U.S. History Objective 5.04

Goal 5 – Becoming an Industrial Society (1877 – 1900) The learner will describe innovations in technology and business practices and assess their impact on economic, political, and social life in America.

Objective 5.04 Describe the changing role of government in economic and political affaris.

Gilded Age Politics “Gilded Age” – glittering exterior hid a corrupt political core and growing gap between the rich and poor (the outside is nice, but the inside is falling apart) term coined by Mark Twain

A Dishonest Government? Americans started to lose faith in the gov’t. after the scandals of the Grant administration What scandals were around during his administration?....

Credit Mobilier Union Pacific Railroad stockholders formed the Credit Mobilier construction company to build railroads Shares sold or given to congressmen who then approved fed. money to help build railroads

Whiskey Ring Distillers and federal officials defrauded government of taxes imposed on liquor. Liquor tax too high to help Republican party?

Belknap Scandal Secretary of the Interior sold reserved lands

Corruption extended to local gov’t as well Big city politics often ran by machines

Services for citizens Many cities had trouble providing services for their citizens Urban poor turned to political machines for help Provided many services to the poor Could mobilize large numbers of votes for candidates they supported Usually supported by voters who gained favors or jobs and businessmen who conspired with “bosses” to gain graft

Graft The illegal taking of bribes or kickbacks by a municipal official in exchange for speeding up a legal process or ignoring illegal activity.

Bosses Machines were run by bosses Candidates did the bidding of the machine bosses

Loyalty Machines gained voters’ loyalty by providing urban services Many immigrants were attracted to machines Helped with naturalization, housing, and jobs

Tammany Hall One of the most notorious and corrupt political machines was New York City’s Tammany Hall Run by William M. “Boss” Tweed Controlled New York City through bribes and patronage – handing out city jobs or political power in exchange for political support

New York City lost millions of dollars to Tammany Hall through graft New York County Courthouse Cost taxpayers $13 million Actual construction cost was $3 million

Boss Tweed meets his match Thomas Nast – political cartoonist of the Gilded Age Drew cartoons trying to expose the corruption of Tammany Hall Came up with the Tammany tiger, the Republican elephant, the Democrat donkey, Santa Claus for Coca-Cola

“I don’t care so much what the papers write about me – my constituents can’t read; but …they can see pictures!” - Boss Tweed

Tweed’s End Boss Tweed spent time in jail but escaped Caught in Spain after he was recognized from a Thomas Nast cartoon.

The end of the spoils system Spoils system – well known with Andrew Jackson after he was elected in 1828 “To the victor belong the spoils.”

Patronage Many presidents still gave jobs based on patronage – giving jobs to those who helped the candidates get elected Many of these appointees were unqualified

Reform to the patronage system Reformers wanted to eliminate patronage and encouraged a merit system of hiring. Wanted civil service (gov’t administration) jobs to go to the most qualified people.

Reform begins Civil service reform began under Rutherford B. Hayes Named independents to his cabinet Set up commission to investigate customhouses Fired two in NYC

Reform makes enemies Customhouse firings enraged some Republicans like Roscoe Conkling Conkling and his supporters came to be called Stalwarts

Election of 1880 Republicans divided between stalwarts and reformers An Ohio independent named James Garfield was nominated and won with stalwart-leaning Chester A. Arthur as his running mate.

Garfield assassinated July, 1881 – Garfield shot in a Washington D.C. train station by Charles Guiteau Stalwart who Garfield turned down for a job

Arthur becomes a reformer First msg. to Congress urged passing a civil service law Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883 – law establishing the civil service test for those seeking government jobs. Reaction to Garfield’s assassination

Pendleton Act effects Public administration became more honest and efficient Officials could no longer pressure employees for campaign contributions Politicians turned to other sources

Big Business Politicians turned to big business owners for $$$$$$ Big businesses wanted a raise in tariffs

1884 Democrats win first presidential election in 28 years Grover Cleveland Tried to lower tariffs Congress opposed

Mugwumps Republican party leaders who threw their support to Dem. Grover Cleveland because they disliked Republican candidate James G. Blaine

1888 Cleveland ran for reelection Low tariff platform Opponent was Benjamin Harrison (grandson of W.H. Harrison) – supported business and high tariffs

1888 Cleveland won popular vote Harrison won electoral vote and presidency Helped pass McKinley Tariff Act of 1890 Highest levels yet

Cleveland reelected Cleveland ran again and was elected in 1892 Worked some to lower tariffs 1897 – McKinley elected – raised tariffs again

Big Business makes gains US v. E.C. Knight – American Sugar Co. was allowed to keep control of 95% of the sugar industry