The Gilded Age of America Political Developments
The Grant Administration: Credit Mobilier: Railroad people made company Inflated prices, government money Congressmen and the VP took $ Black Friday: Attempt to corner the gold market. Grant allegedly Involved in keeping Gold from being Sold. Indian Ring: Took bribes from businesses supplying goods to reservations Secretary of War resigned Corruption: The Era of Good Stealings!
The Growth of the Political Machines Cartoons courtesy of Thomas Nast Tammany Hall: Political Machine that ruled New York under the leadership of William Macy “Boss” Tweed.
Democratic Bloc Republican Bloc White southerners (preservation of white supremacy) Catholics Recent immigrants (esp. Jews) Urban working poor (pro-labor) Most farmers Northern whites (pro-business) African Americans Northern Protestants Old WASPs (support for anti-immigrant laws) Most of the middle class GAR (Grand Army of Republic The Two Political Parties during the Gilded Age
Gold vs. Silver and the Economy Panic of ‘73 Overspending and over lending burst Banks went under Battle of Soft Money vs. Hard Money 1875: Resumption Act led to pulling in more Greenbacks from circulation (deflation) 16 ounces of Silver was equal to 1 ounce of Gold (Legislative Decree) Crime of ‘73: US government dropped coinage of silver dollars.
Compromise of 1877 Democrats agreed to accept Republican results from 3 contested states IF: Withdrawal of ALL federal troops in SC and LA End of Radical Reconstruction Black Freedmen no more Union Army protection Redemption for the South
1880 Presidential Election: Republicans Half BreedsStalwarts Sen. James G. Blaine Sen. Roscoe Conkling (Maine) (New York) James A. Garfield Chester A. Arthur (VP) compromise
1881: Garfield Assassinated! Charles Guiteau: I Am a Stalwart, and Arthur is President now! Pendleton Act (1883) Civil Service Act. The “Magna Carta” of civil service reform. Shot: July 2, 1881 Died: September 19, 1881 Competitive Exams for federal jobs End of Spoils System
The Populists In your group do the following 1.Explain what the Populist Part was 2.List supporters and members of the Populist Party 3.Outline specific beliefs that the Populist Party promoted or stood for i.e. their platform
1884 Presidential Election Grover Cleveland James Blaine * (DEM) (REP) Mugwumps bolted to DemocratsRum, Romanism,and Rebellion Cleveland’s Illegitimate child
1888 Presidential Election Grover Cleveland Benjamin Harrison (DEM) * (REP)
1892 Presidential Election Grover Cleveland Benjamin Harrison again! * (DEM) (REP)
Hayes Presidency Compromise of 1877 Railroad Strikes Hayes calls in federal troops
Garfield/Arthur Presidency Chinese Exclusion Act Pendleton Act
Cleveland Presidency Part I Vetoes of Pension Bills Lowers Tariff Though the people support the government, the government should not support the people
Harrison Presidency McKinley Tariff Act of 1890 Billion Dollar Congress Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890 Homestead steel strike
Cleveland Presidency Part II Panic of 1893 Plessy v. Ferguson Repeal of Sherman Silver Purchase Act Loan from JP Morgan: 65 million in gold Wilson-Gorman Tariff
Major Political Issues during the Gilded Age Tariff : Explain the forces in favor of a high tariff and the forces against a high tariff. Include both political parties and society in general from Cleveland (I) through Cleveland (II). Money Supply: Explain the pros and cons of bimetallism as well as inflation vs. deflation. Describe which segments of society promoted bimetallism Civil Service: Explain how reforming the government job structure splintered the Republican Party As well as the final reform that was legislated to combat the decades old spoils system