Issues of the Gilded Age Chapter 9

oSoScottish immigrant oFoFounded Carnegie Steel Company oPoPhilanthropist who gave away millions of $$$

Stalemate in Washington  When Pres. Hayes took office, he attacked the practice of patronage (giving jobs to those who support you) by appointing reformers and kicking out those who got their job through a party boss Party bosses =“Stalwarts” Party bosses =“Stalwarts” Republican reformers =“Halfbreeds” since they gave up on reconstruction Republican reformers =“Halfbreeds” since they gave up on reconstruction  The election of 1880 was won by James Garfield, a Halfbreed and Chester Arthur (VP), a Stalwart

Stalemate in Washington  Pres. Garfield was in office only a few months before being assassinated His assassination led to the passing of the Pendleton Act which says a president may only appoint someone who has completed the appropriate exams to qualify for the job; after appointment, that person cannot be removed for political reasons His assassination led to the passing of the Pendleton Act which says a president may only appoint someone who has completed the appropriate exams to qualify for the job; after appointment, that person cannot be removed for political reasons Pres. Arthur supported the act despite him being a Stalwart Pres. Arthur supported the act despite him being a Stalwart This is when the US begins to move away from the “spoils system” or patronage This is when the US begins to move away from the “spoils system” or patronage

Stalemate in Washington  Republicans during this time: Controlled New England and the Midwest Controlled New England and the Midwest Were supported by Union soldiers and strongly patriotic people as well as big business and Great Plains farmers Were supported by Union soldiers and strongly patriotic people as well as big business and Great Plains farmers Party of reform (supported abolition, temperance) Party of reform (supported abolition, temperance) Party of morality Party of morality

Stalemate in Washington  Democrats: Supported by the South (whites) Supported by the South (whites) Supported in big cities with large immigrant and/or Catholic populations Supported in big cities with large immigrant and/or Catholic populations The party of personal liberty The party of personal liberty  Both parties had equal distribution of power during the 1870s-1890s (usually) Elections of 1880 and 1888 came down to swing states Elections of 1880 and 1888 came down to swing states

Stalemate in Washington  The election of 1884 came down to a Republican named James Blaine and a Democrat named Grover Cleveland  Many Republicans abandoned Blaine and became known as “Mugwumps” meaning they thought is was more important to help the country than follow party lines  In the end Cleveland took the presidency by winning NY (a typical Republican stronghold)

Stalemate in Washington  Pres. Cleveland was an easy-going person in his personal life, but would soon see how stressful the job of president is Many Democrats felt he should give them jobs, many Mugwumps felt he should multiply the number of positions covered under the merit system Many Democrats felt he should give them jobs, many Mugwumps felt he should multiply the number of positions covered under the merit system He chose a middle ground, making both groups angry He chose a middle ground, making both groups angry The economic issues ahead would soon overshadow the debate over the political system The economic issues ahead would soon overshadow the debate over the political system

Stalemate in Washington  Many Americans believed that the railroads were price gouging since corporations like Standard Oil could get “rebates” or partial refunds, and lower prices due to the amount they shipped while small businesses and individuals were stuck paying much higher prices This led to the Interstate Commerce Commission creation This led to the Interstate Commerce Commission creation Made it illegal to offer rebates to high volume customers, charge higher rates for short hauls and limited RRs to “reasonable and just” ratesMade it illegal to offer rebates to high volume customers, charge higher rates for short hauls and limited RRs to “reasonable and just” rates Was not really effective because the courts had to uphold the lawWas not really effective because the courts had to uphold the law

Stalemate in Washington  The issue of tariffs would once again reemerge in a presidential election since Congress was deadlocked on the issue Republican candidate Benjamin Harris supported higher tariffs, while Cleveland didn’t Republican candidate Benjamin Harris supported higher tariffs, while Cleveland didn’t One of the closest elections in history resulted from the two candidates One of the closest elections in history resulted from the two candidates Harrison lost the popular vote but won the electoral college, therefore becoming the next presidentHarrison lost the popular vote but won the electoral college, therefore becoming the next president Can you think of any other president who lost the popular vote, but won the electoral college?Can you think of any other president who lost the popular vote, but won the electoral college?

Stalemate in Washington  With Congress back in control of the White House and both the House and Senate, they were able to pass the McKinley Tariff which cut tobacco taxes and tariff rates and raw sugar, but hiked tariffs on things like textiles This turned the federal budget surplus into a budget deficit which would get worse after more veterans received more money for the pension plan This turned the federal budget surplus into a budget deficit which would get worse after more veterans received more money for the pension plan

Stalemate in Washington  Republicans did respond to popular pressure to do something about trusts and corporations that dominated certain markets The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 made declared illegal any “combination in the form of trust…or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or commerce among the several States.” The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 made declared illegal any “combination in the form of trust…or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or commerce among the several States.” This vaguely worded law did little to change businesses until years later under T. Roosevelt This vaguely worded law did little to change businesses until years later under T. Roosevelt