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.