1. Section 3: Politics in the Gilded Age:
Main Idea: Local and national political corruption in the 19th Century led to calls for reform.
Why it Matters Now: Political reforms paved the way for a more honest and efficient government in the 20th Century and beyond.

2. Gilded Age Politics

3. The Gilded Age Name comes from the title of an 1873 Mark Twain book
Referred to the “superficial glitter” of the new wealth that developed in the late 1800s
Dominated by a belief in limited government, laissez-faire economics, & Social Darwinism
Marked by political corruption & ineffectiveness

4. Gilded Age Politics
Era was most highly competitive politically in US history
Voter turnout reached highest levels in US history
Parties avoided controversial issues that might alienate voters
Led to issue-free campaigns focused on party loyalty & regional, religious, & ethnic ties

5. Political Corruption
Political Machines: Tightly organized groups of politicians that controlled the political parties in urban areas

6. Role of the Political Boss
The “Boss” (typically the mayor) controlled jobs, business licenses, and influenced the court system. Precinct captains and ward bosses, often 1st or 2nd generation immigrants, helped new immigrants with jobs, housing, and naturalization in exchange for votes.
Boss Tweed ran NYC

7. The Tweed Ring Scandal
William M. Tweed, known as Boss Tweed, was head of Tammany Hall, NYC’s powerful Democratic political machine. Between , he led the Tweed Ring of corrupt politicians in defrauding the city. Convicted of 120 counts of fraud & extortion, he was sentenced to 12 years in jail, but released after one. Rearrested, he escaped to Spain.

8. Political Corruption
Politics focused on winning and holding office, not on issues or legislation
Led to an increase in patronage (spoils system), i.e. giving away government offices for votes, kickbacks, & party service
Reformers targeted spoils system as being inefficient & corrupt

9. Republican Factions
Stalwarts and Half-Breeds
Stalwarts: Led by Roscoe Conkling, Senator who favored spoils system
Half-Breeds: Led by James G. Blaine, Congressman who favored civil service reform

10. Gilded Age Presidents Republican
Rutherford B Hayes ( )
Republican
Elected as a result of the Compromise of 1877; ended Reconstruction
Attempted to reestablish honest government after Grant
Supported temperance
Vetoed efforts to restrict Chinese immigration

11. Gilded Age Presidents James Garfield (1881) Republican – Half-Breed
Appointed most patronage jobs to Half-Breeds; angered Conkling & the Stalwarts
Assassinated by a deranged Stalwart office seeker in 1881
Became a martyr in a corrupt civil service system—spurred public demand for reform

12. Gilded Age Presidents Chester A Arthur (1881-1885)
Republican – Stalwart
Became president when Garfield died
Supported civil service reform
Signed the Pendleton Act (1883)
Prohibited hiring office holders based on wealth
Established a merit system for making appointments

13. Cleveland’s Presidency
First Democrat in 28 years
Staunch believer in laissez faire economics
Believed in the merit system, but eventually replaced Republicans with “deserving Democrats”
Vetoed farm assistance – “Though the people support the government, the government should not support the people.”
Vetoed pension bills
Supported a lower tariff
First real issue that divided the Democrats & Republicans
Would end a treasury surplus
Meant lower prices for consumers and less protection for monopolies

14. Benjamin Harrison’s Presidency
Reversed most of Cleveland’s policies
Sherman Silver Purchase Act
McKinley Tariff Act
Raised tariffs to highest peacetime level: 48%
Damaged farmers who voted the Republicans out in the next election