1. Chapter 16: Politics and Reform
Section 1: Stalemate in Washington

2. President James A. Garfield Office term 1880-1881
I’m not comfortable with the “spoils system”
President James A. Garfield was elected in Many of his supporters tried to claim the “spoils of office” and get jobs for themselves in the government after helping him to win office. One of these job seekers was Charles Guiteau who would ask daily for a job. He believed that Vice President Chester Arthur was comfortable with the old spoils system and would give him the position that he deserved and shot him on July 2, 1881.

3. “The President’s tragic death was a sad necessity, but it will united the Republican party and save the Republic…I had no ill-will toward the President. His death was a political necessity. I am a lawyer, theologian, and politician. I am a Stalwart of the Stalwarts…”
Charles Guiteau

4. Stalwarts vs. Halfbreeds
Stalwart (strong)- patronage-oriented faction of the Republican party late 19th c.
Halfbreeds-Republican reformers
Assassination of President Garfield highlighted the need to work on reforming politics
Patronage-government jobs assigned to supporters of the winning party in an election
When Rutherford B. Hayes entered the White House in 1877, attacked patronage system by appointing reformers to his cabinet.
Reformers deemed “halfbreeds”. They were accused of backing reform simply to create openings for their own supporters.
“THEY ARE WOLVES IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING…THEIR REAL OBJECT IS OFFICE AND PLUNDER”
VS.

5. Pendleton Act
Allowed president to decide which federal jobs would be filled according to rules laid down by a bipartisan Civil Service Commission
Candidates competed for these jobs through exams and appointments could be made only from the list of those who took those exams. Once appointed, a civil service official could not be removed for political reasons.
When Chester A. Arthur became president after Garfield’s death, he placed 14,000 jobs (about 1/10 total) of government jobs under the control of civil service.
This marks the beginning of a shift away from the spoils system. A+

6. Republicans
Republicans had voting edge in New England and upper Midwest b/c they had “preserved the Union” as well as established pensions for Civil War veterans
-Support of Big business
-Farmers of Great Plains
-Support abolition, temperance and other reforms
-Most Republicans were Protestants who viewed their party as the defender of traditional American morals and values

7. Democrats “Party of personal liberty”
Democrats dominated the South where white voters remained anti-Republican following the Civil War and reconstruction
Support of Catholics and immigrants in big cities

8. Voter turn-out and elections
Narrow wins between
Swing states of N.Y., Ohio, and P.A.
In 1876 and 1888, candidates lost popular vote but won election
This happens if candidates win several states by slim popular vote margins, they still receive all the electoral votes in those states. These narrow victories then give the candidate an Electoral College majority, regardless of the overrall popular vote count

10. Election of 1884 Democrats nominate Grover Cleveland of N.Y.
Republicans nominate James G. Blaine, former Speaker of the House
Credit Mobilier scandal
Mugwumps- Republicans who support Cleveland-moral leaders who help nation over political parties and divisions. N.Y. and Massachusetts
Cleveland opposes Tammany Hall of N.Y.
Bachelor who had fathered a child 10 years earlier “tell the truth”

11. Business and Economy Worker unrest- Haymarket Square Riot 1886
Rebates for large corporations
Government should not interfere with corporations’ property rights
Wabash v. Illinois 1886
Interstate Commerce Commission
Limited RR rates to “reasonable and just”
Forbade rebates to high volume users
Made it illegal to charger higher rates for shorter hauls
While large corporations such as Standard oil were able to negotiate rebates-or partial refunds- and lower rates because of the volume of goods they shipped, others were forced to pay much higher rates.
Supreme Court ruled that Illinois could not restrict the rates the Wabash RR charged for traffic between states because only the federal government could regulate interstate commerce.

12. Election of 1888
Cleveland and Democrats campaign against unnecessarily high tariffs
Republicans nominate Benjamin Harrison
McKinley Tariff- cut tobacco taxes and rates on raw sugar but increased textiles to discourage people from buying imports -> Budget deficit Increased payment to Civil War veterans as well

13. Sherman Antitrust Act 1890
Declared illegal any “combination in the form of trust…in restraint of trade or commerce among the several States…”
The courts were responsible for enforcement. Legislation was vaguely worded, didn’t make big companies change the way they did big business.
After act, continued forming many trusts. In 1899, over 1, 200 recorded mergers in manufacturing and mining firms. Sherman Antitrust Act was important for establishing a precedent then its immediate impact.