Gilded Age Politics: 1870-1896Gilded Age Politics: 1870-1896 PatronagePatronage: undeservedly giving : undeservedly giving

government jobs.government jobs.• Provide jobs in exchange for votes, Provide jobs in exchange for votes,

kickbacks, and political party service.kickbacks, and political party service.• Roscoe Conkling-Roscoe Conkling- U.S. Senator from NY. U.S. Senator from NY.

Spoils SystemSpoils System: system in which winning : system in which winning candidate received the spoils of political candidate received the spoils of political victory.victory.

• Led to corruption in politicsLed to corruption in politics• Winners used system for political gain.Winners used system for political gain.• Administration change=replacing Administration change=replacing

thousands of jobs --- Daily functioning of thousands of jobs --- Daily functioning of gov’t hard.gov’t hard.

Widespread ReformWidespread Reform Reform=change Reform=change Civil Service System replaces spoil Civil Service System replaces spoil

system.system. Merit Based SystemMerit Based System: Gov’t jobs based on : Gov’t jobs based on

abilities, not political views. Must be qualifiedabilities, not political views. Must be qualified

AA Two-Party Two-Party StalemateStalemate

AA Two-Party Two-Party StalemateStalemate

Well-Defined Voting BlocsWell-Defined Voting BlocsWell-Defined Voting BlocsWell-Defined Voting BlocsDemocratic

BlocDemocratic

BlocRepublican

BlocRepublican

Bloc

o White southerners(preservation ofwhite supremacy)

o Catholics

o Recent immigrants(esp. Jews)

o Urban working poor (pro-labor)

o Most farmers

o Northern whites(pro-business)

o African Americans

o Northern Protestants

o Old WASPs (supportfor anti-immigrant laws)

o Most of the middleclass

Very Laissez Faire Federal Govt.Very Laissez Faire Federal Govt.Very Laissez Faire Federal Govt.Very Laissez Faire Federal Govt.

1870-1900 Govt. did very little domestically.

Main duties of the federal govt.:

Deliver the mail.

Maintain a national military.

Collect taxes & tariffs.

Conduct a foreign policy.

Exception administer the annual Civil War veterans’ pension.

Election of 1876Election of 1876Hayes defeats Tilden.Hayes defeats Tilden. 2 groups: Reformers vs. Stalwarts2 groups: Reformers vs. Stalwarts StalwartsStalwarts: supported spoils system: supported spoils system

Conservative Republicans who believed Conservative Republicans who believed the most effective political strategy was the most effective political strategy was to keep your political constituents happyto keep your political constituents happy ConstituentsConstituents: groups of voters who support : groups of voters who support

a specific political party and/or candidate.a specific political party and/or candidate. ReformersReformers: called “Half-Breeds”: called “Half-Breeds”

Moderate Republicans who Moderate Republicans who supported civil service system supported civil service system enacted by Democratic President enacted by Democratic President HayesHayes

Gilded Age Essential Questions #1Gilded Age Essential Questions #11.1. Explain the term patronage as it relates to Explain the term patronage as it relates to

politics. Provide an example.politics. Provide an example.2.2. Compare and Contrast pros and cons of the Compare and Contrast pros and cons of the

spoils system and the civil service system.spoils system and the civil service system.3.3. Compare and Contrast the Republican and Compare and Contrast the Republican and

Democratic voting blocs.Democratic voting blocs.4.4. Explain how the government applied the Explain how the government applied the

term laissez-faire to the federal term laissez-faire to the federal government.government.

5.5. Compare and contrast Stalwart Republicans Compare and contrast Stalwart Republicans and Reformer Republicans.and Reformer Republicans.

6.6. Define constituents. How might a politician Define constituents. How might a politician use constituents to their advantage?use constituents to their advantage?

Election of 1880Election of 1880James Garfield (Republican) vs. Winfield James Garfield (Republican) vs. Winfield

Hancock (Democrat)Hancock (Democrat) Garfield wins election---Garfield wins election---

Garfield=ReformerGarfield=Reformer

1881: Garfield Assassinated!1881: Garfield Assassinated!1881: Garfield Assassinated!1881: Garfield Assassinated!

Charles Guiteau:“I Am a Stalwart, and Arthur is President now!”

Chester ArthurChester Arthur: Former VP & Stalwart : Former VP & Stalwart supportersupporter

• Becomes a reformer/half-breedBecomes a reformer/half-breed• Pendleton Act of 1883Pendleton Act of 1883: made gov’t : made gov’t

jobs based on merit systemjobs based on merit system• Positives:Positives: more expertise and less politics, more expertise and less politics,

most federal jobs were under civil service most federal jobs were under civil service • Negatives:Negatives: political parties began relying on political parties began relying on

funding from businesses and entrepreneurs.funding from businesses and entrepreneurs.• Does not run for reelectionDoes not run for reelection

• He is a StalwartHe is a Stalwart• He is a Half-breedHe is a Half-breed No true identity!!!!!!!

