Political Paralysis in the Gilded Age Chapter 23

A. Grant Becomes President (Hey everyone there is a typing error on page 504 “Just deserts”) (Hey everyone there is a typing error on page 504 “Just deserts”) After the war, the American people were soured on the idea of a professional politician After the war, the American people were soured on the idea of a professional politician Many people had still had the belief that a good general makes a good president Many people had still had the belief that a good general makes a good president U.S. Grant was loved by the American people and was a natural choice for presidential candidate U.S. Grant was loved by the American people and was a natural choice for presidential candidate

B. The Election of 1868 Grant vs. Horatio Seymour Grant vs. Horatio Seymour Grant’s party called for continued reconstruction by force Grant’s party called for continued reconstruction by force Democrats were concerned with bonds issued during the war Democrats were concerned with bonds issued during the war They thought that they should be redeemed in gold They thought that they should be redeemed in gold They also wanted more money in circulation They also wanted more money in circulation The term “waving the bloody shirt” came around due to this election The term “waving the bloody shirt” came around due to this election It made people think back to the Civil War It made people think back to the Civil War Grant won the election in the electoral college, but not by much in the popular vote Grant won the election in the electoral college, but not by much in the popular vote

C. The Era of Good Stealings After the Civil War, population grew tremendously After the Civil War, population grew tremendously The U.S. was now the 3 rd largest nation in the Western World The U.S. was now the 3 rd largest nation in the Western World Morality hit an all time low Morality hit an all time low The U.S. was full of greed and corruption The U.S. was full of greed and corruption One conspiracy included millionaires Jim Fisk and Jay Gould One conspiracy included millionaires Jim Fisk and Jay Gould In 1869, they tried to corner the gold market, but ultimately failed In 1869, they tried to corner the gold market, but ultimately failed Boss Tweed was one of the most corrupt political bosses Boss Tweed was one of the most corrupt political bosses He milked the nation for $200 million before he was finally caught He milked the nation for $200 million before he was finally caught

D. A Carnival of Corruption Grant’s administration was full of crooked people Grant’s administration was full of crooked people The Credit Mobilier Scandal further scarred Grant’s appearance The Credit Mobilier Scandal further scarred Grant’s appearance The C.M. was a RR company that paid itself to build track The C.M. was a RR company that paid itself to build track Often it would pay itself as much as $50,000 per mile when the actual cost was $30,000 Often it would pay itself as much as $50,000 per mile when the actual cost was $30,000 Fearing Congress, the company gave stock to key Congressmen Fearing Congress, the company gave stock to key Congressmen The Scandal blew up in the papers, involving Congressmen and the Vice Pres. The Scandal blew up in the papers, involving Congressmen and the Vice Pres.

Other scandals included a Whiskey Ring that had robbed the government of millions in tax revenues Other scandals included a Whiskey Ring that had robbed the government of millions in tax revenues Also, Secretary of War William Belknap made $24,000 selling Junk to Native Americans Also, Secretary of War William Belknap made $24,000 selling Junk to Native Americans He was impeached, but resigned before being removed He was impeached, but resigned before being removed

E. The Election of 1872 By 1872, most were disgusted by Grant’s admin. By 1872, most were disgusted by Grant’s admin. Reformers formed the Liberal Republican party Reformers formed the Liberal Republican party They nominated Horace Greeley as their candidate (Yes he has the Marty Burns) They nominated Horace Greeley as their candidate (Yes he has the Marty Burns) The Democrats, a hated enemy of Greeley, endorsed him The Democrats, a hated enemy of Greeley, endorsed him The Republicans chose Grant again The Republicans chose Grant again Both men were corrupt, both totally unqualified for politics Both men were corrupt, both totally unqualified for politics Grant won again Grant won again This time, Republicans would start pushing for civil service reform This time, Republicans would start pushing for civil service reform

