Do-It-Now Activity
Define the economic and social characteristics of the Gilded Age.
Explain the impact of these characteristics on the economic and social make-up of American society during this time period.
Causes of Stalemate
1. Prevailing political ideology of the time
2. Campaign tactics of the two party
3. Party patronage
4. Well-Defined Voting Blocs
5. The Presidency as a Symbolic Office
Belief in a Limited Government
“Do-Little” Government◦ Laissez-faire economics◦ Social Darwinism
From 1870 – 1900:◦ Government did very littler domestically
Main responsibilities of government◦ Deliver the mail.◦ Maintain national military◦ Collect taxes and tariffs◦ Conduct foreign policy
Only exception is the administration of Civil War veterans’ pensions
Campaign Tactics
Election campaigns of time were characterized by:◦Brass bands, flags, campaign buttons, picnics,
free beer, and crowd pleasing oratory.
Campaigns focused on the show and not the big issues.◦80% of eligible voters voted in presidential
elections.
Well-Defined Voting Blocs
White southerners◦Preservation of white
supremacyCatholicsRecent immigrants
◦Esp. JewsUrban working poor
◦Pro-laborMost farmers
Northern whites◦Pro-business
African AmericansNorthern
ProtestantsMost of the middle
class
Democratic Republican
Party Patronage
Result of inactive legislative agenda:◦Politics became a game of
gaining office, holding office, and providing government jobs to the party faithful.
Created division within the parties
Senator Roscoe Conkling
Presidential Election of 1880: Republicans
Half BreedsSen. James Blaine
(Maine)
StalwartsSen. Roscoe
Conkling(New York)
James A. Garfield Chester A. Arthur
Pendleton Act (1883)
Civil Service Act
The “Magna Carta” of civil service reform◦ Set up Civil Service
Commission◦ Created a system by
which applicants for classified federal jobs would be selected based on their scores.
Essential Questions
Discuss the characteristics of American politics at the national and state levels during the Gilded Age.
Discuss the major political and economic issues of the Gilded Age.◦Examine the government action on these issues.
Explain the characteristics of American presidents during the Gilded Age◦Discuss how each carried out the duties of his office.