Gilded Age

Knights of Labor Strike Railroad producers

Jan 1, 1866

The Knights of Labor go on strike against the Wabash Railroad. They were successful, and their rankes swelled.

Grant Gains Presidency

Nov 3, 1868

Ulysses S. Grant takes the presidency and gains victory over democratic candidate Horatio Seymour.

Gilded Age

Period: Jan 1, 1869 to Dec 31, 1896

If it happened during the Gilded Age, and it was important, it's here.

Rockefeller Oil Standard Created

Jan 10, 1870

Rockefeller creates the Oil Standard.

Civil Service Commision

Mar 4, 1871

The Civil Service Commision was created by Ulysses S. Grant, who appointed Curtis Heads as it's leader. This assured that, like the British system, American Government Officials would gain positions based on their work.

Bessemer Steel Process

Mar 4, 1871

Andrew Carnegie imitates the Bessemer Steel Process, bringing it to the US, and expanding his business.

The Credit Mobilier Scandal

Sep 4, 1872

The Credit Mobilier Scandal is an event which occured when several high ranking government officials took free stock in the railroad business as a bribe to keep the Credit Mobilier safe from investigation of "financial irregularities".

Ulysses S. Grant re-elected

Nov 5, 1872

Ulysses S. Grant was re-elected.

Gilded Age published by Mark Twain

Jan 1, 1873

The author Mark Twain published the book The Gilded Age, and described the period they were living in as "glittering on the surface but corrupt within".

Panic of 1873

Sep 18, 1873

The Jay Cooke and CompanyA led to an economic depression, which led up until 1879, and created a wide-spread financial crisis.

Corruption in Grant Administration Uncovered

May 10, 1875

238 People were decalred guilty of being involved in financial fraud, and for conspiring to defraud government tax revenues.

Telephone

Mar 10, 1876

Alexander Graham Bell invents the telephone.

Rutherford B. Hayes wins(?) presidency

Mar 2, 1877

Rutherford B. Hayes was elected with much debate over whether or not he had actually won the presidency, with accounts of fraud, miscounting, and just all together missing votes from multiple states.

Railroad Strike of 1877

Jul 16, 1877

Workers of the <ahref='http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1037.html' >Baltimore and Ohio Railroad</a> walked out on the job after receiving a 10% cut in paychecks.

James Garfield Elected President

Nov 2, 1880

James Garfield is elected president.

Mechanical Harvester Invented

Jan 1, 1881

Cyrus McCormick creates the mechanical harvester, greatly speeding up crop production.

Garfield's Assassination

Jul 2, 1881

President James Garfield is shot by Charles Guiteau.

Pendleton Act

Jan 16, 1883

The Pendleton Act is passed in hoped of reducing corruption in federal positions through a screening process.

Railroads create Time Zones

Jan 1, 1884

Raildroads create standardized timezones.

Grover Cleveland elected president

Nov 4, 1884

Grover Cleveland is elected president.

Haymarket Riot

May 4, 1886

The Haymarket Riot was an incident that started off like many other strikes, but quickly turned awry when a bomb was set off, killing 6 policemen, and wounding at least 60 others. This was a major drawback to the Knights of Labor Organization, and their membership declined by 50%.

Rail Gauge Standardization

May 31, 1886

The typical railway size is set to 4' 8.5".

AFL Founded

Dec 8, 1886

The American Federation of Labor (AFL) was formed under the leadership of Samuel Gompers. The AFL was a union of skilled craftsman, unlike the Knights of Labor.

Harrison gains presidency, despite the popular vote

Nov 6, 1888

Benjamin Harrison takes office, despite not winning the peoples vote.

Social Gospel: Gospel of Wealth

Jun 1, 1889

Andrew Carnegie creates the Gospel of Wealth, outlining the rich peoples' responsibility to help the poor and those less fortunate, and to spread their wealth.

Homestead Steel Strike

Jun 30, 1892

The Homestead Steel Strike was a strike of workers of against the Carnegie Steel business, and when negotiations turned awry, Henry Frick shuts down the factory and locks all employees out.

Populist Party Convention

Jul 2, 1892

The Populist Party meets to get it's feet on solid ground by electing members to lead it, and establishing a base of people. 1300 people showed up.

Battle at Homestead Steel

Jul 6, 1892

When a fight breaks out between the Carnegie Steel foundation and it's workers, the Pinkerton Detectives are called in to help guard the factory from the workers. The fight lasted 14 hours, and the death toll was 10. Seven of which were workers, three of which were detectives.

Henry Frick survives assassination attempt, proves he's awesome

Jul 23, 1892

Henry Frick survives an assassination attempt on his life, and after being stabbed several times, carries on with his work day, and refuses to seek medical attention until his shift is over, proving his loyalty and awesomeness to the Carnegie Steel foundation.

Cleveland Again

Nov 8, 1892

Grover Cleveland returns to presidency.

Debs is Arrested

Jan 1, 1894

Eugene Debs is arrested for violation the Court Order referring to the Pullman Strike.

Pullman Strike

May 11, 1894

Workers at Pullman company strike when housing conditions are cut to match the wage cuts.

Debs Supports Pullman Strike

Jun 21, 1894

Debs orders his employees not to allow Pullman railroad carts through, showing support for the Pullman Strike.

Grovers Crushes Pullman Strike

Jul 4, 1894

President Grover sends troops to crush the Pullman Strikers, and effectively ending the strike by enforcing a court order.

William Jennings Bryan Nominated for Presidency

Jul 6, 1896

Democrats nominate William Jennings Bryan for Presidency due to his support of the free coinage of silver.

William McKinley Elected President

Nov 3, 1896

William McKinley is elected President.