Comparison Of Reconstruction And The Gilded Age

The 1870s was a decade characterized by the end of Reconstruction, the continuation of the Gilded Age, and corruption and injustices to the working class and minorities such as women, African Americans and immigrants. Corruption was evident with redeemer governments, as well as unfair business practices, and political scandals. The ending of reconstruction made the minorities in the south volatile to money hungry business owners who took over the decade. The combination of the ending of reconstruction and the Gilded Age would spark later changes in business, government and society.
Since the minorities did not have enough power to speak up and protect themselves, they were hurt the most. African Americans, for example, were negatively affected …show more content…
Politics used the “spoils system” in order to gain political power, with the motivation being political gains. At this time the government used the spoils system, or patronage system, in which jobs were given to people who offered support to major political figures. This resulted in people unfit to govern in government positions, and those selected often were involved in scandals such as the Credit Mobilier Scandal. This was where the Union Pacific Railroad created the Credit Mobilier construction company and hired themselves at inflated prices to build the railroad. It was later discovered that government officials were paid to keep things quiet and some officials were censured. This was an example of a scandal that would definitely scar Grant’s reputation during the Gilded Age and his presidency. As use of the patronage system continued, and more scandals were revealed, the general population began to rally for reform and many quit civil service jobs. This led to further reform through the civil service commission as well as the Pendleton Act which outlawed the Patronage or spoils system, thereby trying to end …show more content…
The building of railroads caused a depletion in available land and a decline in crop value, which eventually led to a large majority of farmers in debt. Consequently, farmers in the West grew aggravated with their economic struggles and stood behind free coinage of silver (which would spark inflation). Ultimately, the Granger movement emerged in the late 1860s with the goal of improving the status of farmers. During 1873, the United States government announced the halt of silver currency, coining the “Crime of ‘73.” As a result, other farmer groups formed in defiance and strengthened the fight for free silver. Later groups like the Greenback Labor Party, Farmers’ Alliance, and the Populist Party coalesced to fend for the interests of farmers in the South and West. Although the Gilded Age brought debt and strife onto farmers, it lead to new views of bimetallism as well as its effect on the United States’

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Comparison Of Reconstruction And The Gilded Age

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