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
• B) The Republican and Democratic parties fought fiercely – 1) Republicans continually reminded
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
• B) The Republican and Democratic parties fought fiercely – 1) Republicans continually reminded
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
A) The Credit Mobilier Scandal
• 1. This construction company was paid by the gov’t to build the Union Pacific RR
A) The Credit Mobilier Scandal
• 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
B) The Spoils System
• 1. Victorious presidents would appoint their supporters to gov’t positions
B) The Spoils System
• 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
B) It would take the assassination of President Garfield (Ohio) in 1881
before Congress would accept change • 1. Garfield was killed by a man who
was upset that he did not get a gov’t job
B) It would take the assassination of President Garfield (Ohio) in 1881
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
C) There would be set-backs though
• 1. 1884, Cleveland was elected president the first democrat since the Civil War
C) There would be set-backs though
• 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
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