Hey everyone, Justin here. In the last few lessons, we've been imagining you as the
president of the United States. How'd it feel? Powerful? Well, the truth is,
the president is very powerful, but not without a huge system of people working behind the scenes,
pulling the levers and flipping the switches to make sure the president's decisions
become reality. This is what we call the federal bureaucracy. By the end of this lesson, you will
be able to define federal bureaucracy and describe the historical origins of the federal bureaucracy.
In the past few lessons, we've been learning about the structure of the executive branch
of government, and right at the top of the executive branch, of course, sits the office
of the president. Now, as we know from before, the office of the president does not just include the
president alone. No, the roles, powers, and duties of the office of president are spread
out amongst a number of departments, agencies, and commissions. Throughout history, though,
the executive branch of government was quite a bit smaller than it is today,
and that high and mighty position of president? Well, that was smaller too.
Throughout history, a bureaucracy was a government
administration managed by departments staffed with non-elected officials.
Word alert! The term bureaucracy refers both to a body of unelected government officials,
and to an administrative policy-making group. The federal bureaucracy refers to unelected members
of the executive branch that govern through regulatory departments, agencies, and commissions.
In this definition, the word govern means to make and to direct policy according to
any of Congress's laws that allow the federal bureaucracy to do so.
In other words, the federal bureaucracy is a government system
in which commands are handed down a long chain, from bosses, to little bosses, to littler bosses,
to the people working underneath them. It's a very big system with lots of rules and
regulations about who's able to do what and when and why and how. But it wasn't always like this.
Okay, okay, okay. Listen, I get it. Talking about bureaucracy all day is not the most exciting
thing in the world, right? But I have been working very hard on a surprise for you. We
are going to be taking a thrilling trip into our American past.
That's right! You have just gotten a first-class ticket on the most exciting, improbable
invention ever in human history. Behold the Mia Plasmatic Time Machine 3000. It's pretty nifty,
right? But before we start surfing the waves of time, you must pass our civil examination first.
Please pause the video after each question to complete this exam. First, define bureaucracy.
Next, define govern.
Finally, define federal bureaucracy. You can now step into my nifty time machine.
Buckle up! This could get messy. Set the dashboard for...
As we travel along, there's some important background info you must know before we get
to Chicago. In the late 1800s, major changes began occurring in the American economy.
Over 11.6 million people emigrated from Europe for a chance at a better life. Many of these
immigrants worked in the factories of the east, and lived in rough neighborhoods that had poor
sanitation and housing. On the opposite end of the spectrum, a small group of people saw a dramatic
increase in their wealth at this time. A group of business owners, known as the Robberbarons,
were making money hand over fist by using economic tactics. Some of which were unethical.
These tactics resulted in massive amounts of wealth being put into the hands of only a few
people, and that created drastic inequality. As we witness the next scene unfold, consider why
the social disorder caused by industrialization requires a larger federal bureaucracy. Let's take
a look. We step out of our time machine and are immediately hit by a gust of wind. No wonder why
they call this the windy city. It's also dark, but in the large public square in front of us, over
a thousand workers and activists have assembled. They want safer work conditions, higher wages, and
an eight hour work day. We see a number of leaders yelling to the crowds. We deserve our rights! It's
been too long under these conditions! We have to demand respect. The crowd roars back. [chanting]
We see the police, far off on the other side, trying to disperse the group.
A light flashes and illuminates the square for a moment. Someone has thrown a bomb at the police!
Immediately the crowd goes crazy, and shots ring out from both sides.
Where is the federal government? Let's get out of here! Back to the time machine.
Whew, that was close. I think we got out of there in the nick of time. We should
probably make a record of these events in the Mia Plasmatic's logs with a show what you know.
What were the workers demanding? How did industry in the city respond?
But also, what branch of government can put out the social fires that the industrial revolution
has caused? Wait, I think I remember something from history class that can answer that question.
Type in this new date and location. Great! Let's go.
We step out, and it looks like we're at the capitol building on First Street. Republicans and
democrats are out on the steps arguing. It's about presidential power. Are your ears perking up yet?
Congress has just created the Interstate Commerce Commission. A commission that, at this time, would
only oversee the railroad industry. The president is given the power to appoint the members of this
commission. Listen closely. What you are hearing is the beginning of the federal bureaucracy. You
hear one congressman angrily point out that while the commission's scope is limited to
the railroad industry now, it will inevitably oversee more areas of industry and daily life.
Another congressman shouts back, without the commission's oversight, industries will
continue to abuse their power, take advantage of workers, and become bloated with wealth.
Yet another shouts, how many more haymarket riots will it take before you listen?
Jumping Jefferson. This debate's getting a little too heated for me.
Let's head back to the Mia Plasmatic for a show what you know.
What commission is considered the beginning of the federal bureaucracy? Why was it created?
Why were some politicians concerned about its creation?
Great, off to smoother waters. But while we travel, let's recap today's experiences.
Today, we were thrown into the middle of the Haymarket riot. Again, it seemed a key branch
of government was silent on the demands of the workers. Hmm. Afterwards, we stopped
back by the nation's capital and heard about the creation of the Interstate Commerce Commission.
The beginning of the federal bureaucracy. Finally, we have a real problem solver stepping up.
Hopefully they don't cause more problems by over regulating society. Time for our next stop.
We step outside and see model T Fords, the first model of the automobile, weaving around throngs
of people as well as horse-drawn carriages on a busy street. The gilded age, the age we just left,
was an age of rapid industrialization and expansion. It lasted from around 1870 to 1910.
Now, the word on everybody's lips is progress. I wonder how the federal bureaucracy will be
involved here. We decide to step into a little bookstore for some light reading.
On the counter, displayed prominently, is a book entitled The Jungle by Upton Sinclair.
The clerk says everybody's reading it, and so should you. So you grab a copy and head for the
Mia Plasmatic for a quick break. Look into the glovebox, kids. You will find the PDF for this
lesson and some great activities that will help you understand all the places you went today,
and what's so important about The Jungle. In our next lesson, we'll be learning why
everyone's talking progress, and why the federal bureaucracy continues to grow.
Buckle up, students, and in the meantime remember. Vote, debate, and participate!