Chapter 17.2 Restoring Honest Government

Identify the scandals that plagued the Grant administration. Explain why Americans wanted political reform, and analyze how this desire affected the Republican Party. Describe President Arthur’s changing positions on civil service reform, and analyze how this affected his political party. Describe how President Harrison dealt with President Cleveland’s reforms. Objectives

Why did the political structure change during the Gilded Age? Congress passed few laws between 1877 and 1900, in an era marked by inaction and political corruption. The Gilded Age raised questions about whether or not democracy could succeed.

Neither political party achieved control of both the White House and Congress for more than two years in a row. Presidents during the Gilded Age were elected only by slim margins. Between 1877 and 1897, party loyalties were evenly divided.

Corruption plagued national politics as many officials accepted bribes.

Writers, such as Mark Twain, expressed concerns over the corruption. This system made the political parties extremely powerful. The spoils system, in which party supporters received government jobs regardless of their qualifications, shifted power to a few.

A movement arose to promote civil service reform. Ending the spoils system was difficult. Change finally happened, in part, because President James Garfield was assassinated by a man who believed the Republican Party owed him a job.

Chester A. Arthur became President and supported civil service reform. In 1883, he signed into law the Pendleton Civil Service Act, which established a merit-based system for government employment.

Tariffs taxed imported goods, which supported American industry but increased consumer prices. Monetary policy disputes concerned the gold standard, where gold became the basis of the nation’s currency. The economic issues of tariffs and monetary policy caused debate during the Gilded Age.

Monetary policy centered on a debate over the Coinage Act of Some people wanted to use only gold as money. Some wanted to use both gold and silver. Bankers were worried silver would undermine the economy. Farmers favored it to create inflation and raise their income.