Politics of the Gilded Age US History

Scandals & Crisis Widespread pol. corruption in Rep. Party during the Gilded Age The Gilded Age refers to the widespread corruption of the period Grant’s admn. – scandalous Grant selected friends to his cabinet, not political experience Appointees - dishonest

Scandals & Crisis Crédit Mobilier affair Construction comp. Skimmed large profits off gov’t R/R contracts $$$ ends up in leading Rep. pockets (graft) Including Grant’s VP Breakdown of Rep. Party made it harder for Radicals to continue Reconstruction

Scandals & Crisis 1875 – Whiskey Ring exposed IRS collectors took bribes from whiskey distillers Including Grant’s private sec. 1876 – Indian Ring exposed Sec. Of War William Belknap accepted bribes from merchants in Indian territory 1876 – Grant did not seek re- election

Emergence of Political Machines Political machines in cities Controlled party politics in cities Services to voters in exchange for political support Boss controlled city jobs & business licenses Helped immigrants w/ naturalization, housing, & jobs In return the immigrant gave the pol. machine votes

5 Questions What is the Gilded Age? Name 3 examples of corruption during the Grant Administration? What is graft? What is the spoils system? What are the political machines?

Municipal Graft & Scandal Political bosses fell to corruption Tweed Ring Scandal Boss Tweed Tammany Hall Democratic boss from 1868-1871 Corrupt politicians Brought down by pol. cartoonist Thomas Nast Election fraud & Graft Kick backs Using fake names – party faithful cast as many votes as needed to win

Corruption Plagues the GOP Patronage Spoils system NY Senator Roscoe Conkling the symbol of the worst of the corruption Behind the Compromise of 1877 Reformers pushed for civil service Merit system Under Rutherford B. Hayes Appointed independents to cabinet Commissions to investigate customhouses Ended in firing of 2 top officials 1880 Republican Convention = chaos

Roscoe Conkling

Stalwarts vs Reformers Stalwarts (opposed civil service) vs. reformers Stalwarts supported Grant for a 3rd Term Halfbreeds were on the fence about reforming the party Rep.’s nominated an independent – James Garfield (OH) VP nominee Chester A. Arthur (supporter of stalwarts)

Grant Wants Another Term

Grant Gives in to Garfield

The Reliable Bloody Shirt

Arthur’s Reforms July 2, 1881 – Garfield was shot twice by Charles Guiteau – Stalwart supporter Sept. 19 Garfield died from wounds Despite ties to Stalwarts – Arthur turned reformer Pendleton Civil Service Act Political appointments would now be based on civil service exam Republicans are divided in 1884

Mugwumps see James Blaine as too close to corrupt politics

Big Business Influence in 1888 1884 – Dem. Party won a presidential election w/ Grover Cleveland (1st time in 28 yrs) Mugwumps - Republicans who defected and voted for Cleveland Tried to lower tariffs – no Congressional support 1888 – Benjamin Harrison won Grandson of WH Harrison Financed by companies wanting higher tariffs

Big Business Influence Harrison passed the McKinley Tariff Act Raised tariffs to highest level yet 1892 – Grover Cleveland won again Wanted lower tariffs, but failed to sign any bills 1897 – William McKinley became pres.& raised tariffs again

5 Questions What was the worst of the political machines and who was its head? How was he finally brought down? What are stalwarts? What is the Pendleton Act? What are mugwumps?

RESULT REACTION Increased Immigration Growth of Urban Populations Growth of Nativism Increased Machine Politics Widespread corruption Support for civil service reform