1. Political and Economic Challenges
Chapter 7 Section 2
Political and Economic Challenges

2. Section Focus
Why did the political structure change during the Gilded Age?

3. Why it matters?
Inaction and political corruption characterized the political scene during the Gilded Age. This raised the question whether or not democracy could succeed in a time dominated by large and powerful industrial corporations and men of great wealth.

4. Balance of Power Creates Stalemate
Party loyalty is evenly divided
Only twice in 20 years ( ) did Rep or Dems control White House and both houses of Congress
Difficult to pass laws
Legislation is easily blocked by opponents

5. Weak Presidents Gilded Age Presidents appear weak
Win by slim margins and lack integrity
President Rutherford B Hayes
owes election to secret deal
Promises southern law makers to withdraw troops

6. Weak Presidents Benjamin Harrison
2nd president to lose popular election but win electoral college

7. Weak Presidents
James Garfield
Shot/killed

8. Weak Presidents Chester A. Arthur Takes over for Garfield
Upset so many Rep. fails to gain party nomination in election

9. Decent President Grover Cleveland Integrity
“Dem. thief just as bad as Rep. thief”
Two nonconsecutive terms
and

10. Corruption Plagues National Politics
Government officials routinely accept bribes
“One might search the whole list of Congress, Judiciary, and Executive…….from , and find little but damaged reputation”

11. Political cartoons raise the alarm

12. Cartoons
Thomas Nast exposes Boss Tweed in NYC

13. Spoils System Dominates Government
Spoils System rewards loyalty with jobs, even if person is unqualified.
President doesn’t campaign during this time
“lowered reputation”
Parties campaigned for them
Spoils System and fierce partisanship increase voter turnout
75-80 of all registered to vote cast ballots

14. Civil Service Reform
Spoils system corrupts government, or at least, makes it inefficient
Civil Service a system that includes federal jobs in the executive branch.
People getting jobs they are not qualified for due to Spoils system.
It takes President Garfield getting shot to make reform a reality
Shot by Charles Guiteau after not getting a gvt job

15. Civil Service Reform Pendleton Civil Service Act
Establishes Civil Service Commission
Civil service exam reduces power of spoils system

16. Economic Issues
Gold Standard – gold as the basis of the nations currency
Arguments over the tariff
Dems. Insist that high tariff increases cost of goods, harder for American farmers to sell goods abroad
Reps. Favor high tariff, argue that it would allow American industries to grow and promote manufacturing jobs

17. Monetary policy conflict
Arguments begin over to consider gold and silver money, or just gold
Coinage act of 1873

18. Section focus
Why did the political structure change during the Gilded Age?
The spoils system led to corruption. To combat corruption, the political structure changed to award jobs on the basis of skill rather than party loyalty or personal friendships.