Corruption During the Gilded Age vs Political Corruption Now by Andrew Edick

Problems

andrewedick — 2025-04-28 00:36:30 UTC

The issue about political Corruption today is that public resources go to waste, it raises transnational crime, (crime that involves multiple countries) destabilizes countries, and impedes good governance (the political processes and outcomes that are necessary to reach goals of development). These multiple problems cause slow economic growth, and fundamental problems for development. Countries economy can slow down because people bribe government officials for the benefits of themselves, which lowers the money made for the country as money is going to different individuals.

Reformers

andrewedick — 2025-04-28 01:13:01 UTC

Today, political corruption is being fought by many organizations and groups. Such as Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI. These groups help recognize corruption in the United States, while the INL (Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs) helps create laws to lower and hopefully end corruption. The U.S. government also plays a huge part in putting an end to corruption, as they have to pass laws, and they are the main source of finding corruption, as political corruption is through government officials.

Solutions

andrewedick — 2025-04-28 01:14:33 UTC

To help fight political corruption, many laws and regulations were created in hopes to detect and prevent corruption. The government has created an Anti-Corruption policy that has helped lower the corruption rates in America, as well as a National Security Study memorandum; This is a way to demonstrate good governance (responsible management for a country), as well as prevent and counter corruption. If any person trying to enter the United States has a history of corruption, America will deny their access into the country as well as deny their access to U.S. financial systems.

Problems

andrewedick — 2025-04-28 01:15:38 UTC

During the Progressive Era, some problems that corruption caused were political machines, (ex. Tammany Hall) the rise of corporations (intensified corruption), and millionaires and trusts took away economic opportunities from the public. These problems took away many opportunities from the average person as rich people (such as political machines) took advantage of corporations, in an effort to make more money in an illegitimate way.

Reformers

andrewedick — 2025-04-28 01:17:02 UTC

To fight against corruption, progressives tried to regulate and normalize minimal monopolies. They did this because monopolies were a big reason of corruption during this era. Another reformer during this time period was Theodore Roosevelt. He was the 26th U.S. President, and he wanted to fight corruption. Roosevelt determined the good trusts and the corrupted trusts to help make a better economy by getting rid of the things that made America corrupted. Lastly, Robert M. La Follette helped fight corruption by trying to stop political machines, and ending them.

Solutions

andrewedick — 2025-04-28 01:18:38 UTC

Some solutions to prevent corruption were to enforce regulations of corrupt business practices (ex. corrupt monopolies and trusts), the Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 (helped demolished competition in the business field, this means less corruption), as well as the Interstate Commerce Commission (ensured fair rates, and eliminated price discrimination. Lastly, direct primary was a system that voters can choose the election candidates for each political party, this limited bribery, and other economic scandals that caused corruption.

Conclusion

andrewedick — 2025-04-28 01:24:19 UTC

From what I have learned, corruption and political corruption have changed over time. Corruption during the Progressive Era was mainly formed around monopolies and trusts, that ran industries which made it unfair to other companies and businesses. On the other hand, political corruption today is government officials abusing their power to make a benefit that is not legit.

Problems

andrewedick — 2025-04-28 01:49:32 UTC

Some comparisons between corruption and political corruption is they both take advantage of money/economic systems to commit a crime, as well as rich people hurt countries' economies.

Reformers

andrewedick — 2025-04-28 01:51:52 UTC

Some comparisons between the reformers then and now is they both opposed corruption, groups of people came together to fight against corruption, as well as government officials fight against corruption. (Then: Theodore Roosevelt. Now: higher job ranks in the government.)

Solutions

andrewedick — 2025-04-28 01:53:00 UTC

Some comparisons between the solutions against corruption and political corruption is they both helped destroy corruption, they made laws/regulations about restricting corruption, and they restricted discriminatory pricing practices