American Wealth of the American Wealth of the Gilded Age 1890s – 1900s:Gilded Age 1890s – 1900s:Built on Industrial Revolution, new Built on Industrial Revolution, new industries, technolgies, westward industries, technolgies, westward exapnsion imigration and pursit of the exapnsion imigration and pursit of the “American Dream”“American Dream”

The Biltmore Estate

Newport Summer CottagesNewport Summer Cottages ““The Breakers” A The Breakers” A

summer home built summer home built for Cornelius for Cornelius Vanderbilt II, Vanderbilt II,

2,500 craftsmen 2,500 craftsmen and artisans and artisans between 1893 and between 1893 and 1895. The 1895. The Vanderbilt’s Vanderbilt’s daughter, Gertrude, daughter, Gertrude, celebrated her celebrated her coming out party in coming out party in the house.the house.

Inside one of Inside one of the Breakers the Breakers 100 rooms100 rooms

William K. William K. Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt, Marble House . Marble House . 500,000 cubic 500,000 cubic feet of white feet of white marblemarble

Mrs. Hermann Oelrichs, wife of the American agent for the North German Lloyd steamship line.

Edward Julius Berwind, the largest single owner of coal properties in the country

William R. Hearst William R. Hearst San San SimeonSimeon

““The Pool”The Pool”

PhilanthropyPhilanthropy Using ones wealth for the public Using ones wealth for the public

goodgood

Brooke Astor reigned over New York society with a disdain for pretension and devoted her considerable resources to New York's unfortunate

Carnegie Centre 1905 and 2003Carnegie Centre 1905 and 2003

Carnegie HallCarnegie Hall New York New York

Mark Twain coined Mark Twain coined the “Gilded Age”the “Gilded Age”

What did he mean by What did he mean by the Gilded Age?the Gilded Age?

Mark Twain called the late nineteenth century the "Gilded Age." He meant Mark Twain called the late nineteenth century the "Gilded Age." He meant that the period was glittering on the surface with great inventions, strong that the period was glittering on the surface with great inventions, strong development of the nation, great industry and and opportunity attracted development of the nation, great industry and and opportunity attracted new immigrants.new immigrants.

However; the late nineteenth century was also a period of greed and However; the late nineteenth century was also a period of greed and guile: of Robber Barons, speculators, shady business practices, scandal-guile: of Robber Barons, speculators, shady business practices, scandal-plagued politics, graft & political bosses. Vulgar displays of wealth to plagued politics, graft & political bosses. Vulgar displays of wealth to Twain were created by graft and by the exploitation of new immigrants and Twain were created by graft and by the exploitation of new immigrants and the poor. the poor.

Unregulated Wealth created during the Unregulated Wealth created during the Industrial and Gilded AgesIndustrial and Gilded Ages

                

 

The Gilded AgeThe Gilded Age Great wealth buit on Indusrtial AgeGreat wealth buit on Indusrtial Age Pre 1913 Income tax 16Pre 1913 Income tax 16thth amendment amendment Men built industry and dominated them Men built industry and dominated them

(trusts,Monopoly (trusts,Monopoly ConsolidationConsolidation)) Great homes built based on highly skilled yest cheap Great homes built based on highly skilled yest cheap

immigrant labor.immigrant labor. Workers and Working Conditions give Rise of the Workers and Working Conditions give Rise of the

unions, No Health care, poor working conditions. Child unions, No Health care, poor working conditions. Child Labor. No real power yet due to fractionalization.Labor. No real power yet due to fractionalization.

Violent Strikes ending in deathViolent Strikes ending in death Women Sufferage fought for right to voteWomen Sufferage fought for right to vote Political coruption and graftPolitical coruption and graft

Tweed v. NastTweed v. Nast“William Boss Tweed” Leader of Tammany Hall Boss Tweed’s political Machine”

Thomas Nast Political Cartoonist resopnsible for changing public opion on many social and poliitcal issues. His cartoons changed opinions on Boss Tweed leading to Tweed’s downfall.

In a time when many could not read his complex symbolism was understood by all.

Responsible for drawing and coining the Elephand and Donkey for the Repulican and Democrat parties

Tweed’s New York Court Tweed’s New York Court HouseHouseTweed’s Court house one of

the city’s grandest and most important civic monuments."-- NYC Landmarks

Down Fall of TweedDown Fall of TweedThe courthouse is the legacy of Tammany Hall boss William M. Tweed. He gained control of the city treasury and plundered sums estimated at between $30 million and $200 million. Reformers and exposure by the press, including Thomas Nasts cartoons in Harper's Weekly, brought prosecution that resulted in Tweed's conviction and imprisonment

In 1873 “Boss” Tweed was tried and convicted and sentenced to 12 years in prison. This, however, was reduced by a higher court, and he served one year. Arrested once more on other charges, he escaped and went to Cuba and then to Spain, but was extradited (1876) to the United States. He died in prison two years later.

Thomas Nast and the Downfall of TweedThomas Nast and the Downfall of Tweed

Child LaborChild Labor

The Triangle Factory Fire The Triangle Factory Fire 19111911

The fire at the Triangle Waist Company in New York City, which claimed the lives of 146 young immigrant workers, is one of the worst disasters since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.

The Triangle Factory Fire The Triangle Factory Fire 19111911

Labor & Labor & Union/strike Union/strike

breakingbreaking

1892: Steel plant in Homestead, Pennsylvania. Carnegie's involvement in the union-breaking action left many men dead or wounded and forever tarnished Carnegie's reputation as a benevolent employer and a champion of labor.

Other notable strikes the Haymarket Affair WV Coal Miners

Reform that didn’t HappenReform that didn’t Happen In the South: election of Rutherford Hayes ended Southern In the South: election of Rutherford Hayes ended Southern

reconstruction. Removing troops and protection from freed reconstruction. Removing troops and protection from freed african Americans. Rise of KKKafrican Americans. Rise of KKK

U.S. Grant Focus is in the west (corruption in his U.S. Grant Focus is in the west (corruption in his administration fuels mistrust and lack of confidence.administration fuels mistrust and lack of confidence.

Garfield is shot trying to reform civil service patronage and Garfield is shot trying to reform civil service patronage and corruptioncorruption

Chester Arthur Garfield's vice pres. steps in and stops reform. Chester Arthur Garfield's vice pres. steps in and stops reform.

Presidents Cleveland and Harrison support big Presidents Cleveland and Harrison support big business over progressive reforms.business over progressive reforms.

Reforms to come… leading to the Reforms to come… leading to the Progressive EraProgressive Era

Tides turn on the ultra rich. Reform of workers, Tides turn on the ultra rich. Reform of workers, women's suffrage, taxes education, anti trust and women's suffrage, taxes education, anti trust and morality!morality!

Next to come… The Progressive Next to come… The Progressive EraEra

This picture This picture illustrates pre illustrates pre 1717thth Amendment Amendment and the U.S. and the U.S. Senate. The 17Senate. The 17thth Amendment Amendment created public created public elections for elections for senators..senators..