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!
Hey teachers and students - Check out CommonLit's free collection of reading passages and curriculum resources to learn more about the events of this episode. The Gilded Age was marked by the success of the richest coupled with inequality and corruption. Repeated factory disasters, such as the triangle shirtwaist factory fire revealed the unsafe working conditions of the urban poor: www.commonlit.org/texts/the-t...
Meanwhile, workers began to join unions and strike for better working conditions: www.commonlit.org/texts/the-c...
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
Crash Course is on Patreon! You can support us directly by signing up at / crashcourse
Want to find Crash Course elsewhere on the internet?
Facebook - / youtubecrashcourse
Twitter - / thecrashcourse
Instagram - / thecrashcourse
CC Kids: / crashcoursekids

[@Kevbro]

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

[@markinzhirov1773]

One hour?

[@emilya8414]

I hate that that's literally me rn

[@briannamarzan9026]

2 hours before 😌

[@noahbauer4705]

brianna danae 1 hour remains

[@kleihysaj6920]

brianna danae 1 hour before

[@gigantoros]

only 1890's kids will get this video.

[@jaytankson6555]

If there are people still alive from 1890 I applaud them.

[@2afault]

Nah I think the last one died in April of last year.

[@HattieMcDanielonaMoon]

@@2afault :(

[@fatimamagana2686]

Only they can relate

[@xxskyenebulaxx7385]

Maybe my 102 year old uncle would get it...maybe?...

[@serenaschramm9212]

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.

[@StormDragon771]

Oh, so hating Congress is traditional.

[@2afault]

Yeah, if you don't hate Congress, you're not a true American.

[@BelieberEmilyAnn]

hello fellow APUSH crammers..

[@TheShannon900]

Hi!!!!!

[@AlphaWolf096]

Emily VanDerEems hello! lol My teacher was on maternity leave for the portion on the years of the Gilded Age and Western Expansion, so.....yay for making low-production quality/budget documentaries? Anyway....I really need this video

[@blitzkrieg1785]

+AlphaWolf098 p

[@iTANKuUP]

Surprisingly I had to do this for APWH.

[@bum9125]

+Emily VanDerEems hELLO ME TOOOO

[@jazzyw69]

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🎉

[@stephen.]

Jasmine Washington Lucky you 💀💀

[@bennygoodmanisgod]

Jasmine Washington god bless you

[@macidismuke4326]

... I DEADASS FORGOT HE WROTE BOOKS!! I read all of them a few years ago and then high school hit i I replaced John green fiction with John green crash course

[@claramelb7476]

Maci Dismuke 🤣🤣🤣

[@cheerslads]

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

[@andrewsmith3014]

cheers lads lol

[@faithpendergrass9104]

me too man... me too

[@rosiebird2750]

Same here

[@krustykrabpizza7077]

For me it's less than two hours :)

[@nydiabrown4725]

i have the aice test in 27 minutes. and here i am. listening to this at 1.5x speed

[@catietroy5999]

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

[@skateboardturtle]

Did you fail?

[@Eclipse-ed9ky]

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

[@cutelilly1000vedios]

Eclipse *3 hours before

[@Eclipse-ed9ky]

anilla_md SAME

[@Shamu-sr4nq]

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

[@adnandesai657]

+ShamuGamesAndStuff Hell yeah it is. Good Luck though

[@ArushiSharmacr7]

me rn

[@lemanyakubova1]

literally me

[@scorpionbrains]

Bruh i have a huge exam tmrw and nervous

[@nikkitrip2896]

ShamuG don't worry, nothing has changed, I'm not doing the same thing right now

[@aidananastario9824]

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

[@nikko4k]

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

[@a2mann]

Nikko Kelaidis Yep. I for the most part agree with the idea of not holding a group responsible for the actions of their forefathers... But if you are white & can watch all of these & not feel any hint of “Well that was WRONG,” then I fully agree with the idea there is something wrong with you.

[@bucca2]

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

[@paul_chandler3082]

Same

[@chikeezebilo6545]

Same and I'm not even an American citizen

[@biggusdickus1792]

+Chike Ezebilo American history is rather chaotic isn't it?

[@chikeezebilo6545]

KingPsychoZ I think the more detailed and untarnished it is, the more chaotic it will be. So it's a rather good thing

[@biggusdickus1792]

Chike Ezebilo it's also Intersting as hell too.

