National Politics of the Gilded Age

Unit 19: National PoliticsAPUSH

Mrs. Baker

Do-It-Now Activity

Define the economic and social characteristics of the Gilded Age.

Explain the impact of these characteristics on the economic and social make-up of American society during this time period.

Brainstorm…

Political characteristics of the Gilded Age

Politics of the Gilded Age

The “Politics of Equilibrium”

Causes of Stalemate

1. Prevailing political ideology of the time

2. Campaign tactics of the two party

3. Party patronage

4. Well-Defined Voting Blocs

5. The Presidency as a Symbolic Office

Belief in a Limited Government

“Do-Little” Government◦ Laissez-faire economics◦ Social Darwinism

From 1870 – 1900:◦ Government did very littler domestically

Main responsibilities of government◦ Deliver the mail.◦ Maintain national military◦ Collect taxes and tariffs◦ Conduct foreign policy

Only exception is the administration of Civil War veterans’ pensions

Campaign Tactics

Election campaigns of time were characterized by:◦Brass bands, flags, campaign buttons, picnics,

free beer, and crowd pleasing oratory.

Campaigns focused on the show and not the big issues.◦80% of eligible voters voted in presidential

elections.

Intense Loyalty to the Two Major Political Parties

Party PatronageA Two-Party Stalemate

Two Party Balance

Well-Defined Voting Blocs

White southerners◦Preservation of white

supremacyCatholicsRecent immigrants

◦Esp. JewsUrban working poor

◦Pro-laborMost farmers

Northern whites◦Pro-business

African AmericansNorthern

ProtestantsMost of the middle

class

Democratic Republican

Party Patronage

Result of inactive legislative agenda:◦Politics became a game of

gaining office, holding office, and providing government jobs to the party faithful.

Created division within the parties

Senator Roscoe Conkling

Presidential Election of 1880: Republicans

Half BreedsSen. James Blaine

(Maine)

StalwartsSen. Roscoe

Conkling(New York)

James A. Garfield Chester A. Arthur

Presidential Election of 1880:Democrats

Inspecting the Democratic Curiosity Shop

Election Results

1881: Garfield Assassinated

Charles Guiteau:I am a Stalwart, and Arthur is President now!

Pendleton Act (1883)

Civil Service Act

The “Magna Carta” of civil service reform◦ Set up Civil Service

Commission◦ Created a system by

which applicants for classified federal jobs would be selected based on their scores.

Republican “Mugwumps”

The Election of 1884

Grover Cleveland (Democrat)

James Blaine(Republican)

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!

Results of Election

Cleveland’s First Term

Bravo Senor Clevelando

The Tariff Issue

Presidential Election of 1888

Grover Cleveland(Democrat)

Benjamin Harrison(Republican)

Results of Election

Disposing the Surplus

Billion-dollar Congress

Election of 1892

Cleveland Loses Support

Essential Questions

Discuss the characteristics of American politics at the national and state levels during the Gilded Age.

Discuss the major political and economic issues of the Gilded Age.◦Examine the government action on these issues.

Explain the characteristics of American presidents during the Gilded Age◦Discuss how each carried out the duties of his office.