1. Politics of the Gilded Age
US History

2. Scandals & Crisis
Widespread pol. corruption in Rep. Party during the Gilded Age
The Gilded Age refers to the widespread corruption of the period
Grant’s admn. – scandalous
Grant selected friends to his cabinet, not political experience
Appointees - dishonest

3. Scandals & Crisis Crédit Mobilier affair
Construction comp. Skimmed large profits off gov’t R/R contracts
$$$ ends up in leading Rep. pockets (graft)
Including Grant’s VP
Breakdown of Rep. Party made it harder for Radicals to continue Reconstruction

4. Scandals & Crisis 1875 – Whiskey Ring exposed
IRS collectors took bribes from whiskey distillers
Including Grant’s private sec.
1876 – Indian Ring exposed
Sec. Of War William Belknap accepted bribes from merchants in Indian territory
1876 – Grant did not seek re- election

7. Emergence of Political Machines
Political machines in cities
Controlled party politics in cities
Services to voters in exchange for political support
Boss controlled city jobs & business licenses
Helped immigrants w/ naturalization, housing, & jobs
In return the immigrant gave the pol. machine votes

8. 5 Questions What is the Gilded Age?
Name 3 examples of corruption during the Grant Administration?
What is graft?
What is the spoils system?
What are the political machines?

9. Municipal Graft & Scandal
Political bosses fell to corruption
Tweed Ring Scandal
Boss Tweed
Tammany Hall
Democratic boss from
Corrupt politicians
Brought down by pol. cartoonist Thomas Nast
Election fraud & Graft
Kick backs
Using fake names – party faithful cast as many votes as needed to win

13. Corruption Plagues the GOP
Patronage
Spoils system
NY Senator Roscoe Conkling the symbol of the worst of the corruption
Behind the Compromise of 1877
Reformers pushed for civil service
Merit system
Under Rutherford B. Hayes
Appointed independents to cabinet
Commissions to investigate customhouses
Ended in firing of 2 top officials
1880 Republican Convention = chaos

14. Roscoe Conkling

15. Stalwarts vs Reformers
Stalwarts (opposed civil service) vs. reformers
Stalwarts supported Grant for a 3rd Term
Halfbreeds were on the fence about reforming the party
Rep.’s nominated an independent – James Garfield (OH)
VP nominee Chester A. Arthur (supporter of stalwarts)

16. Grant Wants Another Term

17. Grant Gives in to Garfield

18. The Reliable Bloody Shirt

19. Arthur’s Reforms
July 2, 1881 – Garfield was shot twice by Charles Guiteau – Stalwart supporter
Sept. 19 Garfield died from wounds
Despite ties to Stalwarts – Arthur turned reformer
Pendleton Civil Service Act
Political appointments would now be based on civil service exam
Republicans are divided in 1884

20. Mugwumps see James Blaine as too close to corrupt politics

22. Big Business Influence in 1888
1884 – Dem. Party won a presidential election w/ Grover Cleveland (1st time in 28 yrs)
Mugwumps - Republicans who defected and voted for Cleveland
Tried to lower tariffs – no Congressional support
1888 – Benjamin Harrison won
Grandson of WH Harrison
Financed by companies wanting higher tariffs

26. Big Business Influence
Harrison passed the McKinley Tariff Act
Raised tariffs to highest level yet
1892 – Grover Cleveland won again
Wanted lower tariffs, but failed to sign any bills
1897 – William McKinley became pres.& raised tariffs again

27. 5 Questions
What was the worst of the political machines and who was its head?
How was he finally brought down?
What are stalwarts?
What is the Pendleton Act?
What are mugwumps?

28. RESULT
REACTION
Increased
Immigration
Growth of Urban Populations
Growth of Nativism
Increased
Machine Politics
Widespread corruption
Support for civil service reform