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Gilded Age Politics

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The document summarizes Gilded Age politics between 1870-1900. It describes a two-party system with stalemate between Republicans and Democrats, with each having loyal voting blocs. The federal government took a laissez-faire approach and was dominated by party bosses. Civil service reform started under President Arthur in response to corruption. Tariffs became a key issue, with Cleveland vetoing bills but losing re-election in 1888. Economic issues grew as a concern for voters in the 1890s.

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Gilded Age Politics By: Ms. Susan M. Pojer Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY
The "Politics of Equilibrium"
1. A Two-Party Stalemate
Two-Party “Balance”
2. Intense Voter Loyalty to the Two Major Political Parties
3. Well-Defined Voting Blocs Democratic Bloc Republican Bloc White southerners (preservation of white supremacy) Catholics Recent immigrants (esp. Jews) Urban working poor (pro-labor) Most farmers Northern whites (pro-business) African Americans Northern Protestants Old WASPs (support for anti-immigrant laws) Most of the middle class
4. Very Laissez Faire Federal Govt. From 1870-1900  Govt. did very little domestically. Main duties of the federal govt.: Deliver the mail. Maintain a national military. Collect taxes & tariffs. Conduct a foreign policy. Exception  administer the annual Civil War veterans’ pension.
5. The Presidency as a Symbolic Office Party bosses ruled. Presidents should avoid offending any factions within their own party. The President just doled out federal jobs. 1865  53,000 people worked for the federal govt. 1890  166,000 “ “ “ “ “ “ Senator Roscoe Conkling
1880 Presidential Election: Republicans Half Breeds Stalwarts Sen. James G. Blaine Sen. Roscoe Conkling (Maine) (New York) James A. Garfield Chester A. Arthur (VP) compromise
1880 Presidential Election: Democrats
Inspecting the Democratic Curiosity Shop
1880 Presidential Election
1881: Garfield Assassinated! Charles Guiteau: I Am a Stalwart, and Arthur is President now!
Chester A. Arthur: The Fox in the Chicken Coup?
Pendleton Act (1883) Civil Service Act. The “Magna Carta” of civil service reform. 1883  14,000 out of 117,000 federal govt. jobs became civil service exam positions. 1900  100,000 out of 200,000 civil service federal govt. jobs.
Republican “Mugwumps” Reformers who wouldn’t re-nominate Chester A. Arthur. Reform to them  create a disinterested, impartial govt. run by an educated elite like themselves. Social Darwinists. Laissez faire government to them: Favoritism & the spoils system seen as govt. intervention in society. Their target was political corruption, not social or economic reform!
The Mugwumps Men may come and men may go, but the work of reform shall go on forever. Will support Cleveland in the 1884 election.
1884 Presidential Election Grover Cleveland James Blaine * (DEM) (REP)
A Dirty Campaign Ma, Ma…where’s my pa? He’s going to the White House, ha… ha… ha…!
Little Lost Mugwump Blaine in 1884
Rum, Romanism & Rebellion! Led a delegation of ministers to Blaine in NYC. Reference to the Democratic Party. Blaine was slow to repudiate the remark. Narrow victory for Cleveland [he wins NY by only 1149 votes!]. Dr. Samuel Burchard
1884 Presidential Election
Cleveland’s First Term The “Veto Governor” from New York. First Democratic elected since 1856. A public office is a public trust! His laissez-faire presidency: Opposed bills to assist the poor as well as the rich. Vetoed over 200 special pension bills for Civil War veterans!
Bravo, Señor Clevelando!
The Tariff Issue After the Civil War, Congress raised tariffs to protect new US industries. Big business wanted to continue this; consumers did not. 1885  tariffs earned the US $100 mil. in surplus! Mugwumps opposed it  WHY??? President Cleveland’s view on tariffs ???? Tariffs became a major issue in the 1888 presidential election.
Filing the Rough Edges Tariff of 1888
1888 Presidential Election Grover Cleveland Benjamin Harrison (DEM) * (REP)
Coming Out for Harrison
The Smallest Specimen Yet
1888 Presidential Election
Disposing the Surplus
Changing Public Opinion Americans wanted the federal govt. to deal with growing soc. & eco. problems & to curb the power of the trusts: Interstate Commerce Act – 1887 Sherman Antitrust Act – 1890 McKinley Tariff – 1890 Based on the theory that prosperity flowed directly from protectionism. Increased already high rates another 4%! Rep. Party suffered big losses in 1890 (even McKinley lost his House seat!).
1892 Presidential Election Grover Cleveland Benjamin Harrison again! * (DEM) (REP)
1892 Presidential Election
Cleveland Loses Support Fast! The only President to serve two non- consecutive terms. Blamed for the 1893 Panic. Defended the gold standard. Used federal troops in the 1894 Pullman strike. Refused to sign the Wilson-Gorman Tariff of 1894. Repealed the Sherman Silver Purchase Act.

