Chapter 19 Flashcards
What were concerns during the gilded age?
1 industrialists were becoming rich at the public’s expense 2 corruption in local government
What was the practice of rewarding loyal supporters with government jobs
Spoils system
Which president was assassinated by someone expecting a job
President James Garfield
What did President Chester Arthur do
Worked with congress to reform the spoils system
Which act created the Civil Service Commission
Pendleton Act
What is a civil service
A System that includes most government jobs, except positions, the judiciary and the military and jobs are filled on the basis of merit
What did President Grover Cleveland try and limit the powers of railroads monopolies
Interstate commerce act
What did the interstate commerce act do
It set up the interstate commerce commission to oversee railroads
What act did President Benjamin Harrison sign that prohibited businesses from trying to limit or destroy competition
Sherman Antitrust Act
What was the problem with the Sherman anti trust act
It was ineffective and difficult to enforce
What were bosses
Powerful politicians, controlled local work and demanded payoffs from businesses
What would bosses do for votes
Give needed goods to immigrants for their vote
Who cheated NYC out of more than $100 million
William Tweed (Boss Tweed)
Who introduced the Wisconsin Idea
Governor Robert LaFolette
What did the Wisconsin Idea do
1 commissions of experts were going to solve problems (not bosses) 2Wisconsin adopted a primary system.
What happens in a primary election
Voters not party leaders choose their party’s candidate
What were ballot measures
Recalls, initiatives, and referendums gave voters more power
16th Amendment
Gave Congress the power to pass an income tax. People are taxed at different rates depending on their income
17th Amendment
US senators are elected directly by the people instead of state legislatures
What were Muckrakers
Crusading journalists who uncovered corruption and other problems
Gilded age
Coated with a thin layer of gold paint. Lasted from 1870s to 1890
