1. 2/8 Warm Up
List at least 3 ideas for stopping government corruption. Next, decide which of these 3 ideas would work best and explain why.

2. Gilded Age Politics

3. The Gilded Age Name comes from the title of an 1873 Mark Twain book
Referred to the “superficial glitter” of the new wealth that developed in the late 1800s
Dominated by a belief in limited government, laissez-faire economics, & Social Darwinism
Marked by political corruption & ineffectiveness

4. Four Major Political Themes of the Gilded Age
Republicans v. Democrats
Who is in Control?
Republicans: North  upper crust of society
Democrats: South Dominated  mostly ordinary/common people
Republican President (McKinley)
House of Representatives disorganized
Senate called the “rich man’s club”.
Major Issues
Third Parties
Tariffs
Currency reform
Civil service reform
Post-Civil War tension between North/South
Third parties branch off of the Republicans
Stalwarts
Half-Breeds
Mugwumps

5. Republican Factions Stalwarts, Half-Breeds, and Mugwumps
Stalwarts: Led by Roscoe Conkling, Senator. Favored spoils system
Half-Breeds: Led by James G. Blaine, Congressman. Favored civil service reform, merit system
Mugwumps: Represented in thought by Thomas Nast
Made up of young liberal reformers
Favored Reconstruction policies to help African Americans
Anti-corruption
Supported Democratic candidate for President in 1884

6. Political Corruption
Politics focused on winning and holding office, not on issues or legislation
Led to an increase in patronage, giving away government offices for votes, kickbacks, & party service
Govt employment expanded significantly (ex postal service)
Reformers targeted spoils system as being inefficient & corrupt

7. Political Corruption
Cities grow so fast their govt (municipal) can’t keep up with needs of people
Political Machines: Organized groups of politicians that controlled political parties in urban areas
Provided services to businesses, immigrants, & the poor in exchange for votes, money

8. The Role of the Political Boss
Political Machines
The Role of the Political Boss
May serve as mayor:
controls jobs, businesses
influences courts, municipal agencies
arranges building projects, community services
•Bosses paid by businesses, get voters’ loyalty, extend influence
Immigrants and the Machine
Many captains, bosses 1st or 2nd generation Americans
Machines help immigrants with naturalization, jobs, housing
Election Fraud and Graft
• Machines use electoral fraud to win elections
• Graft—illegal use of political influence for personal gain
• Machines take kickbacks, bribes to allow legal, illegal activities

9. WILLIAM BOSS TWEED Corrupt political leader put New York City in debt
1851-Elected to city council
1852-Served in Congress
Kept Democratic Party in power in NYC called Tammany Hall
Formed the Tweed Ring
Bought votes, encouraged corruption, controlled NYC politics

10. Received large fees for interests (*kickbacks) from the Erie Railroad
WILLIAM BOSS TWEED
Received large fees for interests (*kickbacks) from the Erie Railroad
Tweed Ring milked the city with false leases, padded bills, false vouchers, unnecessary repairs and over-priced goods
*Return of a portion of the money received in a sale or contract often illegal and corrupt in return for special favors.

11. WILLIAM BOSS TWEED
Exposed for his corruption by cartoonist and editor, Thomas Nast
Tweed Ring fell and 1873 Tweed convicted of embezzlement

12. Activity
Using the Political Cartoons handout, answer these questions pertaining to the 5 cartoons:
Observe: Example: • What do you notice?
Reflect: Example: • Why do you think somebody made this? • What can you learn from examining this?
(Honors) Question: Ask a question that would lead to more observations and reflections (Example: What other opinion can you imagine another person having on this issue?)

13. 2/9 Warm Up

14. SPOILS SYSTEM
Under the Spoils System (patronage), candidates for political office would offer potential jobs in exchange for votes.
gave supporters access to money and political favors.
During the Gilded Age, the Republicans and Democrats had roughly the same number of supporters.
To keep party members loyal, candidates rewarded supporters and tried to avoid controversial issues.
The Republicans
appealed to the industrialists, bankers, and eastern farmers.
Blue laws-regulations that prohibited certain activities people considered immoral (mostly religious).
Democrats
attracted the less privileged groups.
such as northern urban immigrants, laborers, southern planters, and western farmers.

15. Gilded Age Presidents Republican - Controversial election
Rutherford B Hayes ( )
Republican - Controversial election
Attempted to re-establish honest government after Grant
Believed in meritocratic government, equal treatment without regard to race.
Advocated for civil service reforms; set goals

16. Gilded Age Presidents James Garfield (1881) Republican
Appointed most patronage jobs to Half-Breeds; angered the Stalwarts
Assassinated by a Stalwart office seeker in 1881; 200ish days of presidency
Became a martyr in a corrupt civil service system—spurred public demand for reform

17. Gilded Age Presidents Chester A. Arthur (1881-1885)
Republican – Stalwart
Became president when Garfield was assassinated
Supported civil service reform
Signed the Pendleton Act (1883)
Prohibited hiring office holders based on wealth
Established a merit system for making appointments
Set up Civil Service Commission to give open competitive examinations to applicants

18. Pendleton Act (1883)
Civil Service Act that awarded positions based on merit rather than political affliation.
Formed the Civil Service Commission which wrote a civil service exam.
You had to pass the exam to get a government job.
Reduced the power of the spoils system.
1883  14,000 out of 117,000 federal govt. jobs became civil service exam positions.

19. Grover Cleveland First Democrat in 28 years
Staunch believer in laissez faire economics
Believed in the merit system, but eventually replaced Republicans with “deserving Democrats”
Vetoed farm assistance – “Though the people support the government, the government should not support the people.”
Supported a lower tariff
First real issue that divided the Democrats & Republicans
Meant lower prices for consumers and less protection for monopolies

20. Tariff Question Republicans = wanted a high tariff
Argued that it would allow American industries to grow and promote jobs in manufacturing.
Democrats = did NOT want high tariffs
Thought it would increase the cost of goods to consumers and made it harder for American farmers to sell their goods abroad.

21. Activity
Read the Documents 1f. (Politics of the Gilded Age) and 3d (Corruption Runs Wild) on the class website.
There are 3 questions at the end of each article. Answer those questions in complete sentences.
Honors: Answer the 3 questions for each article plus:
1f: Judging from your notes and this article, which President was the most successful at removing corruption?
3d: In your opinion, were political machines more helpful or hurtful to city residents?