Includes bibliographical references (p. 395-463) and index.
Contents
Annihilating space -- Rome of the railroads -- "Vote yourself a tariff" -- "Vote yourself a farm" -- The inverted Constitution -- The scandal of Santa Clara -- Anti-democracy -- Tom Scott, political capitalist -- Bread or blood -- The politics of the future -- Revolution from above -- Mississippi and the American way.
Summary
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. 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.--From publisher description.
