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In Boston, 100 years after the Declaration of Independence, Bell spoke the first sentence over the telephone to his assistant Watson:  "Watson, come here; I want you."

In Boston, 100 years after the Declaration of Independence, Bell spoke the first sentence over the telephone to his assistant Watson:  "Watson, come here; I want you."

[[Image:Edison and phonograph.jpg|right]]

[[Image:Edison and phonograph.jpg|right]]

But just as John the Baptist was immediately followed by someone far greater, Jesus, Alexander Graham Bell was immediately followed by someone far greater, Thomas Edison (pictured to the right with one of his inventions, the phonograph).  At the age of 7, Mrs. Edison sent her boy Thomas to the local public school. The public school teacher was irritated by Edison's curiosity and questions, and aggravated by his failure to follow directions like the rest of the class.  She concluded that Edison was incapable of learning,<ref>Specifically, the teacher concluded that Edison's brain had been "scrambled" or "addled".</ref> and after merely three months the teacher told young Edison's mother that her son was an idiot.

But just as John the Baptist was immediately followed by someone far greater, Jesus, Alexander Graham Bell was immediately followed by someone far greater, Thomas Edison (pictured to the right with one of his inventions, the phonograph).  When Thomas was 7 years old, Mrs. Edison put him in the local public school. The public school teacher was irritated by Edison's curiosity and questions, and aggravated by his failure to follow directions like the rest of the class.  The teacher concluded that Edison was incapable of learning,<ref>Specifically, declaring that Edison's brain had been "scrambled" or "addled".</ref> and after merely three months the teacher told young Edison's mother that her son was an idiot.

Mrs. Edison was furious at the teacher and the public school.  She immediately pulled young Thomas out of school and never sent him back.  She then homeschooled him by reading from the Bible, and his father encouraged young Thomas to read the classics.  Young Thomas became a voracious reader and, by the age of 12, became interested in science, chemistry and the works of Isaac Newton.  Young Thomas also became an entrepreneur as a teenager, first publishing a newspaper and then memorizing Morse Code so that he could get a job transmitting messages over the telegraph by age 15.  He had a tremendous "work ethic," putting in 12-hour work days, 6 days a week, and then inventing in his spare time.  His famous quotes include:<ref>http://quotations.about.com/od/stillmorefamouspeople/a/ThomasEdison2.htm</ref>

Mrs. Edison was furious at the teacher and the public school.  She immediately pulled young Thomas out of school and never sent him back.  She then homeschooled him by reading from the Bible, and his father encouraged young Thomas to read the classics.  Young Thomas became a voracious reader and, by the age of 12, became interested in science, chemistry and the works of Isaac Newton.  Young Thomas also became an entrepreneur as a teenager, first publishing a newspaper and then memorizing Morse Code so that he could get a job transmitting messages over the telegraph by age 15.  He had a tremendous "work ethic," putting in 12-hour work days, 6 days a week, and then inventing in his spare time.  His famous quotes include:<ref>http://quotations.about.com/od/stillmorefamouspeople/a/ThomasEdison2.htm</ref>

Conkling contested this nomination and tried to block it in the U.S. Senate.  Conkling even arranged for the Senate to confirm all of Garfield's uncontested nominations except this one; Garfield responded by withdrawing all those other nominations except the one that Conkling opposed!  That forced the other senators to choose between Conkling and all the other nominees, who were friends of other senators.  Conkling, having been checkmated, resigned in protest in the expectation that he would be reappointed by the New York legislature to his position.  Fed up, however, the New York legislature refused to reappoint him (in those days U.S. Senators were picked by the legislatures rather than elected by the people), and Conkling was gone from the Senate.  The issue had thereby been resolved in Garfield's favor and against the Stalwarts.<ref>http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/jg20.html</ref>

Conkling contested this nomination and tried to block it in the U.S. Senate.  Conkling even arranged for the Senate to confirm all of Garfield's uncontested nominations except this one; Garfield responded by withdrawing all those other nominations except the one that Conkling opposed!  That forced the other senators to choose between Conkling and all the other nominees, who were friends of other senators.  Conkling, having been checkmated, resigned in protest in the expectation that he would be reappointed by the New York legislature to his position.  Fed up, however, the New York legislature refused to reappoint him (in those days U.S. Senators were picked by the legislatures rather than elected by the people), and Conkling was gone from the Senate.  The issue had thereby been resolved in Garfield's favor and against the Stalwarts.<ref>http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/jg20.html</ref>

But then tragedy struck Garfield.  On July 2, 1881, in a railroad station in Washington, D.C., an embittered attorney, who had unsuccessfully sought a consular post, shot President Garfield.  Garfield then lived for several weeks as experts from around the country examined his wound, and tried to get the bullet out.  Garfield even asked Alexander Graham Bell to develop a device (an induction-balance electrical gadget) to find the bullet.  Nothing worked, and all the doctors who probed Garfield's wound had the effect of infecting him.  This was before doctors took better care to sterilize instruments and wash their hands to kill all germs.