F. The Panic of 1873 The corruption in the Grant administration was worsened by a depression in 1873 The corruption in the Grant administration was worsened by a depression in 1873 Overreaching businessmen had involved themselves in more than markets could bare Overreaching businessmen had involved themselves in more than markets could bare Banks had given out too many loans to these businessmen Banks had given out too many loans to these businessmen Profits failed to materialize, loans went unpaid, crisis ensued Profits failed to materialize, loans went unpaid, crisis ensued

Blacks and debtors were hit hard Blacks and debtors were hit hard People began to call for inflation and to bring back greenbacks (Cheap Money) People began to call for inflation and to bring back greenbacks (Cheap Money) Hard Money advocates convinced Grant to not re-issue greenbacks Hard Money advocates convinced Grant to not re-issue greenbacks In 1870s, Congress said that silver was worth 1/16 that of gold In 1870s, Congress said that silver was worth 1/16 that of gold People then began to cry out for re-issuing silver currency People then began to cry out for re-issuing silver currency Grant was able to bring up the value of Greenbacks and restore the gov’ts credit rating Grant was able to bring up the value of Greenbacks and restore the gov’ts credit rating The Bland Allison Act instructed Congress to buy btwn $2 and $4 Million in silver The Bland Allison Act instructed Congress to buy btwn $2 and $4 Million in silver Congress only bought the bare minimum Congress only bought the bare minimum

G. Pallid Politics in the Gilded Age Republicans came to symbolize strict, religious-minded, regulation advocates Republicans came to symbolize strict, religious-minded, regulation advocates Democrats symbolized more loosely religious-minds, and toleration Democrats symbolized more loosely religious-minds, and toleration In the 1870s and 1880s, the Republican party became divided into two groups In the 1870s and 1880s, the Republican party became divided into two groups One led by Roscoe Conkling embraced the spoils system (Stalwarts) One led by Roscoe Conkling embraced the spoils system (Stalwarts) The Half-Breeds were led by James G. Blaine The Half-Breeds were led by James G. Blaine Flirted with civil service, but really concerned about WHO dished out the Spoils Flirted with civil service, but really concerned about WHO dished out the Spoils

H. The Hayes-Tilden Standoff,1876 Some begged Grant to run a third term, but Congress wouldn’t allow it Some begged Grant to run a third term, but Congress wouldn’t allow it Blaine and Conkling neutralized each other Blaine and Conkling neutralized each other Thus, Republicans chose Rutherford B. Hayes to run Thus, Republicans chose Rutherford B. Hayes to run Democrats nominated Samuel J. Tilden Democrats nominated Samuel J. Tilden A very close race that caused a problem A very close race that caused a problem As the results came in, they both needed one electoral vote to win As the results came in, they both needed one electoral vote to win As the final votes came in the crisis came up as to who had the right to count them As the final votes came in the crisis came up as to who had the right to count them The leader of the Senate was Rep. The leader of the Senate was Rep. The Speaker of the House, Dem. The Speaker of the House, Dem.

I. The Compromise of 1877 and the End of Reconstruction With the election in a deadlock, Congress passed the Compromise of 1877 With the election in a deadlock, Congress passed the Compromise of 1877 This set up an electoral commission made of 15 men from the Senate, House, and Supreme Court This set up an electoral commission made of 15 men from the Senate, House, and Supreme Court The 15 th man was supposed to be a democrat, but he resigned at the last minute The 15 th man was supposed to be a democrat, but he resigned at the last minute 8 Republicans to 7 Democrats, Hayes won 8 Republicans to 7 Democrats, Hayes won In order to appease the southern democrats, Hayes agreed to pull troops out of the south In order to appease the southern democrats, Hayes agreed to pull troops out of the south This marked the end of Reconstruction and the end to black freedom This marked the end of Reconstruction and the end to black freedom

With troops out of the South, the old south rose again With troops out of the South, the old south rose again Blacks were forced into sharecropping, often with former masters as their landlords Blacks were forced into sharecropping, often with former masters as their landlords Blacks were completely segregated and disenfranchised with Jim Crow Laws Blacks were completely segregated and disenfranchised with Jim Crow Laws In 1896, the Supreme Court decision of Plessy v. Ferguson would rule “Separate but Equal” In 1896, the Supreme Court decision of Plessy v. Ferguson would rule “Separate but Equal” Blacks were separate, but far from equal citizens Blacks were separate, but far from equal citizens

