Presidents of the Gilded Age Grant-McKinley

Republican Divide after Civil War Big Issue: Reconstruction of South Radical Republicans Former abolitionists Wanted to punish ex-Confederates by giving former slaves full rights and equality Limit rights of ex-Confederates Liberal Republicans Former Lincoln backers Wanted to be more lenient with ex-Confederates in South Limited rights for former slaves

Ulysses S. Grant 2 terms- 1869-1877 Republican: Radical From Ohio Republican: Radical VP: Schuyler Colfax & Henry Wilson Prior to President: General in Civil War

Grant Wanted to save legacy of War so adopted Radical Republican ideals Continued Reconstruction, Established Gold Standard, Wanted peace with Native Americans Scandals: Poor judge of character and too loyal to those who were dishonest

Republican divide over Civil Service reform Stalwarts Pro Grant Republicans Opposed Civil Service Reform Favored the “norm” of the time, machine politics Half-Breeds Reform Republicans Favored Civil Service Reform Opposed machine politics and political corruption

Rutherford B. Hayes 1 term- 1877-1881 From Ohio Republican: Mixture (Radical in belief, but liberal in action, and a Half Breed) VP: William Weaver Prior to President: Military, Congressman, Governor

Hayes “perminant pacification” of South, Civil Service reform Ended Reconstruction, vetoed bill to end Chinese immigration Hayes-Tilden Affair, Failed to pass civil service reform

Hayes-Tilden Affair Tilden nearly won election, came down to three Republican controlled states and they voted to give Hayes the win.

James Garfield 1881 From Ohio Republican: Half Breeds VP: Chester Arthur Prior to President: Military, Congressman

Garfield Half Breed= Reform Republican Civil Service Struggled with patronage issue during his year in office. Dealt with Stalwarts (Conservative Republican-Grant Supporters) Assassinated by Charles Guiteau

Assassination of Garfield

Chester A. Arthur 1 term-1881-1885 Republican: Stalwart VP: none From New York Republican: Stalwart VP: none Prior to President: Military, NY political machine, VP

Arthur Was a conservative Stalwart= corrupt and used old style of politics but as pres. He leaned more to reform. Chinese Exclusion Act and Pendleton Act, which enacted civil service reform. Took over for assassinated President and had sweet mutton chops.

New faction to add to Stalwarts v. Half Breeds Mugwumps Ultra reform minded- Rejected the idea that party loyalty mattered. Half-Breeds were for civil service reform but only as long as it wouldn’t cost the party. Mugwump Republicans left the party and voted for Grover Cleveland who they believed would enact civil service reform

Grover Cleveland 1 term (for now)- 1885-1889 From New York Democrat: Reformer (supported by Mugwumps) VP: Thomas Hendricks Prior to President: Mayor of Buffalo, Governor

Cleveland Reform: Anti-political machine, revise high tariffs, tax luxuries Presidential Succession Act, Interstate Commerce Act(regulate RR), Dawes Act First and only President to serve two non consecutive terms, fought for low tariffs but never able to pass any thing

Benjamin Harrison 1 term- 1889-1893 Republican: Half Breed From Indiana Republican: Half Breed VP: Levi Morton Prior to President: Military, Senator

Harrison Pro tariff, elimination of taxes when nation has surplus, anti-trust, naval expansion Sherman anti-trust act and McKinley Tariff (very high tariff) Grandson of President William Henry Harrison, and first of the imperialist-minded presidents

Grover Cleveland again 1 term- 1893-1897 From New York Democrat: Reform VP: Adlai Stevenson Prior to President: President….

Cleveland again Reform: Lower tariff (repeal the McKinley Tariff), indecisive on gold ad silver issue, anti-trust Refused to annex Hawaii, Reduced McKinley Tariff, Broke up Pullman strike, Panic of 1893 Was able to pass lower tariff but result was still higher than tariffs during his first term

William McKinley Elected to 2 terms- 1897-1901 Republican: Imperialist From Ohio Republican: Imperialist VP: Garret Hobart, Theodore Roosevelt Prior to President: Military, Governor

McKinley Gold Standard (but left door open for Silver), Imperialism (annex Hawaii and get involved in West Indies), high tariff, restrictions of immigrants Restored higher tariffs, annexed Hawaii, Spanish American War, Open door policy with China Assassinated by anarchist

Assassination of McKinley