The term “Gilded Age” was coined by Mark Twain in his 1873 book, The Gilded Age: A Tale for Today. Twain’s phrase uses the practice of gilding, in which a thin sheet of gold leaf is laid over plain metal, as a metaphor to describe how major societal and political problems were hidden with a veneer of respectability during the post-Civil War era. In the Gilded Age, corruption and graft permeated every level of American politics. Campaigns promised patronage and civil service positions in order to win elections and access to infrastructure benefitted corporations over small-scale farmers. Show
This corruption met various forms of resistance. Backlash to self-serving Gilded Age politicians led to the arrest of New York Democratic Party Boss William Tweed, who controlled votes and appointments. A decade later, Charles Guiteau murdered President James Garfield; Guiteau believed the President owed him a government job as recompense for unsolicited political campaign work. The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry and the Populist Party both rose to national prominence for their fight against railroad conglomerates’ preferential treatment of business allies. Both groups also pushed for bimetallism—backing American currency with both gold and silver—and wanted to put more paper money into circulation. One of the most active critics of Gilded Age politics was Thomas Nast, a New York political cartoonist best known for creating the elephant and donkey as symbols for the Republican and Democratic parties. Nast’s cartoons spurred citizens’ opposition to corruption throughout the era. By the late 1890s, American politics had moved toward the ideals of Progressivism, which sought to protect social welfare, encourage productivity, ensure morality, and generate economic reform by reinterpreting the United States Constitution as an organic or alterable document. In addition to the lesson packet, students will need highlighters and/or colored pencils for marking up the documents they will analyze. Recommended colors are orange (problems), green (proposed solutions), and red (to underline similarities and circle differences in the documents). Expand More InformationMore InformationBefore the lesson, write on the board or prepare to project the following:
Expand WarmupWarmupPrior to class, write the following passages on the board or project them for the whole class to consider (omitting the source reference for each). Also, print each of the two passages (omitting the source reference for each) on an index card and, as students enter the room, enlist two student volunteers—one to read each card aloud. Encourage the volunteer students to practice delivering their passages, preparing to read each in a tone that is serious but not overly dramatic or emotional and conveys sincere concern for the future of the United States. Card A source: Populist Party Platform, 1892; Card B source: Eugene V. Debs, “Social Democracy,” The National Magazine, October, 1898. Card A Instructions to student volunteer: Prepare to read the passage in a tone that is serious but not overly dramatic or emotional, conveying sincere concern for the future of the United States. The people are demoralized. . . public opinion silenced. . . labor impoverished. . . . The fruits of the toil of millions are boldly stolen to build up colossal fortunes for a few, unprecedented in the history of mankind; and the possessors of those, in turn, despise the republic and endanger liberty. From the same prolific womb of governmental injustice we breed the two great classes—tramps and millionaires. . . Card B Instructions to student volunteer: Prepare to read the passage in a tone that is serious but not overly dramatic or emotional, conveying sincere concern for the future of the United States. The millions of wage-earners do not own themselves, they are wage-slaves, and their masters control their lives and subject them to conditions as degrading as those which existed in times of chattel slavery. True it is that the united forces of labor could make themselves masters of the situation and change conditions to their liking, but divided on lines of political partisanship, intimidated, bulldozed, and bribed, they have done the bidding of the capitalist class, have been misled and betrayed by ignorant and dishonest leaders until hope has all but perished. . . After the student volunteers have read their passages, ask the class to point out similarities and differences between the two statements. For example, the statements are similar in that concern for poor and exploited workers is expressed in emphatic language. Have students discuss the language choices and the purpose of this kind of rhetoric. Ask what social and/or economic problems might have inspired the writer of each statement. Ask students to use their background knowledge to try to identify the source of each of the statements. After students have proposed and explained their reasoning for some possibilities, share the source information. Expand ActivitiesActivities
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Expand ExtensionsExtensionsThe Populist Party wrote their first national platform in 1892, and the Social Democratic Party wrote theirs in 1898. Have students list some of the worldwide and/or U.S. economic events and conditions that occurred in the 1870s–1890s and investigate cause- and-effect relationships that may have contributed to the more radical leaning of the Socialists as compared with those of the Populists. For example, how did the group identities differ between the two groups, and how might that difference in identity have affected their philosophical position regarding the proper role of government? For additional information about the history and geography of the Socialist Party of America, see the Mapping American Social Movements through the Twentieth Century webpage: http://depts.washington.edu/moves/SP_intro.shtml. The Populist Party disappeared in the early years of the twentieth century, largely because the Democratic Party absorbed some of the populist positions regarding desired reforms. Several of the reforms proposed by the populists in 1892 became law over the next few decades. However, the Socialist Party, though it has gone through several transitions, remains active into the twenty-first century. Have students consider which party has been more successful in influencing policy in the United States. Reflection and Analysis Questions for Each Platform
Extension: Students may discuss or write essays to respond to these essential questions: (a) To what extent did Populist and Socialist ideas and political platforms provide effective solutions to American issues and problems during the Gilded Age? (b) To what extent have major American political parties borrowed and implemented Populist and Socialist ideas into their political platforms and policies? Duration75 minStandards Topic: 6.13 Politics Show moreGrade Level9, 10, 11, 12Period EraGilded AgeTopicPolitical PartiesRelated Resources
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of HappinessIn our resource history is presented through a series of narratives, primary sources, and point-counterpoint debates that invites students to participate in the ongoing conversation about the American experiment. What were the 4 goals of the Populist Party?They demanded an increase in the circulating currency (to be achieved by the unlimited coinage of silver), a graduated income tax, government ownership of the railroads, a tariff for revenue only, the direct election of U.S. senators, and other measures designed to strengthen political democracy and give farmers ...
How did the Populist Party impact the Gilded Age?It argued for things such as direct election of US senators to fight the corruption of the state legislatures, free coinage of silver so farmers were actually able to pay back debts, and the implementation of postal savings banks to take power away from the big wig bankers.
Who were the Populists US history?The People's Party, also known as the Populist Party or simply the Populists, was a left-wing agrarian populist political party in the United States in the late 19th century.
What were the beliefs of the Populists?Populism refers to a range of political stances that emphasize the idea of "the people" and often juxtapose this group against "the elite". It is frequently associated with anti-establishment and anti-political sentiment.
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