National Politics of the Gilded Age
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Transcript of National Politics of the Gilded Age
National Politics of the Gilded Age
National Politics of the Gilded AgeUnit 19: National PoliticsAPUSHMrs. BakerDo-It-Now ActivityDefine 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. BrainstormPolitical characteristics of the Gilded Age
Politics of the Gilded AgeThe Politics of EquilibriumCauses of StalematePrevailing political ideology of the time
Campaign tactics of the two party
Party patronage
Well-Defined Voting Blocs
The Presidency as a Symbolic Office
Belief in a Limited GovernmentDo-Little GovernmentLaissez-faire economicsSocial Darwinism
From 1870 1900:Government did very littler domestically
Main responsibilities of governmentDeliver the mail.Maintain national militaryCollect taxes and tariffsConduct foreign policy
Only exception is the administration of Civil War veterans pensionsCampaign TacticsElection 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 BlocsWhite southernersPreservation of white supremacyCatholicsRecent immigrantsEsp. JewsUrban working poorPro-laborMost farmersNorthern whitesPro-businessAfrican AmericansNorthern ProtestantsMost of the middle classDemocraticRepublicanParty PatronageResult 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 ConklingPresidential Election of 1880: RepublicansHalf BreedsSen. James Blaine(Maine)StalwartsSen. Roscoe Conkling(New York)
James A. GarfieldChester A. ArthurPresidential 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 reformSet up Civil Service CommissionCreated a system by which applicants for classified federal jobs would be selected based on their scores.
1883 14,000 out of117,000 federal govt.jobs became civilservice exam positions.1900 100,000 out of 200,000 civil service federal govt. jobs.
19Republican Mugwumps
The Election of 1884Grover Cleveland (Democrat)James Blaine(Republican)
A Dirty CampaignMa, Ma wheres my pa?
Hes going to the White House, ha ha ha!
Little Lost MugwumpBlaine in 1884
Rum, Romanism, & Rebellion!Results of ElectionClevelands First TermBravo Senor Clevelando
The Tariff IssuePresidential Election of 1888Grover Cleveland(Democrat)Benjamin Harrison(Republican)
Results of Election
Disposing the Surplus
Billion-dollar CongressElection of 1892
Cleveland Loses SupportEssential QuestionsDiscuss 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 AgeDiscuss how each carried out the duties of his office.