Politics Pp t

7/28/2019 Politics Pp t

1/12

POLITICS IN THE GILDEDPOLITICS IN THE GILDEDAGEAGE

Gilded Age = Age of corruption inGilded Age = Age of corruption inpolitics. Everything looks good onpolitics. Everything looks good on

the surface, but it was reallythe surface, but it was reallycorrupt.corrupt.


2/12

The Business of Politics.The Business of Politics.

Real politicians of the time were the Big BusinessReal politicians of the time were the Big Business

owners.owners.

LaissezLaissez--fairefaire-- Theory that the government should play aTheory that the government should play a

very limited role in businesses.very limited role in businesses.

Business Ran politics and politics was a branch ofBusiness Ran politics and politics was a branch of

businessbusiness Business Giants during the Gilded Age often times bribedBusiness Giants during the Gilded Age often times bribed

politicians with gifts of money.politicians with gifts of money.

Spoils SystemSpoils System Elected officials appointed friends andElected officials appointed friends and

supporters to government jobs. Ensured politicians a loyalsupporters to government jobs. Ensured politicians a loyalgroup of supporters in future elections.group of supporters in future elections.

CreditCredit MobilierMobilier ScandalScandal


3/12

Political Parties during the GildedPolitical Parties during the Gilded

AgeAge Republican PartyRepublican Party

Industrialists, bankers, and eastern farmersIndustrialists, bankers, and eastern farmers

Party of MoralityParty of Morality--made up of the typical Americansmade up of the typical Americans

Backed high tariffs to protect American Businesses,Backed high tariffs to protect American Businesses,

generous pensions for Union Soldiers, government aid togenerous pensions for Union Soldiers, government aid to

Railroads, and enforcement ofRailroads, and enforcement ofBlue LawsBlue Laws Strongest in North and upperStrongest in North and upper--MidwestMidwest

Democratic PartyDemocratic Party

-- Attracted Americans who were less privileged.Attracted Americans who were less privileged.-- Southern Whites, Immigrants, FreeSouthern Whites, Immigrants, Free--Thinkers,Thinkers,

-- Backed money supply backed by silver, lower tariffs,Backed money supply backed by silver, lower tariffs,

less government aid to big businesses.less government aid to big businesses.


4/12

PRESIDENTS OF THE GILDED AGEPRESIDENTS OF THE GILDED AGE

Rutherford B. HayesRutherford B. Hayes

Wanted to Reform the Civil Service SystemWanted to Reform the Civil Service System

Called for a new set of rules to establish a MERIT SYSTEMCalled for a new set of rules to establish a MERIT SYSTEM

for Civil Servicefor Civil Service Nonelected government workersNonelected government workers

4 Merits4 Merits 1) those who already hold office can1) those who already hold office cant bet be

removed unless they are not doing there jobremoved unless they are not doing there job

2) Party members have no more influence on2) Party members have no more influence on

appointments than any other respectful citizenappointments than any other respectful citizen

3) No assessment for political contributions will be3) No assessment for political contributions will be

allowedallowed

4) No office holder can manage an election campaign.4) No office holder can manage an election campaign.


5/12

PRESIDENTS CONPRESIDENTS CONTT

James GarfieldJames Garfield

Elected in 1880Elected in 1880

3 fractions of Republican Party3 fractions of Republican Party

StalwartsStalwarts-- supported the spoils systemsupported the spoils system

HalfHalf--BreedsBreeds-- reform spoils systemreform spoils system

IndependentsIndependents-- opposed spoils systemopposed spoils system Assassinated by CharlesAssassinated by Charles GuiteauGuiteau on July 2, 1881 whoon July 2, 1881 who

claimed upon shooting the President that he was aclaimed upon shooting the President that he was a

Stalwart, and Arthur is President now! ( Chester Arthur wasStalwart, and Arthur is President now! ( Chester Arthur was

GarfieldGarfields vice president)s vice president)


6/12

PRESIDENTS CONTPRESIDENTS CONTDD

Charles ArthurCharles Arthur

Although he was a Stalwart, actually became advocateAlthough he was a Stalwart, actually became advocate

of reform!of reform!

