1 / 8

The Gilded Age (1875-1900)

Explore the strengths and weaknesses of the American political system at the federal level during the Gilded Age (1875-1900). Delve into the era of intense political activity among mostly white males, the rise of Democrats and Republicans, increased corruption, Congress's dominance, economic crises, and the influential Populist Movement. Understand the significance of the McKinley Tariff Act, Sherman Antitrust Act, and the Silver Issue with William Jennings Bryan's iconic “Cross of Gold Speech.”

marci
Download Presentation

The Gilded Age (1875-1900)

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Gilded Age (1875-1900)

  2. Type 1 Writing • What are the strengths and weaknesses of the American political system at the federal level today? (2 minutes) • Discussion

  3. I. Political Life • Most Americans were deeply involved in political activity. • Mostly white males. • Democrats – • Republicans – • More corruption than during previous eras.

  4. II. Congress Takes Charge • 1870s – Congress exerted greater power than the executive. • McKinley Tariff Act – raised tariffs higher than ever before • Sherman Antitrust Act – initially weak, first attempt to regulate business combinations.

  5. Falling Commodity Prices

  6. III. The Populist Movement • Farmer’s Complaints – • Farmer’s Alliance was the first attempt to organize. • Many wanted an alternative party. • Populists could win elections, but not power.

  7. IV. The Silver Issue • The 1890s were a decade of economic crisis. • Quantity Theory of Money – • Silver became a social movement. • William Jennings Bryan’s “Cross of Gold Speech”

  8. “Having behind us the producing masses of this nation and the world…we will answer their demand for a gold standard by saying to them: ‘ You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind on a cross of gold.”

More Related