Gilded Age: Industrialization 1

Which of these is the best definition of an era?

• A period of time identified by political, economic, or social trends

• A series of various changes over many years

• A series of events unified by individual or organized protests

• A period of time lasting between 10 and 15 years

Which of the following best characterizes the Gilded Age?

• The discovery of goldfields in the West led to an increase in the amount of money issued for circulation.

• Industrialists used their connections with corrupt government officials for material gain and political power.

• In the Deep South a sharp increase in immigration brought a boom in construction and industry.

• Small, family-owned farms were bought and consolidated to form large agricultural corporations.

During the Gilded Age there was a notable increase in federal support for —

• the growth of big business

• involvement in foreign wars

• the acquisition of foreign territories

• increased temperance regulations

What was one additional way that urban political machines “controlled access to political power”?

• By requiring candidates to pass civil service exams

• By introducing referendum and recall elections

• By securing jobs and contracts for supporters

• By lobbying to introduce literacy tests

Which factor contributed MOST to these changes?

• The rising costs of national defense

• Threats posed by immigrant radicals

• Abuses of the spoils system by political machines

• The inefficiency of large corporations

Analyze political issues such as Indian policies, the growth of political machines, and civil service reform. Which action is best described by this excerpt? "My party’s in power in the city, and it’s goin’ to undertake a lot of public improvements. Well, I’m tipped off, say, that they’re going to lay out a new park at a certain place. I see my opportunity and I take it. I go to that place and I buy up all the land I can in the neighborhood. Then the board of this or that makes its plan public, and there is a rush to get my land, which nobody cared particular for before. Ain’t it perfectly honest to charge a good price and make a profit on my investment and foresight? Of course, it is. Well, that’s honest graft." —George Washington Plunkitt, Plunkitt of Tammany Hall, 1905

• Elected leaders helped immigrants to assimilate to life in the United States.

• Political machines justified corruption while providing benefits to communities.

• Progressive leaders protested eminent domain laws in the United States.

• Muckrakers tried to uncover government scandals in urban communities.

This legislation affected how federal employees were hired. The law now required government jobs to be —

• based on the political party affiliation of the applicant

• determined by a merit system based on civil service examinations

• based on the approval of lawmakers

• set aside for business executives of large corporations

In this 1908 political cartoon, Uncle Sam is distributing pies from the "Free Pie Kitchen." Some of the pies are labeled "Long Term Franchise" and "Special Privilege." The recipients of these pies include businessmen labeled "Public Service Corporation," "Public Land Thief," and "Predatory Wealth." Which issue is this cartoon addressing?

• Political corruption

• Temperance

• Civil-service reform

• Segregation

What was one reason for the expansion of machine politics in the late nineteenth century?

• The rapid influx of immigrants made it difficult for local governments to provide basic services.

• Federal restrictions prevented voters from influencing government decisions at the local level.

• The economy was too tightly regulated to allow urban growth.

• Settlement houses failed to help immigrants adjust to life in the city.

During the nineteenth century, one way political bosses gained voter support was by —

• campaigning for women's suffrage

• advocating the use of poll taxes

• making improvements in urban infrastructure

• providing public assistance for former slaves