Gilded Age
By Erica Bradshaw
Gilded Age
Gilded means covered thinly with gold leaf or gold paint.
The term Gilded Age comes from Mark Twain describing the culture as newly rich, lack tradition, and the wealth showing their upperclass rank.
Bloody Shirt Campaign
In 1868 the two candidates running for presidency were Horatio Seymour and U.S. Grant. Grant was the Republican candidate and Seymour was the Democratic candidate.
The bloody shirt was from the expression, "waving the bloody shirt." It was used during the Reconstruction period to describe attempts by the northern Republicans against southern Democrats. They used impassioned oratory about bloody sacrifice designed to keep alive the hatreds and prejudices of the Civil War period.
Gilded Age Corruption
William "Boss" Tweed
William Tweed was an American politician who was in charge of Tammany Hall, the Democratic Party political machine. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 1852 and the New York State Senate in 1867. In 1877 he was convicted of stealing $25 million and $45 million from New York City taxpayers. His downfall began after the Orange riot of 1871.
Thomas Nast
An American editorial cartoonist, he was the scourge of William Tweed and the Tammany Hall political machine. He used his political cartoons to attack the Tammany Hall corruption. It began in 1867 but did not become more reoccurring until 1870. In 1871 the ring was removed from power.
Compromise of 1877
Written to settle a dispute in the 1876 presidential election and ended the Reconstruction era. Rutherford B. Hayes was put into office if and only if he removed troops from South Carolina, Florida, and Louisiana. The Electoral Commission was also put into effect with the signing of the compromise.