Problems with Growing Population

• As the population and economy grew so did problems.......

  • corruption in government & business

  • Poor working conditions, child labor

  • Poverty

Gilded Age (1870's - 1900's)

• Looks good on the outside...but bad on the inside

  • Big gap between rich and poor

  • Government didn't always help ordinary people

  • Bigger businesses hurt market economy

Corruption in Business

• Companies bribe government officials to get contracts

• Small farmers felt pressured to sell land to railroad companies, or banks

• How do these examples show corruption? <dishonest or illegal behavior>

• In Washington State our natural resources seemed unlimited

Corruption in Government

• Government helped businesses, and then these businesses helped the government

• Seattle example..........<next slide>

Corruption in Government

• Seattle's Mayor Gill......

  • brought 100 jobless people to Seattle to vote for him

  • Worked with an electric company that was a rival to the city's electric company