Fundamental shifts of government from the Gilded Age to the progressive era to the 1920s

Assignment One A recurring theme thus far in the course is the fundamental shifts in the role of government from the Gilded Age to the Progressive Era to the 1920s. Your assignment is to read the CHATGPT outline that starts on page two. Next, convert the outline into a 750-1,500 word, double spaced essay that revises the one produced by AI. Be sure to delete the information not covered in lecture and add information that was covered in lecture. Be sure to emphasize why transitions occurred. 1 Grading Criteria You will be graded on the following: 1. What you include in your essay and what you exempt. 2. The accuracy of the information you include. 3. How well you discuss why transitions occurred. 4. The quality of your writing and the organization of your essay. To help you organize your essay, here's an outline you can follow to structure your analysis. This will focus on the development of bureaucracy and the modern U.S. government from the Gilded Age to the end of the 1920s. I'll also suggest important themes a nd presidential initiatives to address. Introduction • Introduce the concept of the growing role of government in the U.S. from the Gilded Age through the 1920s. • Briely deine the Gilded Age (1870s-1900) and the 1920s, noting that they represent contrasting eras: the irst marked by industrialization and laissez-faire policies, while the second was a time of economic prosperity and changing political ideals. • State your thesis: The shift from minimal government intervention during the Gilded Age to the development of a more regulated and bureaucratic government in the 1920s was shaped by industrialization, economic changes, and societal demands. Body 1. The Gilded Age (1870s-1900) o Theme: Laissez-Faire Government ▪ The government's role was largely hands-of, with minimal regulation or intervention in the economy. ▪ The era was characterized by signiicant industrial growth, urbanization, and the rise of monopolies and trusts. o Key Issues: o Presidential Initiatives: 2 ▪ Industrialization: Rapid industrial growth led to the rise of large corporations and monopolies (e.g., Standard Oil, U.S. Steel). The government mostly favored business interests and took little action to regulate them. ▪ Labor Rights and Working Conditions: There were poor labor conditions and frequent labor strikes (e.g., Haymarket Afair, Pullman Strike) that prompted some calls for government intervention, but little was done at the federal level. ▪ Corruption and Political Machines: Local and state governments were often controlled by political machines (e.g., Tammany Hall), which led to widespread corruption in city and state governments. ▪ Presidents like Rutherford B. Hayes and Chester A. Arthur focused on civil service reform to reduce corruption (e.g., Pendleton Act of 1883). ▪ President Grover Cleveland, while not directly addressing industrial monopolies, was a strong proponent of the gold standard and limited government involvement in the economy. o The Development of Bureaucracy: ▪ The Gilded Age saw the early establishment of civil service systems, though the executive branch remained relatively small and focused on patronage. 2. The Progressive Era (1900-1917) o Theme: Government Intervention and Regulation ▪ The government began to take a more active role in regulating business practices and addressing social problems. ▪ The Progressive Era sought to rectify the excesses of industrialization through reforms in labor, health, and economic policy. o Key Issues: ▪ Monopolies and Trust-Busting: The government, under Theodore Roosevelt, took action against large monopolies to promote fair competition (e.g., Sherman Antitrust Act, Clayton Antitrust Act). ▪ Labor Rights: There were increasing demands for government intervention to protect workers, resulting in progressive legislation like the establishment of the eight-hour workday for federal employees and child labor laws. ▪ Social Welfare: The government also began to intervene in social issues like housing, education, and public health, creating the foundations of the modern welfare state. o Presidential Initiatives: 3 ▪ Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909): Known for his “Square Deal,” Roosevelt focused on trust-busting, conservation, and labor reform. He expanded the executive branch’s role, including the creation of the Bureau of Corporations to monitor business practices. ▪ William Howard Taft (1909-1913): Continued Roosevelt’s trust- busting eforts but faced criticism from Progressives for not doing enough. ▪ Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921): Wilson’s “New Freedom” emphasized government intervention in the economy through legislation like the Federal Reserve Act and the Federal Trade Commission, which regulated banking and business practices. o The Development of Bureaucracy: ▪ By the end of the Progressive Era, the federal government had signiicantly expanded, with new agencies like the Federal Reserve and the Federal Trade Commission playing key roles in economic regulation. 3. The 1920s: A Return to Economic Focus o Theme: Economic Prosperity and Limited Government ▪ The 1920s marked a return to a more hands-of government policy under Presidents Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover. ▪ The focus shifted to economic growth, with a belief that the government should support business growth through tax cuts and deregulation. o Key Issues: ▪ The Economy and Business Growth: The government encouraged laissez-faire economic policies, focusing on supporting big business and cutting taxes (e.g., Revenue Acts of 1921 and 1924). ▪ Labor and Social Welfare: Despite the economic prosperity, there was little progress on labor rights or social welfare. The government largely left the regulation of business and labor to private interests, though some bureaucratic agencies were created during this time (e.g., the Bureau of the Budget in 1921). o Presidential Initiatives: 4 ▪ Warren G. Harding (1921-1923): Advocated for “normalcy,” focusing on reducing government intervention in the economy and cutting taxes. ▪ Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929): Coolidge famously said, “The business of America is business,” and his administration cut taxes and promoted deregulation. The government’s role in social and economic afairs was minimal. ▪ Herbert Hoover (1929-1933): Hoover focused on promoting voluntary cooperation between business and government, and the expansion of bureaucratic structures like the Federal Farm Board, which aimed to stabilize agricultural prices. o The Development of Bureaucracy: ▪ While there was a move toward limited government, the 1920s also saw the expansion of some bureaucratic agencies, though most were geared toward supporting business interests rather than regulating them. Conclusion • Recap the evolution from the minimal government intervention of the Gilded Age to the more bureaucratic and regulated role of government by the end of the 1920s. • Emphasize how the development of bureaucracy mirrored the changing political ideologies: from laissez-faire policies to Progressive reforms and back to a more business-friendly government in the 1920s. • Relect on the legacy of this shift in government policy, noting how the bureaucratic expansion and regulatory frameworks set up during this period would inluence future government actions, especially during the New Deal in the 1930s. This structure should give you a solid framework to explore the changes in government and bureaucracy. As you write, make sure to tie each period to broader societal changes, such as industrialization, labor movements, and economic policy shifts. Let me know if you'd like more details on any speciic sections!