1 / 12

Politics of The Gilded Age

Politics of The Gilded Age. Spoils System. AKA - patronage Government jobs go to supporters of the winning party Many Americans came to believe that this made government inefficient and corrupt. Spoils System. Rutherford B. Hayes - becomes president in 1877

jacob
Download Presentation

Politics of The Gilded Age

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Politics of The Gilded Age

  2. Spoils System • AKA - patronage • Government jobs go to supporters of the winning party • Many Americans came to believe that this made government inefficient and corrupt

  3. Spoils System • Rutherford B. Hayes - becomes president in 1877 • Tries to end patronage by firing supporters • He splits the Republican Party • “Stalwarts” – liked the Spoils System (patronage) • “Halfbreeds” – wanted to reform the system

  4. Assassination of Garfield • 1880 Republican candidate James Garfield wins election • Charles Guiteau wants a government job • Thinks that if he kills President Garfield (a halfbreed), VP Chester Arthur (a stalwart) will give him one • Shoots Garfield in a train station

  5. The Pendleton Act • Passed in 1883 • Some government jobs to be filled through examination instead of appointment (patronage) • Called the “Merit System” • Beginning of professional civil service

  6. Republicans “party of morality” Supported by Big business Farmers on the Great Plains Patriotic Americans 1877-1896, edge in Senate Democrats “party of personal choice” Strong in the South Supported in cities by Catholics Immigrants 1877-1896, edge in the House of Representatives Ca

  7. Close Elections • Presidential elections between 1876 and 1896 were very close • In 1876 and 1888, the candidate that won the Electoral College didn’t get the most popular votes • Republicans win 4 of these 6 elections Election 0f 1876 Election of 1888

  8. Democrats win the Presidency • Election of 1884 • Dem. Grover Cleveland – governor of NYC • Rep. James Blaine –former Speaker of the House • Blaine part of the Credit Mobilier Scandal – took bribes • Some Rep. reformers switch to support Cleveland • Known as “Mugwumps” • Cleveland fathered a child out of wedlock • Told truth & kept support, gained a reputation for honesty “Ma, Ma, Where’s my Pa?”

  9. Lots of Problems • Cleveland had to deal with several major issues • Patronage jobs vs. civil service jobs – chose middle ground & angered both sides • Strikes and protests • Railroad rebates – only for large corporations • Wabash v. Illinois (1886) – only the federal government could regulate interstate commerce • Interstate Commerce Act (1887) – created the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to regulate commerce Grover Cleveland

  10. Election of 1888 • Tariffs a major issue • Rep. Benjamin Harrison • Funded by corporations who wanted high tariffs • Dem. Grover Cleveland • Wants to lower tariffs • Harrison lost the popular vote but won in Electoral College • Rep. won in House and Senate also

  11. McKinley Tariff • Passed in 1890 • Cut tobacco taxes and tariff rates on raw sugar • Greatly increased rates on other goods • Intended to protect American industry • Triggered a steep rise in price of all goods • Lowered federal revenue • Led to deficit

  12. Sherman Antitrust Act • Passed in 1890 • Made it illegal for companies to form trusts that would restrict free trade (have an unfair advantage) • Vaguely worded, not enforced by courts

More Related