J. Class Conflicts and Ethnic Clashes As the curtained closed on civil war, class warfare ignited As the curtained closed on civil war, class warfare ignited Many immigrants had moved into America Many immigrants had moved into America Most notably the Irish and Chinese Most notably the Irish and Chinese Chinese had worked on RR’s and in gold mines Chinese had worked on RR’s and in gold mines Those jobs were done, so they were out of work Those jobs were done, so they were out of work Irish-Born Denis Kearney incited some followers to persecute the Chinese Irish-Born Denis Kearney incited some followers to persecute the Chinese In 1882, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act which banned any more Chinese Immigrants In 1882, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act which banned any more Chinese Immigrants

K. Hayes’ Presidency Hayes took office under claims of fraud though he was an honorable man Hayes took office under claims of fraud though he was an honorable man His wife Lucy was nicknamed Lemonade Lucy because she kept alcohol out of the White House His wife Lucy was nicknamed Lemonade Lucy because she kept alcohol out of the White House Hayes accomplished little of significance Hayes accomplished little of significance In 1880, as the new election approached, he became a man without a party In 1880, as the new election approached, he became a man without a party

L. President Garfield In 1880, it was Garfield v. Winfield Hancock In 1880, it was Garfield v. Winfield Hancock Garfield won the election fairly easily Garfield won the election fairly easily He appointed James G. Blaine as secretary of state He appointed James G. Blaine as secretary of state Soon after, Charles Guiteau, a disgruntled office-seeker shot Garfield in the back Soon after, Charles Guiteau, a disgruntled office-seeker shot Garfield in the back He did 11 weeks later He did 11 weeks later His death convinced people that the spoils system needed to go His death convinced people that the spoils system needed to go

M. Chester Arthur Takes Command Arthur takes over after Garfield Arthur takes over after Garfield People expected him to hand out jobs, but he shocked them when he refused People expected him to hand out jobs, but he shocked them when he refused As the outcry for civil service reform appeared, Arthur supported it As the outcry for civil service reform appeared, Arthur supported it The Pendleton Act of 1883 established the Merit System The Pendleton Act of 1883 established the Merit System This meant that government positions would only be given to qualified people This meant that government positions would only be given to qualified people This angered many powerful Republicans and he was not renominated This angered many powerful Republicans and he was not renominated

N. Election of 1884 Republicans nominated James Blaine as their candidate Republicans nominated James Blaine as their candidate Some rep. then switched to the democrats Some rep. then switched to the democrats They were called “mugwumps” They were called “mugwumps” Democrats nominated Grover Cleveland Democrats nominated Grover Cleveland He was a good man, but had fathered an illegitimate child He was a good man, but had fathered an illegitimate child It was public dishonesty vs. public immorality It was public dishonesty vs. public immorality Cleveland won the election Cleveland won the election

O. Grover Takes Over Grover tried to fight the spoils system, which made him unpopular Grover tried to fight the spoils system, which made him unpopular But he eventually gave in and fired 2/3 of the republican federal employees But he eventually gave in and fired 2/3 of the republican federal employees He believed “People support the government. They government should not support the people” He believed “People support the government. They government should not support the people” Pensions gave him the worst headache Pensions gave him the worst headache Many people filed false pensions and tried to milk the system Many people filed false pensions and tried to milk the system Cleveland vetoed a bill to add more pensioners to the rolls Cleveland vetoed a bill to add more pensioners to the rolls

P. Cleveland and the Tariff The tariff was still high from the war The tariff was still high from the war The U.S. had amounted a surplus of $145 Million The U.S. had amounted a surplus of $145 Million In order to bring it down, Cleveland wanted to lower the tariff In order to bring it down, Cleveland wanted to lower the tariff This would lower prices and take protection away from monopolies This would lower prices and take protection away from monopolies In the election of 1888, Cleveland was defeated by Benjamin Harrison In the election of 1888, Cleveland was defeated by Benjamin Harrison