1. Parties, Patronage, and Pork: National Politics, 1876-1892
Chapter 25
Parties, Patronage, and Pork:
National Politics,

2. How the System Worked Politics of the late 19th century
Uninspired, dignified president
Congress provides initiative
Politics a business itself
Politics a sport to public
Two Balanced Parties
Evenly matched
Close elections
Predictable electorate
Republican party strong in north; south for Democrats except blacks
Swing states decide winners: New York, Indiana, Ohio

3. How the System Worked (cont.’d)
Bosses at conventions
National conventions very important
Opportunity for bosses to network
Conventions decide nominations
Bosses broker political deals
Patronage: The spoils system
50,000 federal jobs in 1877
Positions awarded to party activists
Job holders contribute to campaigns
Higher government jobs very lucrative

4. How the System Worked (cont.’d)
Pork
Private contributors to campaigns receive government contracts
Focus on rewarding contributors, not getting work done
Party Tactics
Republicans wave “bloody shirt” to remind voters of veterans’ sacrifices
Democrats wave Stars and Bars to remind South of Reconstruction
Grand Army of the Republic veterans organization
Pensions
Congress passes strict pension bill
Others receive pensions through special bills
Evolves into major abuse
Republicans use pensions to gain votes

5. Presidents and Personalities
Rutherford Hayes
Hayes lacks support for re-election in 1880
Stalwarts and Half-Breeds reject Hayes
Half-Breed James G. Blaine wants presidency
Ulysses S. Grant wants presidency
James Garfield
Republicans deadlock over Blaine, Grant
Republicans turn to James A. Garfield
Half-Breed Garfield courts Stalwarts
Running mate: Stalwart Chester A. Arthur

6. Presidents and Personalities (cont.’d)
Assassination
Garfield attempts to please both wings with appointments
Mentally deranged Charles Guiteau assassinates president
Stalwart Guiteau wants political office
Civil Service Reform
Pendleton Act of 1883 sets up Civil Service Commission
Administers exams for low-level government jobs
Office holders free from political pressure
By 1900 covers 40% of government jobs

7. Presidents and Personalities (cont.’d)
Chester Arthur
Able president, wants second term
Reaches out to stalwarts, Half-Breeds
Republicans nominate Blaine instead
1884: Blaine versus Cleveland
Blaine loses support of liberal Republicans
Blaine expects to win Irish vote
Cleveland father of illegitimate child
Blaine guilty of dubious stock deals

8. Presidents and Personalities (cont.’d)
Little things that decide great elections
Blaine dines with millionaires
Ignores ethnic, religious slur against Democrats
Blaine loses Irish vote, loses election
1888: Cleveland loses election by appearing pro-British

9. Issues Issues do play a part in politics in 1884 The tariff
A few Republicans still interested in civil rights
Main goal of parties to win power
Parties have supporters on both sides of issues
The tariff
Farmers, bankers, railroaders want low tariff
Industrialists want protective tariff
McKinley Tariff (1890): 50% rates
Depression lowers rates to 39%

10. Issues (cont.’d) Value of Greenbacks uncertain in war
Government gradually removes Greenbacks
Less money supply leads to deflation
Deflation hurts farmers with big debts
Greenback Labor Party
Farmers form party in 1876
Work to attract labor to party
Makes some gains in Congress in 1878
Party declines in 1880s, but issue still alive

11. Discussion Questions
What were politics like in the late 1800s? What did the political parties stand for? How was it different than it is today?
Why was there a need to reform the patronage system in the later 1800s? What legislature helped enact this change?
What sort of president was Chester Arthur? How did his becoming president change him? What were his notable accomplishments?
Discuss the main political issues of the times.