Gilded Age (1870 – 1900) “The period was poor in purpose and barren in results.” Henry Adams Characteristics of Gilded Age Politics 1. Americans tired of emotional politics; wanted stability (Slavery, secession, states rights, Civil War, Reconstruction) 2. Party power more important than issues 3. Balance between parties 1877-1896 close votes in Pres. elections 37-37 in Senate In only three sessions did same party control House, Senate, and Presidency 4. Presidential candidate: War veteran, no controversy, swing state, boring There were no quality presidents between Lincoln and TR . Congress controlled Fed. Gov’t (since Reconstruction) 5. Swing states important –Ohio, NY, Illinois 6. High voter turnout (90%)

Presidential Election of 1880

Presidential Election of 1884

Presidential Election of 1888

Presidential Election of 1892

Presidential Election of 1896

Issues 1. Patronage (spoils system) – gov’t jobs based on party loyalty, not qualifications. customs house to janitors 2. Money – how will it be backed? greenbacks – money with no backing silverites - money backed by silver west, farmers, debtors gold standard – east, creditors, workers, business 3. Tariff – high during and after Civil War Caused record profits, gov’t spending Republicans – pro tariff (protect US business) Democrats – tariff reduction (waste, corruption) 4. Pension – Paid to Civil War vets to get votes

Political Machines 1. Offered services to voters, business in exchange for support (money, votes) 2. Pyramid organization Precinct workers, wards, city boss 3. Services to citizens Jobs, housing, naturalization, food, parks, city services, etc. 4. How they defrauded gov’t Access to municipal jobs, business licenses, voter fraud, bribes, kickbacks (inflated construction contracts) Boss Tweed

Political cartoonist for Harper’s Weekly 5. Tweed Ring (Tammany Hall) Controlled NY 1868-71 (Dem) Stole over $25 mil. Charged $13 mil. for courthouse that cost $3 mil. to build 6. Exposed by Thomas Nast Political cartoonist for Harper’s Weekly “I don’t care what the papers write about me. My constituents can’t read, but they can see pictures!” Angry plunderer gave evidence to NY Times Tweed voted out in 1871

7. Tweed’s days in court Civil suit for $6 mil; debtors prison 12 yr. sentence; reduced to 1 Civil suit for $6 mil; debtors prison 1875 Escaped to Cuba 1876 Fled to Spain; captured after being recognized in Nast cartoon 1878 died in NY jail; 55 yrs. old

Thomas Nast and his cartoons

Ch. 7 Quiz A) low voter turnout, strong party loyalty 1. The political system of the Gilded Age was generally characterized by A) low voter turnout, strong party loyalty B) high voter turnout, strong party loyalty C) low voter turnout, weak party loyalty D) high voter turnout, weak party loyalty 2. The main goal for which all parties contended during the Gilded Age was A) immigration reform C) stable monetary system B) patronage D) tougher foreign policy 3. Boss Tweed’s widespread corruption was finally brought to a halt by A) federal prosecutors who uncovered the theft B) outraged citizens who rebelled against the waste of public money C) the journalistic exposes of the New York Times and Thomas Nast D) Tweed’s political opponents in New York City 4. Which of the following is an example of patronage? A) using a cartoon to illustrate political fraud B) overcharging for a product and keeping the difference for yourself C) choosing your friends for political office D) using the threat of force to get people to vote for a particular candidate Which of the following was not a characteristic of a Gilded Age presidential candidate A) Strong leader C) Civil War Veteran B) From a swing state D) Boring

Scandals at the Federal Level Grant Administration 1. Great general, terrible president Scandals 2. Credit Mobilier – Railroad construction company; overcharged gov’t $23 million in work. Stock owned by some members of Congress, VP 3. Whiskey Ring – 1875 – Whiskey distillers bribed tax collectors to avoid paying taxes on whiskey.

1. Tried to bring integrity back to White House 2. Limited presidency Hayes Presidency 1. Tried to bring integrity back to White House “Lemonade Lucy” 2. Limited presidency Compromise of 1877 “His Fraudulence” Promised only to serve one term 3. Attempts to deal with corruption Gov’t employees could not manage political parties Roscoe Conkling – Stalwart; desired to keep spoils system; opposed Hayes, split party Ended corruption in NY customs house

Lemonade Lucy and Roscoe Conkling

Garfield Presidency Chester Arthur Assassinated by Charles Guiteau (mental). Felt he deserved a gov’t job. Guiteau supported Stalwarts; Rep. led by Roscoe Conkling that opposed reform Chester Arthur Ran NY customs house Supporter of spoils system Turned against Stalwarts Pendleton Civil Service Act: jobs based on merit, not on connections; first step at reform

Grover Cleveland Benjamin Harrison Democrat gov of N. Y. First Democrat in 28 years to become president. Proposed tariff reduction to limit gov’t corruption and waste Only president to serve 2 nonconsecutive terms Alleged father of illegitimate child (unmarried) Increased gov’t jobs under Civil Service Benjamin Harrison McKinley Tariff, 1890: highest tariff in nation’s history; destroyed trade Presided over the Billion Dollar Congress: increased spending by Republicans (waste) Grandson of William Henry Harrison, who was president for… Bloody Shirt Campaign Caused Harrison to lose to Cleveland in a landslide in 1888.

Ch. 20 Quiz A) low voter turnout, strong party loyalty 1. The political system of the Gilded Age was generally characterized by A) low voter turnout, strong party loyalty B) high voter turnout, strong party loyalty C) low voter turnout, weak party loyalty D) high voter turnout, weak party loyalty 2. The main goal for which all parties contended during the Gilded Age was A) immigration reform C) stable monetary system B) patronage D) tougher foreign policy 3. Boss Tweed’s widespread corruption was finally brought to a halt by A) federal prosecutors who uncovered the theft B) outraged citizens who rebelled against the waste of public money C) the journalistic exposes of the New York Times and Thomas Nast D) Tweed’s political opponents in New York City 4. Which of the following is an example of patronage? A) using a cartoon to illustrate political fraud B) overcharging for a product and keeping the difference for yourself C) choosing your friends for political office D) using the threat of force to get people to vote for a particular candidate Which of the following was not a characteristic of a Gilded Age presidential candidate A) Strong leader C) Civil War Veteran B) From a swing state D) Boring

6. Whiskey Ring; Credit Mobilier 7. His best friend was patronage supporter Roscoe Conkling 8. Desired to return ethics to white house; “Lemonade Lucy” 9. Assassinated by Charles Guiteau 10. Passed McKinley Tariff; highest tariff in history 11. Fired as head of the NY Customs house because of corruption 12. 2 Non consecutive terms 13. Limited pesidency; “His Fraudulence”; Comp of 1877 14. Broke up the Homsetead Strike due to threats to mail service 15. Surprisingly supported Civil Service reform; Pendleton Act 16. Presided over the first “Billion Dollar Congress” Grant Hayes Garfield Arthur Cleveland Harrison