The Gilded Age By Mr. Sims

Scandals in the Grant administration The Gold Market scandal – Jay Gould and James Fisk tried to gain a monopoly on the gold market – Black Friday – September 24, 1869 The price of gold fell  ruined people financially The Credit Mobilier scandal – The congressmen issued federal subsidies for the cost of the railroad construction – Credit Mobilier overcharged Union Pacific by more than $20 million The Whiskey Ring scandal – Treasury Department officials accepted bribes from whiskey distillers and distributors

The Gilded Age – Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner wrote The Gilded Age Explained the values of wealthy Americans and the nature of national politics after the Civil War In politics, corruption and greed lurked below the polite and prosperous luster of American society

Desire for Reform Americans wanted political reform and honest officials because corruption had become so widespread – Rutherford B. Hayes was elected president – Prohibited federal employees from participating in political campaigns – Patronage – rewarding political supporters with government jobs was at issue Stalwarts – opposed civil service reform Half-Breeds – supported civil service reform

Desire for Reform Garfield’s assassination – James A. Garfield (Half-Breed) was elected president – Chester A. Arthur (Stalwart) was vice president Four months after entering office…Garfield was shot

President Arthur Arthur began to support reform after the assassination of President Garfield – Pendleton Civil Service Act – established a Civil Service Commission to administer examinations to those people seeking government jobs – Mugwumps – Republicans who supported Grover Cleveland (a Democrat) for President in 1884 Grover Cleveland was determined to promote political reform – He doubled the number of federal jobs requiring civil service exams

Harrison’s Response Benjamin Harrison (R) beat Cleveland (D) for the presidency in 1888 – Returned to political patronage Filled every job not on the civil service list with members of the Rep. Party – Spent money on Republican pet projects