[@Roenazarrek]

I vote that the word sombrerro should be replaced by "interdisciplinary party hat"

[@FanKiyoshi]

non

[@elroyscout]

I second the motion

[@ourladypeace3]

Good idea because sombrero literally just means “hat”

[@a.a.6552]

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 !

[@davidcleary7587]

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.

[@crashcourse]

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

[@user-em1sf3js9u]

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

[@ethanbaker2802]

+孙明亮 It is a test for Advanced Placement classes. They are sponsered by "The College Board" and are considered the highest level of classes in American high schools. At the end of the class you take a test to determine how well you did in the class.

[@DejaBenfordsimplepleasures]

You also earn college credit if you score high enough. Essentially you're taking a college class in high school.

[@RustyNinja100]

AP test stands for Armor-Piercing, and if you pay attention to American News you know how well Armor-Piercing ammunition does in the classrooms

[@lymbopurgatum1235]

+孙明亮 Advanced placement. Im in AP everything. Im also homeschooled.

[@jadescott2966]

+Yoko Bongo you have to pay for yours?😤

[@sweetermeow]

2020 APUSH students are crying rn

[@taisstea7306]

Good luck on this test 😭

[@kayleenewcomer1048]

@@taisstea7306 Let's pray it's a topic we don't all loathe

[@Chloe-xz9ow]

You know it

[@jessicaenn3254]

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

[@Malthius]

+Jessica Quinn The Outsiders is an excellent and very saddening book.

[@jessicaenn3254]

That is true. It's probably one of my all time favorite books. But on the note of Crash Course, thanks for refreshing my memory on APUSH for my midterm.

[@pranavsukumaran8154]

+Sammy Abdo read it for english.

[@jessicaenn3254]

Same. When I first read it with my class, I wasn't too interested. But I went back a while later and was absorbed.

[@pranavsukumaran8154]

Jessica Quinn i actually found out that i had to read if for english about 2 quarters beforehand, so i just read it. really helped me on my assignments and it was really interesting.

[@ayseguvenilir1805]

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

[@jamesrpascoe]

"80 years of tainting" . . . there are two ways to read that

[@MarvelousSeven]

@@jamesrpascoe mmm... go on...

[@114Freesoul]

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)

[@Muszy]

I think we currently live in the second gilded age.

[@ilikemovies22]

We all know why we're here.

[@ItzJustSharp]

Not for apush. I’m here for the knowledge

[@benkoskinen3871]

To learn about US history because the only thing I learned in my country about the US is that it gained independence in 1776... which doesn't tell me ANYTHING about what happened after that.

[@checkpng]

Quarantine

[@arjunbaweja7755]

iLikeMovies so I can be ungrounded

[@RM1Sammy]

Tbh thank god for this series... I'm cramming for my APUSH final so much

[@minimooster7258]

What is APUSH? I don't live in America...

[@RM1Sammy]

+minimooster it stands for Advanced Placement U.S. History

[@elizabethhogan1610]

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

[@GAby9793]

1st semester review crammed into 26 videos. thanks john & crash course team, you guys are the best you have no idea how fun & helpful these are!

[@T25de]

thanks for producing these crashcourse videos guys!

[@kelseyrebecca]

This is seriously one of my favorite era's of American history. I spent my senior year with my interdisciplinary party hat on discussing the Art, Economics, and Social history (three different seminars!) of this era, so it was great to touch on the politics that I didn't quite get to delve into. Plus I absolutely LOVE political cartoons! Great episode, one of my favorites.

[@RubixCubist]

He should've shaved off their hair so he could get in a 4th vote!

[@WanquanLoot]

+stevensays1 then his pubes for vote #5

[@RubixCubist]

Wanquan Loot oh boy

[@jorenvanderark3567]

+Wanquan Loot then put o glasses for vote 6.

[@nathenhutchison6182]

The sad thing is that I could actually do this in the next election, and it would still work.

[@timmij7198]

@@enteal r/woooosh

[@cheezeyman0495]

Corruption and 2016. Wow, history repeats itself again!

