Cherny, American Politics in the Gilded Age (1997).
American politics in the late nineteenth century, also known as the "Gilded Age," has been the basis for the United States political ideologies from then till now. In the book, American Politics in the Gilded Age, the author, Robert Cherny, aims to provide his readers adequate proof and insight on what historian's today are saying about the central themes and aspects of the American past. Cherny illustrates everything from politics, diplomacy, economy, society, mores, and values to gear readers towards distinguishing the difference of American politics from the "Gilded Age" to the "Technological Age." From beginning to end, Cherny clearly defines what "politics" was then, to what they have become now. .
Cherny starts the book by basically defining what the words "Gilded Age" means and from where it was derived, then moves towards the political ideologies and how they have changed from the past to the present. Cherny and "historians often label the years form the end of the Civil War the end of the nineteenth century as the "Gilded Age"(p.3). Though in general, many Americans and historians do not even consider the "fixed" term the "Gilded Age" because of where it was originated. The actual name comes from a novel by Charles Dudley Warner and Samuel L. Clemensk, The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today. The two novelist compiled a work of the business and politics of their day, and later the late nineteenth century was referred to as the "Gilded Age." Politics, on the other hand, of the time, was considered to be far from any two novelist's ideas and beliefs on what business, economy, and overall society should act and function like. .
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From voter participation to campaigning to political patronage, Cherny proves that politics in the "Gilded Age" "differ significantly" from the politics of today. Even though the period's major political parties were Democrats and Republicans, historians and politicians might not understand quite how it all worked in the "Gilded Age.
