Political Issues of The Gilded Age

Indian Policies Reservations Forced off land and lost hunting grounds Used to keep indians away from homesteaders Conflicting groups were placed together Dawes Act: divided land on reservations into individual plots for Indians Indians didn’t believe in land ownership Attempts at forced assimilation

Indian Policies Destruction of the Buffalo Indians were allowed off reservation to hunt buffalo Slaughtered for their meat and hide Slaughtered to destroy the food source of Native Americans Less buffalo meant more open range for cattle

Political Machines Unofficial organization that uses corrupt methods to keep political officials in power Used bribes & patronage to get votes Often targeted immigrants Tammany Hall- most notorious political machine that dominated New York Politics Kept Democratic party in office in NY William “Boss” Tweed Boss of Tammany Hall Used corrupt power of the government for personal gain

Political Machines Immigrants were often supporters of political machines Political Machines provided jobs, services, and support for immigrants that the government did not.

Civil Service Reform James A. Garfield “Stalwarts” were the other faction of the Republican Party, they supported Political Machines James A. Garfield 20th President of the U.S. “Half Breed” faction of the Republican Party Opposed the Spoils System Worked for Civil Service Reform Assassinated by Charles J. Guiteau b/c he felt Garfield owed him a partronage Pendleton Civil Service Act- positions within the federal government should be awarded on the basis of merit instead of political affiliation Passed to regulate and improve the civil service of the United States Garfield’s assassination put more focus on the Civil Service act and helped to get it passed

Beginning of Populism Populist Party Appealed to farmers Focused on political action to protect agricultural land Wanted to limit Big Business (Monopolies) Supported Bimetallism (free coinage of silver)