“THE GILDED AGE” United States History and Literature The American Experience

UNIT OVERVIEW ( ) "What is the chief end of man?--to get rich. In what way? --dishonestly if we can; honestly if we must.“ --Mark Twain in 1871

DISRUPTION OF POLITICS Compromise and failure of compromise Importance of rival parties Re-emergence of political parties in new America

REPUBLICAN AGENDA

Republicans Divided Divisions muted during Civil War Lincoln then Johnson “waving the bloody shirt” Radical Republicans (“stalwarts”) vs. Moderate Republicans (“half-breeds”) Divisions open door to Democratic resurgence President Grant ( )

“That, two thousand years after Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar, a man like Grant should be called -- and should actually and truly be -- the highest product of the most advanced evolution, made evolution ludicrous. One must be as commonplace as Grant's own commonplaces to maintain such an absurdity. The progress of evolution from President Washington to President Grant, was alone evidence enough to upset Darwin.”

“It’s not my enemies but my friends that will do me in!”

Samuel Tilden, Hero Rich and incorruptible Democrats back in business!

NY Tammany Hall Political Machine Civil service reform!

Democrat Samuel Tilden ELECTION OF 1876 Republican Rutherford Hayes Scandal and more scandal Economic depression and liberal Republican revolt Compromise of 1877 – End of military occupation in south, Jim Crow and Plessey v. Ferguson

ELECTION OF 1880 “Rutherfraud” Garfield vs. Winfield Scott Hancock Assassination in September election Democrat Cleveland vs. Republican Blaine Mudslinging “mugwumps” Outcome

Cleveland Administration ( ) Civil service reform Tariff reduction President Grover Cleveland

Harrison Administration ( ) Republicans back in White House: ”Billion dollar Congress” and Congressional pork Thomas “Czar” Reed Rising disgust and populist outbreak in Midwest Loses re-election to Democrat Cleveland President Benjamin Harrison

Cleveland Admin, Part II ( ) Depression of 1893 Even more corruption Backlash President Benjamin Harrison,Part II