Gilded Age Politics: Crash Course US History #26

In which John Green teaches you about the Gilded Age and its politics. What, you may ask, is the Gilded Age? The term comes from a book by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner titled, "The Gilded Age." You may see a pattern emerging here. It started in the 1870s and continued on until the turn of the 20th century. The era is called Gilded because of the massive inequality that existed in the United States. Gilded Age politics were marked by a number of phenomena, most of them having to do with corruption. On the local and state level, political machines wielded enormous power. John gets into details about the most famous political machine, Tammany Hall. Tammany Hall ran New York City for a long, long time, notably under Boss Tweed. Graft, kickbacks, and voter fraud were rampant, but not just at the local level. Ulysses S. Grant ran one of the most scandalous presidential administrations in U.S. history, and John will tell you about two of the best-known scandals, the Credit Mobilier scandal, and the Whiskey Ring. There were a few attempts at reform during this time, notably the Civil Service Act of 1883 and the Sherman Anti-trust act of 1890. John will also get into the Grange Movement of the western farmers, and the Populist Party that arose from that movement. The Populists, who threw in their lot with William Jennings Bryan, never managed to get it together and win a presidency, and they faded after 1896. This brings us to the Progressive Era, which we'll get into in the next episode!

Chapters:
Introduction: The Gilded Age 00:00
The Political Machine 1:23
Mystery Document 1:56
"Boss" Tweed & the County Courthouse 3:07
Tammany Politicians 4:11
Credit Mobilier & Bribing Congress 5:18
The Whiskey Ring 6:08
Gilded Age Republicans 6:46
The Civil Service Act & the Sherman Anti-Trust Act 7:27
Local Government Reforms 8:07
The Farmers' Alliance 8:46
The People's (Populist) Party 9:36
Populist Leaders 11:15
William Jennings Bryan's Presidential Campaign 11:42
Credits 13:19

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[Kevbro]

"Suppose you have a US history test, and you only have a day left to study for it. But I repeat myself."

[gigantoros]

only 1890's kids will get this video.

[serenaschramm]

Ah yes, Late-night cramming the day before the APUSH exam is a most joyous pass time in which sleep eludes you and the feeling of unpreparedness slips away in a bought a euphoria as you listen to the melodious voice of John Green.

[StormDragon]

Oh, so hating Congress is traditional.

[jazzyw]

John Green is now officially my favorite person. His books have all the feels and because of his videos I got my first A on my APUSH test yesterday🎉

[cheerslads]

Less than 12 hours until the APUSH test and here I am

[catietroy]

I'm gonna fail my SAQ on this tomorrow bc I'm reading the comments vs actually watching the video 😔

[Eclipse-edky]

I can attest that APUSH students are still watching these videos the night before the test.

[aidananastario]

It's that time again ... John Green rakes in a few million dollars cuz of ap cramming

[Shamu-srnq]

What? No, my AP test isn't tomorrow and I'm not doing last minute studying!

[nikkok]

I've found watching many Crash Course US History episodes in a row is actually really depressing...

[crashcourse]

If only I could grow a beard, I could triple my electoral power. -stan

[bucca]

NO, I AM NOT STUDYING FOR APUSH!!! I AM WATCHING THIS FOR LEISURE.

[davidcleary]

Watching this series has helped me appreciate how recent all of these events and changes have taken place. The causes and effects feel obviously connected to my life in a way I couldn't appreciate before. All of this makes me incredibly excited and terribly nervous for the not yet written history of our nation and the world.

[a.a.]

This is such a great boon as a supplemental educational resource, that is neither dry nor boring. Thanks CC team for creating such an entertaining, informative, and enjoyable series of educational videos for the knowledge-enthusiasts in a manner that enhances our joy of learning !

[ayseguvenilir]

"That leaves the Supreme Court untainted, but don't worry, the Dred Scott Decision is worth at least, like, eighty years of tainting." 

[Freesoul]

Fun fact: In "The Wizard of Oz" the cowardly lion is a representation of a single person - William J. Bryan, as opposed to allusions to whole classes (Scarecrow - farmers, Tin Man - industrial workers and such)

[emsfjsu]

I don't live in US, but I LOVE history. And I have one question: what the hell is an AP test?

[jessicaenn]

I like the reference to The Outsiders. "Stay gold Ponyboy... uhhh, I mean America."

[elizabethhogan]

George Plunkett and Boss Tweed are the first people quoted on this show who talk like normal people.