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The Gilded Age Politics: Corruption and Reform

The political landscape of the Gilded Age in post-Civil War America was marred by corruption and ineptitude, as parties vied for power while neglecting pressing issues. The Compromise of 1877 and emergence of Jim Crow laws reflect the era's complexities. From the Grant Administration to the Forgettable Presidents, this period saw significant events like the Panic of 1873 and the rise of Populism. Explore the themes of monetary reform, racial segregation, and economic turmoil in a transformative era that shaped American politics.

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The Gilded Age Politics: Corruption and Reform

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  1. Ch. 23 Politics of the Gilded Age Theme: Even as post-Civil War American expanded and industrialized, political life in the Gilded Age was marked by ineptitude, stalemate, and corruption. Despite their similarity at the national level, the two parties compete fiercely for offices and spoils, while doling out “pork-barrel” benefits to veterans and other special interests groups. Theme: The serious issues of monetary and agrarian reform, labor, race, and economic fairness were largely swept under the rug by the political system, until revolting farmers and a major economic depression beginning in 1893 created a growing sense of crisis and demands for radical change. Theme: The Compromise of 1877 made reconstruction officially over and white Democrats resumed political power of the South. Blacks, as well as poor whites, found themselves forced into sharecropping and tenant farming; what began as informal separation of blacks and whites in the immediate postwar years evolved into systematic state-level legal codes of segregation known as Jim Crow laws.

  2. I. Grant Administration • Election of Grant (1868) • “bloody shirt” but “Freedman” more influential • “Ohio Idea” a. Hard v. soft money Issue • Challenges • Corruption • Gold Ring (Jim Fiske and Jay Gould) • Tweed Ring • Credit Mobilier • Election of 1872 (“Turn Rascals Out”) • Panic of 1873 • Bankers and Railroads • Congress controlled reckless growth with Specie Resumption Act of 1875 • Debtors push for silver but Congress stops minting Silver coins in 1873— “Crime of ’73” • Bland-Allison Act, 1878 was a compromise • Greenback Labor Party, 1878 (soft) • Accomplishments • 15th Amendment • Yellowstone National Park Grant and GOP: Hard money advocates

  3. “Let Us Prey” by Thomas Nast

  4. II. “Forgettable Presidents”(Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, Cleveland, and Harrison) • Characteristics of Era • Two-party differences minimal but high voter turn-out. • GOP factions • “Stalwarts” (R. Conkling) • “Halfbreeds” (J. Blaine) • “Mugwumps” (Nast) • Hayes (1876-1880) • Compromise of 1877 • Ethnic Conflict • Jim Crow Laws • Plessy v. Furguson (1896) • Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) • Garfield/Arthur (1880-1884) • Pendleton Act, 1883 • Cleveland (1884-1888) • “Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion” • Laissesz faire approach to business • Military Pensions • Lower tariffs “I am a Stalwart. Arthur is now President of the U.S.” Charles Guiteau in a Baltimore train station in 1881

  5. II. “Forgettable Presidents” (cont.) E. Harrison (1888-1892) • “The Billion Dollar Congress” a. Speaker “Czar Reed” • Sherman Silver Purchase Act, 1890 (soft) • McKinley Tariff Bill, 1890-48%! • Rise of Populism • Farmer’s Alliances, 1880’s • People’s Party, 1890’s • Despite efforts TW, racial division in south “What can I do when both parties insist on kicking?”

  6. II. “Forgettable Presidents” (cont.) F. Cleveland (1892-1896) • Election of 1892 • Populists and the Omaha Platform: Platform: 16 to 1, graduated income tax, govt ownership RR, Initiative and Referendum, postal saving banks, direct election of senators, one-term limit, 8-hour work day, immigration restrictions. • Major Issue: Tariff • Panic of 1893-Worst in century! • Causes • Responses • Repeal Sherman SPA despite efforts of WJB. • Morgan’s Bonds • Wilson-Gorman Bill, 1894

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