Political Paralysis in the Gilded Age ( ) Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Paralysis elected by 500,000 African Americans to whom the government promptly paid less attention elected by 500,000 African Americans to whom the government promptly paid less attention little done to stop discrimination, prejudice, & harassment little done to stop discrimination, prejudice, & harassment poll taxes & gerrymandering in the South allow Democrats to regain control of state governments poll taxes & gerrymandering in the South allow Democrats to regain control of state governments sharecropping cheats African Americans of land and profit sharecropping cheats African Americans of land and profit Panic of 1873 brings economic problems to the country Panic of 1873 brings economic problems to the country

Gilded freewheeling railroad promoters swindle gullible bond buyers freewheeling railroad promoters swindle gullible bond buyers unscrupulous manipulators toy with stock market unscrupulous manipulators toy with stock market judges and legislator accept bribes throughout the system judges and legislator accept bribes throughout the system Jim Fisk & Jay Gould attempt to corner gold market (1869) Jim Fisk & Jay Gould attempt to corner gold market (1869)

Gilded Boss Tweeds ring flourishes in New York City Boss Tweeds ring flourishes in New York City Credit Mobilier scandal (1872) Credit Mobilier scandal (1872) Whiskey Ring ( ) Whiskey Ring ( ) carpetbaggers in the South appear interested only in profiteering and not in Reconstruction carpetbaggers in the South appear interested only in profiteering and not in Reconstruction

Paralysis Election of 1876 standoff (Hayes v. Tilden) Election of 1876 standoff (Hayes v. Tilden) southern white blacks vs. blacks in Jim Crow South southern white blacks vs. blacks in Jim Crow South railroads owners vs. railroad workers (1877) railroads owners vs. railroad workers (1877) Californians v. Chinese immigrants (Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882) Californians v. Chinese immigrants (Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882)

Gilded Compromise of 1877 and House Electoral Commission result in questionable presidential legitimacy Compromise of 1877 and House Electoral Commission result in questionable presidential legitimacy southern patronage promised by the Compromise southern patronage promised by the Compromise southern blacks are sold out in name of Republican power southern blacks are sold out in name of Republican power

last president born in a log cabin (Orange Township) last president born in a log cabin (Orange Township) entered Western Reserve Eclectic Institute (Hiram) where he preached, taught, & served as principal entered Western Reserve Eclectic Institute (Hiram) where he preached, taught, & served as principal Ohio State Senator (1859) and lawyer (1861) Ohio State Senator (1859) and lawyer (1861) Civil War veteran ( ) Civil War veteran ( ) U.S. Congressman (8 terms) U.S. Congressman (8 terms)

Paralysis Half-Breeds led by James G. Blaine vs. Stalwarts led by Roscoe Conkling Half-Breeds led by James G. Blaine vs. Stalwarts led by Roscoe Conkling debate over patronage splits the Republican party debate over patronage splits the Republican party Garfield is shot July 2, 1881 by deranged office-seeker Charles Guiteau Garfield is shot July 2, 1881 by deranged office-seeker Charles Guiteau dies September 19, 1881 dies September 19, 1881

Gilded Half-Breeds led by James G. Blaine vs. Stalwarts led by Roscoe Conkling Half-Breeds led by James G. Blaine vs. Stalwarts led by Roscoe Conkling debate over patronage splits the Republican party debate over patronage splits the Republican party Garfield is shot July 2, 1881 by deranged office-seeker Charles Guiteau Garfield is shot July 2, 1881 by deranged office-seeker Charles Guiteau dies September 19, 1881 dies September 19, 1881

Paralysis sides with Half Breeds and supports the Pendleton Act (1883) sides with Half Breeds and supports the Pendleton Act (1883) a landmark in civil service reform that dooms his re-election a landmark in civil service reform that dooms his re-electionGilded politicians now look to manufacturers and lobbyists for money because city bosses have been weakened politicians now look to manufacturers and lobbyists for money because city bosses have been weakened

Paralysis a believer in the merit system who eventually caved to Democratic bosses & fired 2/3 of all federal employees a believer in the merit system who eventually caved to Democratic bosses & fired 2/3 of all federal employees Clevelands appeals for lower tariffs pit consumers vs. monopolies Clevelands appeals for lower tariffs pit consumers vs. monopolies battled pension grabbers supported by the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) battled pension grabbers supported by the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR)

Gilded tariffs run an embarrassing annual surplus of $145 million from tariffs passed in wartime tariffs run an embarrassing annual surplus of $145 million from tariffs passed in wartime Congress insists on pork-barrel bills that spend the surplus instead of voting to lower the tariff Congress insists on pork-barrel bills that spend the surplus instead of voting to lower the tariff

Paralysis Speaker of the House Czar Reed breaks Democratic quorum tactics to stall Republican measures Speaker of the House Czar Reed breaks Democratic quorum tactics to stall Republican measures indebted farmers & aggrieved workers form a new Populist Party (1892) indebted farmers & aggrieved workers form a new Populist Party (1892) Harrison takes side of owners over labor in Homestead Strike and Couer dAlene district (1892) Harrison takes side of owners over labor in Homestead Strike and Couer dAlene district (1892)

Gilded Billion Dollar Congress showers pensions on veterans Billion Dollar Congress showers pensions on veterans government purchases of silver are increased government purchases of silver are increased McKinley Tariff Act of 1890 boosts rates to their highest peacetime levels ever McKinley Tariff Act of 1890 boosts rates to their highest peacetime levels ever

Paralysis Panic of 1893 is the most punishing economic downturn of the 1800s, lasting 4 years Panic of 1893 is the most punishing economic downturn of the 1800s, lasting 4 years silverites and poor farmers vs. big business and the gold standard silverites and poor farmers vs. big business and the gold standard consumers (low tariffs) vs. industrialists (high tariffs) consumers (low tariffs) vs. industrialists (high tariffs)

Gilded Cleveland secretly has malignant growth removed from roof of his mouth so that soft money V.P. Adlai Stevenson is not aware of the procedure Cleveland secretly has malignant growth removed from roof of his mouth so that soft money V.P. Adlai Stevenson is not aware of the procedure Cleveland secretly negotiates a $65 million gold loan with J.P. Morgan for a $7 million commission Cleveland secretly negotiates a $65 million gold loan with J.P. Morgan for a $7 million commission special interest protections weaken the lower Wilson- Gorman Tariff (1894) special interest protections weaken the lower Wilson- Gorman Tariff (1894)