But then tragedy struck Garfield.  On July 2, 1881, in a railroad station in Washington, D.C., an embittered attorney, who had unsuccessfully sought a consular post, shot President Garfield.  Garfield then lived for several weeks as experts from around the country examined his wound, and tried to get the bullet out.  Garfield even asked Alexander Graham Bell to develop a device (an induction-balance electrical gadget) to find the bullet.  Nothing worked, and all the doctors who probed Garfield's wound had the effect of infecting him.  This was before doctors took better care to sterilize instruments and wash their hands to kill the germs.

Garfield was removed to the "Jersey Shore" (ocean-front property along the coast of New Jersey) to recuperate.  This helped at first, but ultimately an infection in the wound killed him on September 19, 1881, when he died from an internal hemorrhage.  

Garfield was removed to the "Jersey Shore" (ocean-front property along the coast of New Jersey) to recuperate.  This helped at first, but ultimately an infection in the wound killed him on September 19, 1881, when he died from an internal hemorrhage.  

Congress ultimately passed the Sherman Antitrust Act to prohibit monopolization and "restraint of trade," or interference with competition, in 1890.  This law was sponsored by Senator John Sherman of Ohio (a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 1880 and the brother of General William Sherman).  The Sherman Antitrust Act was not what broke up Rockefeller's oil empire, because in 1895 the Supreme Court weakened the law by upholding a powerful Sugar Trust, in ''U.S. v. Knight Co.''  The Sugar Trust controlled 98% of the sugar market, and the Supreme Court allowed it to continue.  Despite being weakened, the Sherman Antitrust Act remains a very important law that is used frequently today.

Congress ultimately passed the Sherman Antitrust Act to prohibit monopolization and "restraint of trade," or interference with competition, in 1890.  This law was sponsored by Senator John Sherman of Ohio (a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 1880 and the brother of General William Sherman).  The Sherman Antitrust Act was not what broke up Rockefeller's oil empire, because in 1895 the Supreme Court weakened the law by upholding a powerful Sugar Trust, in ''U.S. v. Knight Co.''  The Sugar Trust controlled 98% of the sugar market, and the Supreme Court allowed it to continue.  Despite being weakened, the Sherman Antitrust Act remains a very important law that is used frequently today.

The controversy about Rockefeller and monopolies divides free enterprise thinkers.  Some insist that the free market will deal with monopolies adequately.  Others say that monopolies are an impediment to free market competition and should be broken up.

The controversy about Rockefeller and monopolies divides free enterprise thinkers.  Some insist that the free market will deal with monopolies adequately.  Others say that monopolies are an impediment to free market competition and should be broken up by the government.

'''Debate:  Should government break up monopolies?'''

'''Debate:  Should government break up monopolies?'''

The Gilded Age featured "robber barons," who were people who became extremely wealthy through ruthless business practices.  The worst"“robber baron" was Jay Gould, a financier on Wall Street who committed rampant fraud by printing false stock certificates to defraud investors.  He even tried to corner the gold market in 1869.  That led to a financial panic known as Black Friday.  After Gould drove up the price of gold by hoarding it, President Grant learned of the scheme and started selling the government gold reserves on the market to cause the price to fall.  The price of gold then fell sharply, and many lost everything they had.  Gould, however, had sold out at the highest price!

The Gilded Age featured "robber barons," who were people who became extremely wealthy through ruthless business practices.  The worst"“robber baron" was Jay Gould, a financier on Wall Street who committed rampant fraud by printing false stock certificates to defraud investors.  He even tried to corner the gold market in 1869.  That led to a financial panic known as Black Friday.  After Gould drove up the price of gold by hoarding it, President Grant learned of the scheme and started selling the government gold reserves on the market to cause the price to fall.  The price of gold then fell sharply, and many lost everything they had.  Gould, however, had sold out at the highest price!

There were also phenomenal successes during this era.  Andrew Carnegie, immigrated from Scotland without any money and ended up with massive wealth from founding the Carnegie Steel Co. (later became U.S. Steel Co.), He amassed a fortune that he then donated to build structures like Carnegie Hall, Carnegie-Mellon University, and the enormous New York Public Library (plus 2800 other public libraries).  He wrote the "Gospel of Wealth" in 1900 to describe his vision of capitalism.

There were also phenomenal successes during this era.  Andrew Carnegie, immigrated from Scotland without any money and ended up with massive wealth from founding the Carnegie Steel Co. (later became U.S. Steel Co.). He amassed a fortune that he then donated to build structures like Carnegie Hall, Carnegie-Mellon University, and the enormous New York Public Library (plus 2800 other public libraries).  He wrote the "Gospel of Wealth" in 1900 to describe his vision of capitalism.

'''Debate:  it wasn't the "Gilded Age," it was the "Golden Age!"  Agree?'''

'''Debate:  it wasn't the "Gilded Age," it was the "Golden Age!"  Agree?'''