More Related Content

Gilded Age Politics

  • 1. Gilded Age Politics By: Ms. Susan M. Pojer Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY
  • 2. The "Politics of Equilibrium"
  • 3. 1. A Two-Party Stalemate
  • 5. 2. Intense Voter Loyalty to the Two Major Political Parties
  • 6. 3. Well-Defined Voting Blocs Democratic Bloc Republican Bloc White southerners (preservation of white supremacy) Catholics Recent immigrants (esp. Jews) Urban working poor (pro-labor) Most farmers Northern whites (pro-business) African Americans Northern Protestants Old WASPs (support for anti-immigrant laws) Most of the middle class
  • 7. 4. Very Laissez Faire Federal Govt. From 1870-1900  Govt. did very little domestically. Main duties of the federal govt.: Deliver the mail. Maintain a national military. Collect taxes & tariffs. Conduct a foreign policy. Exception  administer the annual Civil War veterans’ pension.
  • 8. 5. The Presidency as a Symbolic Office Party bosses ruled. Presidents should avoid offending any factions within their own party. The President just doled out federal jobs. 1865  53,000 people worked for the federal govt. 1890  166,000 “ “ “ “ “ “ Senator Roscoe Conkling
  • 9. 1880 Presidential Election: Republicans Half Breeds Stalwarts Sen. James G. Blaine Sen. Roscoe Conkling (Maine) (New York) James A. Garfield Chester A. Arthur (VP) compromise
  • 11. Inspecting the Democratic Curiosity Shop
  • 13. 1881: Garfield Assassinated! Charles Guiteau: I Am a Stalwart, and Arthur is President now!
  • 14. Chester A. Arthur: The Fox in the Chicken Coup?
  • 15. Pendleton Act (1883) Civil Service Act. The “Magna Carta” of civil service reform. 1883  14,000 out of 117,000 federal govt. jobs became civil service exam positions. 1900  100,000 out of 200,000 civil service federal govt. jobs.
  • 16. Republican “Mugwumps” Reformers who wouldn’t re-nominate Chester A. Arthur. Reform to them  create a disinterested, impartial govt. run by an educated elite like themselves. Social Darwinists. Laissez faire government to them: Favoritism & the spoils system seen as govt. intervention in society. Their target was political corruption, not social or economic reform!
  • 17. The Mugwumps Men may come and men may go, but the work of reform shall go on forever. Will support Cleveland in the 1884 election.
  • 18. 1884 Presidential Election Grover Cleveland James Blaine * (DEM) (REP)
  • 19. A Dirty Campaign Ma, Ma…where’s my pa? He’s going to the White House, ha… ha… ha…!
  • 20. Little Lost Mugwump Blaine in 1884
  • 21. Rum, Romanism & Rebellion! Led a delegation of ministers to Blaine in NYC. Reference to the Democratic Party. Blaine was slow to repudiate the remark. Narrow victory for Cleveland [he wins NY by only 1149 votes!]. Dr. Samuel Burchard
  • 23. Cleveland’s First Term The “Veto Governor” from New York. First Democratic elected since 1856. A public office is a public trust! His laissez-faire presidency: Opposed bills to assist the poor as well as the rich. Vetoed over 200 special pension bills for Civil War veterans!
  • 25. The Tariff Issue After the Civil War, Congress raised tariffs to protect new US industries. Big business wanted to continue this; consumers did not. 1885  tariffs earned the US $100 mil. in surplus! Mugwumps opposed it  WHY??? President Cleveland’s view on tariffs ???? Tariffs became a major issue in the 1888 presidential election.
  • 26. Filing the Rough Edges Tariff of 1888
  • 27. 1888 Presidential Election Grover Cleveland Benjamin Harrison (DEM) * (REP)
  • 28. Coming Out for Harrison
  • 32. Changing Public Opinion Americans wanted the federal govt. to deal with growing soc. & eco. problems & to curb the power of the trusts: Interstate Commerce Act – 1887 Sherman Antitrust Act – 1890 McKinley Tariff – 1890 Based on the theory that prosperity flowed directly from protectionism. Increased already high rates another 4%! Rep. Party suffered big losses in 1890 (even McKinley lost his House seat!).
  • 33. 1892 Presidential Election Grover Cleveland Benjamin Harrison again! * (DEM) (REP)
  • 35. Cleveland Loses Support Fast! The only President to serve two non- consecutive terms. Blamed for the 1893 Panic. Defended the gold standard. Used federal troops in the 1894 Pullman strike. Refused to sign the Wilson-Gorman Tariff of 1894. Repealed the Sherman Silver Purchase Act.