1884 Presidential Election1884 Presidential Election1884 Presidential Election1884 Presidential Election

Grover Cleveland James Blaine * (DEM) winner (REP)

Election of 1884Election of 1884

Grover ClevelandGrover Cleveland: Democrat: Democrat• TariffTariff: tax on imports: tax on imports• Big Businesses dependent on high tariffBig Businesses dependent on high tariff

• RepublicansRepublicans support high tariff support high tariff• DemocratsDemocrats support lower tariff support lower tariff• Low tariff=lower pricesLow tariff=lower prices

Laissez-faire presidency: Opposed bills to assist the poor as

well as the rich. Vetoed over 200 special pension bills

for Civil War veterans---angered veterans

The Tariff IssueThe Tariff IssueThe Tariff IssueThe Tariff Issue After the Civil War, Congress raised

tariffs to protect new US industries.

Big business wanted to continue this;consumers did not.

1885 tariffs earned the US $100 mil. in surplus!

Tariffs became a major issue in the 1888presidential election.

Cleveland’s support of lower tariffs played role in him losing election

Gilded Age Essential Questions #2Gilded Age Essential Questions #21.1. What is a tariff? Explain key differences What is a tariff? Explain key differences

between Republicans and Democrats.between Republicans and Democrats.

2.2. Discuss the presidency of Grover Cleveland as Discuss the presidency of Grover Cleveland as it relates to tariffs. What was his stand on it relates to tariffs. What was his stand on tariffs? How did the tariff issue impact the tariffs? How did the tariff issue impact the Election of 1888?Election of 1888?

3.3. Why is it that we say Grover Cleveland had a Why is it that we say Grover Cleveland had a laissez-faire Presidency? Which particular laissez-faire Presidency? Which particular voting bloc did he anger?voting bloc did he anger?

4.4. What is the Pendleton Act of 1883? Discuss What is the Pendleton Act of 1883? Discuss pros and cons of the piece of legislation.pros and cons of the piece of legislation.

5.5. What happens to President Garfield almost What happens to President Garfield almost immediately after he wins the election of 1880? immediately after he wins the election of 1880? Why doesn’t Chester Arthur run for reelection? Why doesn’t Chester Arthur run for reelection?

Election of 1888Election of 1888R- Benjamin Harrison winsR- Benjamin Harrison wins Supported by companies who were for high Supported by companies who were for high

tariffstariffs Americans wanted the federal govt. to deal

with growing societal & economic problems & to curb the power of the trusts: Interstate Commerce Act – 1887 Sherman Antitrust Act – 1890 McKinley Tariff – 1890

Based on the theory that prosperity flowed directly from protectionism.

Increased already high rates another 4%! Rep. Party suffered big losses

1888 Presidential Election1888 Presidential Election1888 Presidential Election1888 Presidential Election

1892 Presidential Election1892 Presidential Election1892 Presidential Election1892 Presidential Election

Grover Cleveland Benjamin Harrison again! * (DEM) (REP)

Cleveland Loses Support FastCleveland Loses Support FastCleveland Loses Support FastCleveland Loses Support Fast Only President to serve two non- consecutive terms.

Blamed for the Panic of 1893.

Defended the gold standard (worth more than silver)

Used federal troops in the 1894 Pullman Strike: in response to a large reduction in wages, 3000 workers strike in Pullman Illinois.

Refused to sign the Wilson-Gorman Tariff of 1894: slightly reduced the United States tariff rates from the numbers set in the 1890 McKinley tariff.

Repealed the Sherman Silver Purchase Act: increased the amount of silver the government was required to purchase every month.

Election of 1896Election of 1896 R- William McKinley defeats D- William BryanR- William McKinley defeats D- William Bryan McKinley forged a coalition between McKinley forged a coalition between

businessmen, skilled factory workers and businessmen, skilled factory workers and prosperous farmersprosperous farmers

Able to bring prosperity to AmericaAble to bring prosperity to America Spanish-American WarSpanish-American War: America loves : America loves

wins!wins! U.S. gains territory in Caribbean IslandsU.S. gains territory in Caribbean Islands Theodore Roosevelt serves in battleTheodore Roosevelt serves in battle

McKinley reelected---Assassinated in 1901McKinley reelected---Assassinated in 1901 Theodore Roosevelt becomes President Theodore Roosevelt becomes President

launching a new political era---Progressivismlaunching a new political era---Progressivism

Gilded Age Final EQ’sGilded Age Final EQ’s1.1. Explain the overall significance of Grover Explain the overall significance of Grover

Cleveland’s second term in office.Cleveland’s second term in office.2.2. Why does Cleveland lose support quickly Why does Cleveland lose support quickly

into his second term as President?into his second term as President?3.3. Discuss the overall impact of the Spanish-Discuss the overall impact of the Spanish-

American War on public opinion.American War on public opinion.4.4. Describe the following pieces of legislation: Describe the following pieces of legislation:

Interstate Commerce Act, Sherman Anti- Interstate Commerce Act, Sherman Anti-Trust Act, Wilson-Gorman Tariff of 1894, Trust Act, Wilson-Gorman Tariff of 1894, Sherman Silver Purchase Act, and McKinley Sherman Silver Purchase Act, and McKinley Tariff.Tariff.

5.5. Opinion: Why do you think this political Opinion: Why do you think this political era can be called the “era of the forgotten era can be called the “era of the forgotten President?” Explain.President?” Explain.