[@cheezeyman0495]

again, history repeats

[@harlleygurrola8394]

Cheezeyman0 Soros,Rockefeller

[@NashHinton]

The US tends to go through rises and falls of equality. It's well established we're in a second gilded age by most economists like Krugman. The reason why we're in a second gilded age is due to capital accumulation from automation and labor saving technologies, the same thing that happened in the industrial age. Only this time, we're experiencing rising inequality from the computer and AI revolutions. It will likely end in another great depression. Bubbles can't last forever and eventually pop.

[@soaringwingssecondstage8995]

Your suffering from rising inequality due massive corruption resulting from gov. intervention in the private sector and corruption in the public sector. Things would be more equal if business startups where easier and if red tape didn't favor super massive conglomerates. Thankfully we seem to be moving back towards the direction of free enterprise, which if you at which countries are the most economically free, they tend to have the best income equality.

[@longstretch]

Yep good ole democratic corruption

[@saman9291]

john green is legit my favorite person rn

[@benpitts7550]

AP US History test tomorrow, let the cram session begin. You're videos help immensely.

[@laquishaheart8676]

Watching all the crash course videos the night before the test and still hoping to pass. Lol. I'm an awful student.

[@bennygoodmanisgod]

La Quisha Heart you chose the right guy to learn from

[@scorpionbrains]

Same

[@amandaspeaks5076]

worked for me for ap world 🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️😂😂

[@melodies_of_stars]

You and me both

[@scottylilacleona9193]

And now my love for twain has increased. Seriously, the man was awesome.

[@stephanietorres7842]

When you have to write an essay about the Gilden age tomorrow for APUSH 😅🙌🏻

[@stephanietorres7842]

Same I have mine May 6, and im kinda nervous. :T

[@stephanietorres7842]

Luckyy, the test was okay when I took it about a month and a half ago.

[@longliveplanetawesome3223]

More like "When you have to write an essay about the Gilded Age that's due in > 30 minutes (SOMEBODY HELP ME!!!)"

[@JuliaEversole24]

Who else had to watch this for a history class 👇

[@turnyourwifioffatnight7848]

Thanks to John Green for getting the word "scoodylipooping" stuck in my head.

[@margauxh9592]

A BIG THANK YOU FROM FRANCE ! Very instructive videos !

[@soarinskies1105]

Your videos really help me study for my history college course thank you :)

[@williecatch9]

Anybody else here during the 2020 recession?

[@sperkles7254]

i've been up all night watching these. good luck fellow APUSHers

[@envynikki711]

My APUSH Summer Assignment was reading a book in the Gilded Age and I was having trouble understanding the last chapter which was basically about free silver and that whole debate. This helped a lot

[@elizabethhogan1610]

Finally, some quotes from people who actually talk like people!

[@crashcourse]

The Lonely Director is Nick, who works on Crash Course Sciences with Hank. -stan

[@Emily-wb5rw]

I feel like at times John’s eyes are staring deep into my soul, judging me on my procrastination in studying

[@kimichan5]

this guys great!! he makes history fun and informative

[@slhteacher5852]

I couldn't figure out how to start my own comment, but YOU SIR, are a genius! You fit so much information in to your presentations. I use your videos in my class all the time. Thank you.

[@StephenArgonneProd]

2:22 Epic Rush reference xD

[@Ellie-xv2zz]

I'm not actually here because of apush, I'm here because I have a college us history class, zero energy to finish the chapter, and an entire damn essay due 😭😭

[@valcrum321]

Remember when this used to be history? Now it's the present.

[@harlleygurrola8394]

What's wrong with America today?! 🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@12323Michelle]

im watching this and the rest of the playlist at 2x speed

[@taisstea7306]

Binge watching all 48 videos right before the corona APUSH test

[@GreciasWorld]

His voice is sooooo relaxing it makes me fall asleep >.<

[@bennygoodmanisgod]

Grecia Cuervo PAY ATTENTION!!!

[@MockingjayEverlarkk]

I have to do a project on the Gilded Age and Civil Rights (not put together) and I just found out there was crash course for US History and I am soooo happy right now

[@emilyk.170]

Thank you Crash Course for the Rush reference at 2:22 ... it helped me feel better during my cram studying

[@meganjones4027]

I too would love it if an economics CC could be made. Love these videos! I use them in class to give students an overview before we dig deeper. Thanks!

[@abigailemmett5375]

Am I the only one bothered by the fact that there is no space between the colon and the word Crash in the title?

[@xXBlueSheepXx]

+Abigail Emmett I am too.

