National Politics and Reform

National Politics and Reform

Target: I can describe political reforms of the late 1800s.

I) The Grant Years

I) The Grant Years

• A) Following the Civil War, Gen. Grant became president

I) The Grant Years

• A) Following the Civil War, Gen. Grant became president – 1) His two terms were filled with

corruption, scandal, and political conflict

I) The Grant Years

• B) The Republican and Democratic parties fought fiercely

I) The Grant Years

• B) The Republican and Democratic parties fought fiercely – 1) Republicans continually reminded

voters that the democrats (south) were to blame for the Civil War

I) The Grant Years


voters that the democrats (south) was to blame for the Civil War • a. As a result, many African-Americans

were voting Republican

I) The Grant Years


voters that the democrats (south) was to blame for the Civil War • a. As a result, many African-Americans

were voting Republican • b. While many whites in the Radical

South did not like reconstruction and voted democrat

I) The Grant Years

• B) The Republican and Democratic parties fought fiercely – 2) The Democrats accused the

Republicans of “waving the bloody shirt” • a. Stirring up wartime feelings to appeal

to voters

I) The Grant Years

• B) The Republican and Democratic parties fought fiercely – 2) The Democrats accused the

Republicans of “waving the bloody shirt” • a. Stirring up wartime feelings to appeal

to voters – 3) While the nation was evenly split

between the two parties, the Republicans tended to win and hold office more often

II) Corruption in Gov’t

A) The Credit Mobilier Scandal


• 1. This construction company was paid by the gov’t to build the Union Pacific RR


• 1. This construction company was paid by the gov’t to build the Union Pacific RR

• 2. They exaggerated costs and bribed members of Congress and the VP to stay quiet

B) The Spoils System


• 1. Victorious presidents would appoint their supporters to gov’t positions


• 1. Victorious presidents would appoint their supporters to gov’t positions

• 2. However, they often did not know how to do their job

C) These factors led the term Gilded Age

C) These factors led the term Gilded Age

• 1. The wealth and success of the nation masked the corruption and greed

III) Civil Service Reform

A) Rutherford B. Hayes (Ohio) ran for president and was elected in 1876 on a civil service platform

A) Rutherford B. Hayes (Ohio) ran for president and was elected in 1876 on a civil service platform • 1. Civil service- a test that

determines who is best qualified for a job

A) Rutherford B. Hayes (Ohio) ran for president and was elected in 1876 on a civil service platform • 1. Civil service- a test that

determines who is best qualified for a job

• 2. Congress did not accept Hayes’ plan

B) It would take the assassination of President Garfield (Ohio) in 1881

before Congress would accept change


before Congress would accept change • 1. Garfield was killed by a man who

was upset that he did not get a gov’t job


before Congress would accept change • 1. Garfield was killed by a man who

was upset that he did not get a gov’t job

• 2. The Pendleton Civil Service Act allows potential workers to take a test, those with the highest scores are hired, and cannot be fired for political reasons

C) There would be set-backs though


• 1. 1884, Cleveland was elected president the first democrat since the Civil War


• 1. 1884, Cleveland was elected president the first democrat since the Civil War

• 2. he would double the # of gov’t jobs and bring in numerous democrats

National Politics and Reform

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