1. 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
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%)

2. Presidential Election of 1880

3. Presidential Election of 1884

4. Presidential Election of 1888

5. Presidential Election of 1892

6. Presidential Election of 1896

7. 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

8. 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

9. Political cartoonist for Harper’s Weekly
5. Tweed Ring (Tammany Hall)
Controlled NY (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

10. 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

11. Thomas Nast and his cartoons

13. 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

14. 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 – – Whiskey distillers bribed tax collectors to avoid paying taxes on whiskey.

15. 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

16. Lemonade Lucy and Roscoe Conkling

17. 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

19. 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.

20. 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

21. 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