the politics of the gilded age failed to deal with the criti

the politics of the gilded age failed to deal with the critical social and economic issues assess the validity of this statement. Use both the documents and your knowledge of the us from 1865 to 1900

Solution

The Government’s policy of laissez faire let wealthy people to do whatever they want and did not want to get involved. With the advent of industrialism, working class had few rights and terrible working conditions. Without laws in place to limit the power of monopolies, the majority of American wealth and power were in the hands of few people. Government jobs were distributed through corrupt patronage system. The political history of the Gilded Age is usually reduced to a tale of corruption.

Contracts were awarded on the basis of favouritism rather than competitive bidding. At municipal level, the corruption was just as great. Political insiders grew rich meeting the needs of the ever expanding cities. The most sensational shortcoming of American political system was corruption, more subtle was the general lethargy that crippled national government and failure of either of the major parties to advance an adequate agenda to meet the needs of America’s rapidly changing society. Neither Democrats nor Republicans pursued ambitious agenda. In the absence of more expansive vision, the two parties waged battle largely for the spoils of patronage that victory could bring.

New technologies improved agricultural production but prices were dropping too low to support farmers. Farmers were frustrated with both Democrats and Republicans and they formed their own organizations. America’s farmers experienced a dramatic shift in their fortunes over the course of the Gilded Age.

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