[@jameshansen8882]

+Abigail Emmett didn't bother me until you pointed it out. THANKS

[@liamaxon7457]

+Abigail Emmett You are not alone.

[@MiamiPush2theLimit]

Whyyyy did you point that out😩

[@salmon-stan]

It's going to bother me forever now. How dare you.

[@bjalensky]

I realy enjoy the u.s history videos and all your other videos! I was thinking that since your an author you should do a series on your writing process when writting novels when you finish us history. I think that would inspire more writers but until then keep up the good work : )

[@fogblades6811]

Never thought I'd see a Metal Slug reference here of all places.

[@FishCakeIce]

I actually knew the mystery document! this is great!!!!

[@DuckMountainKid]

These videos are really helpful in my history class. Thanks.

[@lleigh1981]

I'm so impressed you guys showed a sketch of WWE's "the undertaker" during the mystery doc script. Cheers to one hello of an obscure reference! Love the show!

[@chaneldawson7009]

This was a wonderful and informational segment, very enlightening. Sounds very familiar to todays issues... If only more people could see this to gain a bit of the insight I just gained.

[@ThisIsVisser]

Hey John Green! In the title of this video there's no space between Politics: and Crash Course US History. Thanks, Eric

[@jogbon]

Tommorow gon be lit

[@MarvelwolfMC]

so to study for finals I've found that watching every episode of crash course us history might be my best chance for a decent grade

[@josephnydle7020]

I love this approach to teaching history.

[@nvthanael_4325]

And the apush cram continues through the ages

[@lilratcheese]

You know you're an adult when you're here studying for self purposes rather than for AP Exams... Cries

[@DianaBrandt]

I am always so happy when John gets the mystery document right :3

[@J0ELLEx]

John Green helped me pass my history tests. Even though I haven't gotten my grade back yet and given I find history very dry and difficult, I probably failed.

[@crashcourse]

It's how I roll. Villainous. -stan

[@daman6618]

CrashCourse hey

[@IMWiseGuy4u]

Minecraft Pickaxe 10:22 lol

[@sirgoreth9176]

mmhmm

[@inkling139]

Love John from the past's t-shirt. "My Patronus is a bookworm" I really don't think you can get any nerdier than that. I may have to go buy one.

[@kaitlinconnell6315]

Thank you! This video is going to be such a big help on my test today!

[@typacsk]

Hank's videos: Exxon Mobil ads. John's videos: Maker's Mark ads. Hmm...

[@arjunganga2581]

Boss Tweed and George W. Bush were never in the same place at the same time...coincidence? I think not.

[@JuntoAsnani]

We read Plunkitt of Tammany Hall in my freshman year of college. There are a lot of parallels between their type of politics and our... Citizens United era of political history.

[@112steinway]

Arthur Sewall, who was William Jennings Bryan's first running mate, is actually my great uncle. He was a business man from Maine who was put on the ticket in order to sway the Northern business vote and he was also a member of a religious movement based off of the writings of a man named Emmanuel Swedenborg.

[@ooogyman]

I have this mighty urge to reach through the screen & fix John's collar.

[@kellenholowicki9008]

So I recently (and by recent I mean, like two days ago) taught my students about Populism and the Gilded Age by analyzing the Wizard of Oz and the ways in which it represents various aspects of this era. In all of my research of this connection, I've never found any evidence that L. Frank Baum actually wrote The Wonderful Wizard of Oz as a metaphor for this period. In fact, I've read that he was asked straight out about it and responded by saying no, it's just a children's story. However, the story is a very close representation. Like, too much to be coincidence. I was wondering what your opinion was, as an author. I know that once everything is said and done, books belong to their readers, but do you 1)subscribe to the interpretation of TWWoO as a metaphor for populism and the Gilded Age, 2)do you believe LFB really did just write it as a children's story or was he simply saying that so as not to attract criticism from his contemporaries, and 3)is it possible to project our own interpretations onto a story to the extent that we could potentially bastardize an author's intention? -Kellen

[@dangarous0162]

thats cool. please tell us more.

[@lindsayclarke4250]

Kellen Holowicki -- I'm in the same camp, Kellen. Here's an article for folks who are interested: www.shsu.edu/his_rtc/2014_FALL/Wizard_of_Oz_Littlefield.pdf

[@svvetlanalana]

Kellen Holowicki I'm writing an Extended Essay on this very topic; in a nutshell, how The Wizard of Oz has allusions to US socioeconomic issues. I'm glad I'm not the only one!

