goldman back up Larson’s theory that the Gilded Age was actually a very dark time for the United States. Isaac’s Storm describes the historical aspects of the national weather service, weather forecasting, and hurricane predictions. Larson gives insight into the personal tragedy of a destructive storm in September of 1900 and how it affected Galveston, Texas and its position as a major city in the United States. Teemed with devastation and arrogance, the book follows Isaac Cline who was one of the first meteorologists at a time when there really was not a true science connected to weather predictions. He showed a real aptitude in this new field and eventually found himself assigned to the weather bureau in Galveston, Texas [Larson]. At the beginning of the 20th Century, a great confidence pervaded the United States. Isaac Cline was one of the era’s new men, a scientist who believed he knew all there was to know about the motion of...

Words: 2332 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Gilded Era Vs Progressive Era Essay

...Historians still debate whether the Gilded and Progressive eras should be classified as either a “Long Progressive Era” or remaining it as two separate time periods. However in this essay, I will argue that both eras should be divided into two eras due to the rise of third parties, regulations in big businesses and improvements in public health. The historical trends discuss why the Gilded Age should be separated from the years, 1865 to 1879 and the Progressive Era from 1880-1920s. The Gilded Age should be renamed the era of unsolved problems as a result of the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution caused strikes, poverty and the mistreatment of workers. The Progressive era should be rename the era of action, as government increased...

Words: 497 - Pages: 2