Age of Betrayal
Subtitle: The Triumph of Money in America, 1865-1900
Edition: 1 edition
Publisher: Knopf
Published: April 10, 2007
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 483
ISBN-13: 9781400040285
Subjects: History; History - U.S; History: American; United States - 19th Century; United States - Reconstruction Period (1865-1877); History / United States / 19th Century; Economic History; 19th century; Capitalism; Democracy; Political Corruption; Social aspects; United States
Description: A fresh look at the Gilded Age, when an oligarchy of wealth triumphed over democracy. At the end of the Civil War, with the rebellion put down and slavery ended, America belonged to Lincoln's "plain people." But "government of the people" and economic democracy were betrayed by political parties that fanned memories of the war to distract Americans from government of the corporation. Jay Gould, the "Mephisto of Wall Street," never runs for office, but he rules. A depression brought on by railroad speculation throws millions out of work, the hungry riot for bread in Buffalo, the homeless sleep on Chicago's streets, strikers are shot, and the nation's presidents avert their eyes. God instructs President McKinley to invade Cuba and seize the Philippines from Spain; turning from liberators to occupiers, U.S. troops slaughter and starve the (Roman Catholic) Filipinos in the name of "Christianizing" them.--From publisher description.