Day 81: Political Paralysis in the Gilded Age Baltimore Polytechnic Institute January 4, 2012 A.P. U.S. History Mr. Green

Political Paralysis in the Gilded Age Objectives: Describe the political corruption of the Grant administration and the mostly unsuccessful efforts to reform politics in the Gilded Age. Describe the economic crisis of the 1870s, and explain the growing conflict between hard-money and soft-money advocates. Explain the intense political partisanship of the Gilded Age, despite the parties’ lack of ideological difference and poor quality of political leadership. AP Focus The post–Civil War era is rife with corruption, graft, and influence-peddling. Corruption is rampant at the local and state levels as well. The infamous New York City political party machine, known as the Tweed Ring, for example, bilks the city and state out of millions of dollars. In an attempt to clean their own house, the Republicans take steps to lower the protective tariff, which many consider unreasonably high and beneficial to specific industries. In addition, to address the problem of nepotism and favoritism in attaining government employment, the Republicans pass modest civil-service reform legislation, such as the Pendleton Act.

Chapter Focus Chapter Themes Even as post–Civil War America expanded and industrialized, political life in the Gilded Age was marked by ineptitude, stalemate, and corruption. Despite their similarity at the national level, the two parties competed fiercely for offices and spoils, while doling out “pork-barrel” benefits to veterans and other special interest groups. The serious issues of monetary and agrarian reform, labor, race, and economic fairness were largely swept under the rug by the political system, until revolting farmers and a major economic depression beginning in 1893 created a growing sense of crisis and demands for radical change.

Announcements Decades Chart 1860’s-Due now Focus Questions Chapter 23-Due January 7

Pallid Politics in the Gilded Age Coined by Mark Twain in 1873 Close Presidential elections House of Representatives switched 6 times between 1869-1891 High voter turnout-straight ticket voting Patronage was the lifeblood of the parties Stalwarts-Roscoe Conkling, U.S. Senator from NY James G. Blaine-Maine Fought over who controlled the spoils

The Hayes-Tilden Standoff, 1876 Republicans-Rutherford B. Hayes, Ohio Gov Democrat-Samuel Tilden, prosecuted Tweed Tilden won the popular vote and had 184 electoral votes 4,284,020 to 4,036,572 20 electoral votes un-certified States sent two sets of returns, 1 Democratic and 1 Republican Electoral Count Act Decided 3 days before inauguration Compromise of 1877-Federal troops removed from the 2 states they remained-Louisiana and S.Carolina Civil Rights Act of 1875-equal accommodation in public places and jury selections. Most ruled unconstitutional in 1883. Only the government was prohibited from discrimination

The Birth of Jim Crow in the Post-Reconstruction South “Crop-lien” storekeepers gave credit to blacks and poor whites for a lien on their harvests. Jim Crow laws legal codes of segregation literacy requirements voter registration laws poll taxes Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) record number of lynchings in 1890’s

Class Conflicts and Ethnic Clashes Railroad strike of 1877 Hayes called in the federal troops Workers did not bode well in the railroad strike Irish v. Chinese Chinese men laid track and dug for gold, many returned to China Those that stayed experienced difficulty, no women, no kids Denis Kearney, Irishman that led attacks on the Chinese in San Francisco Chinese Exclusion Act 1882

Garfield and Arthur Republicans: James Garfield, Ohio Democrats Winfield Scott Hancock Garfield won electoral vote 214-155 4,453,295 to 4,414,082 Garfield shot by Charles J. Guiteau over patronage Arthur was a Stalwart and went against their cronyism Pendleton Act of 1883

The Blaine-Cleveland Mudslingers of 1884 Republicans-James G. Blaine Democrats-Grover Cleveland Some Republicans left for the Democratic party 219 to 182 Electoral vote 4,879,507 to 4,850,293 Blaine blundered in NY

Homework Continue Reading Chapter 23 Prepare for 10 question reading check on Chapter 23 on Friday Study guide will be distributed Today for Mid-Term