Gilded Age Politics

Parties, Patronage and Public Interest

Why was party identity so strong in the Gilded Age?

• Republicans & Democrats not far apart on many issues, but..

• Regional loyalty– South staunchly Democrat (anti-Republican)

• Ethnicity/Religion– Democrats appeal to immigrants and Catholics

Presidential Politics

• Republicans dominate presidency in post-Civil War period

• “Compromise of 1877”– Rutherford B. Hayes (R) awarded presidency– Reconstruction ends

How did the Republican Party evolve during the Gilded Age?

• “Stalwarts”– Favored machine

patronage

• “Half Breeds”– Favored some reform (but

not really)

How did the Republican Party evolve during the Gilded Age?

• James Garfield assassinated 1881– Paul Guiteau, disgruntled office seeker– Civil service reform (Pendleton Act)

Election of 1884

• “Mugwumps”– Republicans who voted Democrat

because they were fed up with patronage

• Grover Cleveland (D) reform NY Governor becomes President– Tarriff issue– Lost to Benjamin Harrison 1888

Emerging Reform

• Interstate Commerce Act (1888)– Federal oversight of railroad

industry

• Sherman Antitrust Act (1890)– Outlawed “combinations” in

restraint of trade– In first decade targeted labor

unions

Election of 1892

• McKinley Tariff (1890)– Increased import duties to highest levels– Angers farmers and consumers

• People’s Party runs national campaign

• Cleveland defeats Harrison– Only president to serve two non-consecutive terms