Signed theSigned the Pendleton Civil Service ActPendleton Civil Service Act

Established Merit Exams if you wanted a Federal JobEstablished Merit Exams if you wanted a Federal Job


7/12


Grover ClevelandGrover Cleveland

Won election in 1884Won election in 1884-- became first democratic presidentbecame first democratic president

since 1856since 1856

Presidential campaign between his opponent JamesPresidential campaign between his opponent James

Blaine and himself was veryBlaine and himself was verybad.bad.

Favored tight money policies, opposed high tariffs, andFavored tight money policies, opposed high tariffs, andtook back from the railroads some 80 million acres oftook back from the railroads some 80 million acres of

land that had been granted to them.land that had been granted to them.


8/12

REGULATING RAILROADSREGULATING RAILROADS

Railroad operation began to be questionedRailroad operation began to be questioned

around the 1880around the 1880s. (charging more for a shorts. (charging more for a short

haul, offering rebates to favored customers,haul, offering rebates to favored customers,

keeping rates secret)keeping rates secret)

18771877 Supreme Court RulingSupreme Court Ruling

Munn vs. IllinoisMunn vs. Illinois

Ruled that only the FederalRuled that only the Federal GovGovtt could regulate interstatecould regulate interstate

commerce. So for a long time the Railroads wentcommerce. So for a long time the Railroads went

unregulated until the invention of the ICC in 1887.unregulated until the invention of the ICC in 1887.

However the ICC was largely ineffective, losing 15 of its 16However the ICC was largely ineffective, losing 15 of its 16

cases in Federal court.cases in Federal court.


9/12

PRESIDENTS CONTPRESIDENTS CONTD!!D!!

Benjamin HarrisonBenjamin Harrison

Won 1888 electionWon 1888 election

Harrison promised a higher tariff than Cleveland whichHarrison promised a higher tariff than Cleveland which

won him a lot of support from businesses.won him a lot of support from businesses.

Republicans had majority of the seats in CongressRepublicans had majority of the seats in Congress

during the first 2 years of his presidency which meant heduring the first 2 years of his presidency which meant hecould get almost anything passed he wanted.could get almost anything passed he wanted.

18901890-- Sherman AntiSherman Anti--Trust ActTrust Act

Sherman Silver Purchase ActSherman Silver Purchase Act--required treasury to buy 4.5required treasury to buy 4.5

million ounces of silver per month to increase the price ofmillion ounces of silver per month to increase the price ofsilversilver

McKinley TariffMcKinley Tariff-- Highest Tariff in the history of the countryHighest Tariff in the history of the country

at that time. (very low public support)at that time. (very low public support)


10/12


Grover Cleveland AGAIN!!Grover Cleveland AGAIN!!

Reelected in 1892Reelected in 1892

Drained treasury from HarrisonDrained treasury from Harrisons previous presidencys previous presidency

cause nation into an economic panic in 1983.cause nation into an economic panic in 1983.

Workers lost jobs or had their wages cutWorkers lost jobs or had their wages cut

JacobJacob CoxeyCoxey organized an unemployment march onorganized an unemployment march onWashington D.C.Washington D.C.

Upset not only the unemployed but farmers also byUpset not only the unemployed but farmers also by

repealing the Sherman Silver Purchase Act.repealing the Sherman Silver Purchase Act.


11/12

LAST ONELAST ONE

William McKinleyWilliam McKinley

Defeated William Jennings Bryan in 1896 electionDefeated William Jennings Bryan in 1896 election

Campaign was centered around theCampaign was centered around theGoldGold--SilverSilver

Debate. (McKinley =Gold. Bryan =Silver)Debate. (McKinley =Gold. Bryan =Silver)

Returned the American economy to prosperity.Returned the American economy to prosperity.

Assassinated on September 6, 1901 by LeonAssassinated on September 6, 1901 by Leon CzolgoszCzolgosz..


12/12

QUICK QUIZQUICK QUIZ

1)1) The Gilded Age was known as the age ofThe Gilded Age was known as the age of

________ in politics?________ in politics?

2)2) LaissezLaissez--fairefaire means what?means what?

3)3) What did theWhat did the Pendleton Civil Service ActPendleton Civil Service Act do?do?

4)4) Which President was elected to 2 separateWhich President was elected to 2 separateterms? (Once in 1884, then again in 1892)terms? (Once in 1884, then again in 1892)

5)5) Tell me 2 of the 3 ActTell me 2 of the 3 Acts President Harrison gots President Harrison got

passed while he was inpassed while he was in office?office?

Politics Pp t

Documents

Transcript of Politics Pp t