Bellringer

1. What is a push factor? A pull factor?2. Where did immigrants from Europe

pass through to get to the U.S.? From Asia?

3. What were nativists?4. What act limited Chinese

immigration?5. Who started settlement houses for

the poor?

The Gilded AgeWriter Mark Twain coined this time period the “Gilded Age.” Based on the definition of “gilded” below, why do you think Twain called it that?

Gilded: 1. To cover something with a thin layer of gold leaf or a substance that looks like gold 2. To make something seem better than it really is

Political Concerns

The wealthy were making themselves rich at the public’s expense

There was widespread corruption in government

Spoils System The spoils system rewarded political

supporters with government jobs In 1883, the Pendleton Act created

the Civil Service Commission which filled jobs on the basis of merit

Big Business

In 1887, the Interstate Commerce Act forbade rebates and set up the Interstate Commerce Commission to oversee railroads

Although difficult to enforce, the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, was designed to prohibit businesses from destroying competition

Corruption in City Government Politicians called bosses

controlled work locally and demanded payoffs from businesses

William (Boss) Tweed cheated New York City out of more than $100 million.

Muckrackers

People who expose corruption and scandals in business and politics

What would be some methods to expose these things?

Theodore Roosevelt

Compared reporters who uncovered problems to men who racked up dirt or muck

Was a trustbuster- tried to break up large trusts and monopolies that limited competition

Ida Tarbell

Demanded more controls on trusts

Accused John D. Rockefeller of unfair business practices

Launched a Supreme Court investigation that forced the Standard Oil Company to break up its trusts

Jacob Riis

Photographer and writer who exposed the terrible conditions of slum life

Helped lead to improved fire, police, sanitation and tenement house laws

Upton Sinclair

Wrote The Jungle Details about the meatpacking

industry Used meat from sick animals Lack of sanitation

Helped lead to Pure Food and Drug Act & Meat Inspection Act

"I aimed at the public's heart and by accident hit it in the stomach."Upton Sinclair, on the public reaction

to his book The Jungle

The Progressive Presidents

What did each do to help the Progressive Movement?

Theodore Roosevelt

William Taft

Woodrow Wilson

PROBLEMS

The Spoils System

Railroads were giving rebates to large corporations

Large trusts got rid of competition

Tenements had terrible living conditions

Meatpacking industry used unsanitary methods

SOLUTIONS PEOPLE