Assess the validity of this Statement Topic: Evaluating the impact of Gilded Age corruption on national politics Do Now: “Even as the South was being rebuilt and the nation expanded, political life in the Post Civil War Era was marked by ineptitude, stalemate, and corruption at all levels. Indeed, this period holds a great deal of lessons for us today”. Assess the validity of this Statement

The “Gilded Age” (1870-1890s) Era named by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner Thomas Nast Social Problems Wealth and selfish pursuits Class inequalities Big Business vs. “The People” Political Problems Graft, bribery, kickbacks Spoils System The “Political Machine” (Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall) Politics as sports/entertainment Stalemate between the two parties

Composition of Political Parties Gilded Age Parties had many similarities Congressional dominance, weak presidency Even division of power between Dems and Reps Similar ideas in economics (Pro-Business) Dems= South, Catholics Reps = North, West, Veterans (GAR) Republicans Divided (late 1870s) Stalwarts, Half-Breeds, and “Mugwumps”

The Weakening of the Presidency and Failure of Reconstruction “Bloody Shirt” campaign Role of African voters Grant enforces military Reconstruction Grant a poor President (naïve) Numerous Grant Era scandals: Fisk and Gould gold scandal Whiskey Ring Credit Mobiler (congress) Election of 1876 Hayes vs Tilden Voting “irregularities” leads to no winner! Compromise of 1877 Northerners see Hayes as a traitor (“Ruther-fraud”) -weak President South “let loose” (Redeemers)

Chester A. Arthur and Civil Service Reform 1880 election: James Garfield (R) elected Garfield assassinated by “office seeker” (Charles Guiteau) VP Chester A Arthur vows Civil Service reform Pendleton Act (1883) Civil Service Commission and Examinations The “Merit System” Consequences of reform

Conclusion What issue that we discussed today do you feel was the MOST problematic for America during the Gilded Age? Defend your answer in 4 sentences.