[@LoveLaughFun]

Ok, I love history. But because of you... I LOVE IT EVEN MORE! I like the way you actually make it real and not fin a text bookie way. :) thanks!!!

[@scottmichaeloneil]

Mr. Green! Mr. Green! The points you make to your "past self" regarding the humanities, history in specific, and the lifelong commitment to continual education that is necessary to ensure that a person is adequately knowledgeable and a well rounded human being functioning confidently and independently in our society at large, among many, many others, are well observed on your part and, apparently, eventually very well learned on his. With all of that said and duly considered, Ifeel that I need to point out that, in my view, the apparent harshness, derision, and, occasionally, even cold condescension that you level upon your younger (and by consequence less experienced, wise, and even tempered) self seems to speak volumes about how you think of the person who you used to be and who, in fact, eventually helped to make you into who you are. I like to think that I get it, of course; it's a bit, after all, and isn't meant to offer fodder for lazy and untrained psychoanalysis. What it's ACTUALLY meant to do, so far as I can work out (as a former professional facilitator), is two-fold. First and foremost, the bit allows you, whenever you choose, to establish a comedic tone early in the episode or to bring to bear some necessary comic relief with Young John's appearances closer to the end of episodes. The second thing that the bit accomplishes, which is quite practical and well thought out (and which demonstrated to me not only your prowess as an educator, but also your impressive fundamental understanding of how to best utilize your chosen medium of KZbin), is that it gives your high school student, classroom audiences a character within the world of the show that they are given to understand that they can relate to, and he is generally presented both near the beginnings and the endings of episodes. The very first time I saw this in action I realized that if you are at all successful at getting your viewers to relate to your Young John, it will serve to draw them in by leading the viewers to imagine themselves sharing a classroom with YJ. This, in turn, strongly strengthens the effect which you already create when you talk directly down the barrel of the camera, the effect that you are speaking directly to each individual viewer on her or his own. In the end, these choices, which I have to assume were given strong thought before being implemented, layer together to create the feeling or notion that the viewer is in an energetic but attentive classroom environment being instructed by an EXCELLENT teacher that is, somehow, providing each and every pupil with his full and undivided attention. This is just one of the many facets of your productions that clearly show me how good you are at what you do. Thank you for all of the excellent videos and the education! Please keep it up!

[@mags7144]

AP test 2k16

[@aaronortiz7456]

same

[@alaynadelrey678]

same

[@nekrataali]

That feeling when you read the comments and realize your AP US History test was over a decade ago... :(

[@beebaw99]

AP test 2k17

[@raniaafaneh9093]

Allison Meadors good luck tomorrow! APUSH 2k17

[@emilynetherton5208]

Who else is watching this in preparation for the AP test on Friday?

[@metelicgunz146]

no

[@charlleedodson]

Emily Netherton ME ME ME ME ME

[@bennygoodmanisgod]

Emily Netherton not me

[@angeliquepat2968]

Thanking you guys for helping me review my ap us history info quicker.

[@jesuspro]

I passed my college class with an A+, thanks to this guy :)

[@careseniezgoda1024]

Who else is watching in 2035?

[@JuanHernandez-mo3pe]

That moment when you realize this exist before the midterm exams.... and you just want to cry, and cry, and cry for living under a rock for far too long. FML

[@LosAngelist]

Anyone else get stoned and watch these at 75% speed? Nobody delivers information faster and more efficiently than John Green.

[@sethobrien3031]

'Murica Moment "Plunkitt we'll do it live" is one of the best Crash Course moments of all time!

[@MatthewMurraycogswoth]

Suppose you are a crammer. Now suppose you're an Apush student. But I repeat myself

[@bluestripes5874]

APUSH exam tomorrow. Will I survive? Let's see.

[@annabellerose678]

thank you John! comin in clutch as always

[@akuma862005]

Dammit John, your sarcasm makes my day, every day.

[@hannahwebster461]

He is in socks.... This man is great!

[@joshrocketlaunches]

Godspeed everyone

[@cydneygehner5774]

John Green is lovely, thanks Crash Course!!!!!

[@neilpwilliams76]

Keep up the great work Mr. Green. I liked the reference to rush..