1. Political Issues of The Gilded Age

2. Indian Policies Reservations
Forced off land and lost hunting grounds
Used to keep indians away from homesteaders
Conflicting groups were placed together
Dawes Act: divided land on reservations into individual plots for Indians
Indians didn’t believe in land ownership
Attempts at forced assimilation

3. Indian Policies Destruction of the Buffalo
Indians were allowed off reservation to hunt buffalo
Slaughtered for their meat and hide
Slaughtered to destroy the food source of Native Americans
Less buffalo meant more open range for cattle

4. Political Machines
Unofficial organization that uses corrupt methods to keep political officials in power
Used bribes & patronage to get votes
Often targeted immigrants
Tammany Hall- most notorious political machine that dominated New York Politics
Kept Democratic party in office in NY
William “Boss” Tweed
Boss of Tammany Hall
Used corrupt power of the government for personal gain

5. Political Machines
Immigrants were often supporters of political machines
Political Machines provided jobs, services, and support for immigrants that the government did not.

6. Civil Service Reform James A. Garfield
“Stalwarts” were the other faction of the Republican Party, they supported Political Machines
James A. Garfield
20th President of the U.S.
“Half Breed” faction of the Republican Party
Opposed the Spoils System
Worked for Civil Service Reform
Assassinated by Charles J. Guiteau b/c he felt Garfield owed him a partronage
Pendleton Civil Service Act- positions within the federal government should be awarded on the basis of merit instead of political affiliation
Passed to regulate and improve the civil service of the United States
Garfield’s assassination put more focus on the Civil Service act and helped to get it passed

7. Beginning of Populism Populist Party Appealed to farmers
Focused on political action to protect agricultural land
Wanted to limit Big Business (Monopolies)
Supported Bimetallism (free coinage of silver)