Gilded Age Politics
15.3
Political Machine
• Informal group of politicians who controlled local governments
• Often Corrupt• Believed in the SPOILS SYSTEM:– Giving political positions to friends/supporters
LOCAL Corruption
• Election fraud– Having people vote twice in costumes
• Bribes/Payoffs– Took and offered money to officials to look the other
way• Exploited certain groups– Gave immigrants benefits in return for their vote
when naturalized• Scandals– Tweed ring pocketed millions after lying about the
cost of a court house
Federal Corruption
• Ulysses S. Grant Administration Scandals– 1869 Credit Mobilier• construction company that was set up to funnel money
to directors of Union Pacific Railroad• stocks were also given to top government officials
– 1875 Whiskey Ring• Grant’s private secretary and VP were involved in a
company that kept whiskey taxes that were supposed to go to the Federal Treasury
HAYES for President
• 1877 Rutherford B. Hayes calls for REFORM– Prohibited government employees from managing
political parties and campaigns
Garfield Carries the Torch
• 1880 James A. Garfield is elected – continues Hayes’ reform movement– Is assassinated in 1881 by Charles Guiteau
because he was denied a job.
Chester Arthur
• Turned against the spoils system as well• Pendleton Service Act– Promotions must be based on merit – Reduced corruption
CLIP
• As you watch the clip answer the following questions– How many scandals was Grant involved in?– What was the Salary Grab?– Why, ultimately, was this corruption “Grant’s
fault”?
– BREAK TIME
Farmers in Politics• Hardships– Crop prices were falling– Railroad companies over-charged for transporting
crops– Farmers borrowed large sums of money to
purchase farm equipment
Farmers in Politics
• National Grange– Unite farmers and regulate railroad rates
• Farmers Alliance– Formed a new political party
• Populist Party– “people’s party” to represent the common people
Cleveland and McKinley
• 1892 Grover Cleveland is elected– Economic depression– Maintained Gold Standard
• 1896 William McKinley– Also maintains GS
CLIP
• As you watch the clip answer the following questions– Who did the farmers feel was at fault for their
misfortune?
– List one of the Populist Party ideals.
– BREAKTIME
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