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Mulligan Letters
James Blaine's letters to Warren Fisher Jr. that showed Blaine was using his Representative power to benefit the Little Rock Railroad. Read the letters to show his innocence but they led to his defeat in the presidential election later on. -
Formation of the Grange Movement
Put pressure on state governments to establish fair railroad rates and warehouse charges for farmers that wanted to negotiate shipping prices. Later became the Farmer's Alliance. -
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Gilded Age Era
Spanned from late 1800s to 1900. Lots of corruption and industry. -
King of Frauds Scandal (came to attention in 1872)
Credit Mobilier, the construction company for the Union Pacific Railroad, overcharged the public and gave extra funds to the company, and the bribery of congressmen. -
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Tammany Hall Political Machine
The span of the political monopoly of Tammany Hall, the Democratic NYC political machine led most infamously by boss Tweed. -
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Reign of Tammany Hall
Led by Boss Tweed, Tammany Hall was the Democratic political machine known for its insane corruption, funneling millions of dollars to politicians and party bosses via kickbacks and bribes. -
The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today Published by Mark Twain
Mark Twain and Charles Warner published their book, coining the phrase "Gilded Age" that would be applied to the Era -
Mark Twain's Novel Published
Gilded Age: A Tale of Today, coining the phrase "Gilded Age" -
Whiskey Ring Scandal
Group of distillers in St. Louis didn't pay excise tax, so John McDonald intentionally under-counted their kegs until he confessed and was convicted. -
Progress and Poverty Published
Book by Henry George questioning why poverty always comes when technological or economic progress accelerates. He then uses historical analysis to come up with a solution, which helped to spark the Progressive Era. -
Civil Service Act
After Garfield's assassination, created a merit system for 10% political employees. Ended up making politicians dependent on big donations. -
Wabash vs. Illinois
Led to the Interstate Commerce Commission, and was one of the first cases of federal involvement in issues that were usually state affairs. -
Sherman Anti-Trust Act
Forbade combinations and practices that restrained trade. Was impossible against corporations but only worked against labor unions. -
Suffrage of Women begins
Some populist states started granting women the right to vote. -
Convention of Populists in Omaha
Populist convention where they made a reform plan consisting of the Sub-Treasury Plan, government ownership of railroads, graduated income tax, government control of currency, recognition of union rights, and free coinage of silver. -
World's Colombian Exposition
World Fair held in Chicago to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' journey to the Americas. -
Sub-Treasury Plan
Farmers could store grain in government warehouses and get loans for seed and equipment using the stored grain as collateral. Avoided banks. -
1896 Presidential Election
William Jennings Bryan, a populist turned Democrat, ran against McKinley in the election known to be the first modern political campaign. Business class gave McKinley $10 million dollars on his campaign. Bryan's defeat ended the populist party -
The Theory of the Leisure Class
Veblen's economic treatise on the unprecedented rate of consumerism in the Gilded Age. He then theorizes about the characteristics of the leisure class
