Download
1 / 17
170 likes | 365 Views
Chapter 7. Section2. Political and Economic Challenges. THE PRACTICE OF GIVING GOVERNMENT POSITITIONS TO POLITICAL SUPORTERS WAS THE ACCEPTED WAY OF STAFFING FEDERAL OFFICES BETWEEN 1877 AND 1900 INACTION AND POLITICAL CORRUPTION CHARACTERIZED THE POLITICAL SCENE DURING THE GILDED AGE.
E N D
Chapter 7 Section2 Political and Economic Challenges
THE PRACTICE OF GIVING GOVERNMENT POSITITIONS TO POLITICAL SUPORTERS WAS THE ACCEPTED WAY OF STAFFING FEDERAL OFFICES • BETWEEN 1877 AND 1900 INACTION AND POLITICAL CORRUPTION CHARACTERIZED THE POLITICAL SCENE DURING THE GILDED AGE The Spoils System
Spoils System • Winning Presidential candidate gave government jobs to supporters • Began with Andrew Jackson • Rationale for system: • - Gov’t remains responsive to the people • - Assured loyalty to the President • - Increases party support
Stalemate • ONLY TWICE BETWEEN 1877 AND 1897 DID EITHR THE REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS GAIN CONTROL OF THE WHITE HOUSE AND BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS AT THE SAME TIME – MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO PASS NEW LAWS • PRESIDENTS OF THE GILDED AGE WERE WEAK: • 1. THEY WON BY SLIM MARGINS • 2.SEEMED TO LACK INTEGRITY
Stalemate • RUTHERFORD B. HAYES OWED HIS ELECTION TO A SECRET DEAL
Stalemate • BENJAMIN HARRISON BECAME ONLY THE SECOND PRIESIDENT IN HISTORY TO LOSE THE POPULAR VOTE BUT WIN THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE
Stalemate • CHESTER ARTHUR BECAME PRESIDENT AFTER GARFIELD’S ASSASSINATION BUT DID NOT WIN HIS PARTY’S NOMINATION IN THE FOLLOWING ELECTION
Stalemate • PRESIDENT WITH MOST INTEGRITY DURING THIS ERA: GROVER CLEVELAND – IN 1884 HE BECAME THE FIRST DEMOCRAT TO WIN THE WHITE HOUSE IN 24 YEARS
POLITICAL CARTOONISTS EXPRESSED THEIR CONCERN ABOUT THE DAMAGING EFFECTS OF CORRUPTION AND BIG MONEY • POLITICAL PARTIES AND THE SPOILS SYSTEM WERE CENTRAL COMPONENTS OF POLITICS DURING THE GILDED AGE – SPOILS SYSTEM FIRST USED BY ANDREW JACKSON – PRESIDENT FROM TENNESSEE Corruption The Bosses of the Senate
Civil Service Reform • THE SPOILS SYSTEM PROMPTED A NUMBER OF PROMINENT FIGURES TO PROMOTE CIVIL SERVICE REFORM – GIVING PEOPLE JOBS BASED ON THEIR EXPERTISE NOT WHICH PARTY THEY BELONGED TO
Civil Service Reform • CIVIL SERVICE– IS A SYSTEM THAT INCLUDES • FEDERAL JOBS IN THE • EXECUTIVE BRANCH
Civil Service Reform • REFORMING THE SPOILS SYSTEM CAUSED CONTROVERSY – POLITICIANS FELT THEY COULD NOT ATTRACT THE PEOPLE NEEDED TO RUN THEIR PARTIES • INDEPENDENT ATTEMPTS BY POLITICIANS TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM FAILED • REPUBLICAN PARTY DID NOT SUPPORT REFORM EFFORTS
Civil Service Reform • THE ASSASSINATION OF JAMESGARFIELD WAS THE REASON FOR THE SUPPORT OF REFORM – HE WAS ASSASSINATED BY CHARLES J.GUITEAU – HE WAS ANGRY BECAUSE HE BELIEVED THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FAILED TO GIVE HIM A GOVERNMENT JOB HE HAD BEEN PROMISED
CHESTER ARTHUR – GARFIELD’S SUCCESSOR – SUPPORTED THE MOVEMENT FOR CIVIL SERVICE REFORM • ARTHUR SIGNED THE PENDLETON CIVIL SERVICE ACTWHICH ESTABLISHED A CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION – WHICH WROTE A CIVIL SERVICE EXAM – PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT HAD TO TAKE THE EXAM – GETTING A JOB DEPENDED ON HOW WELL AN INDIVIDUAL DID ON THE EXAM
Economic Issues • THE TARIFF AND MONETARY POLICY WERE CRITICAL ECONOMIC ISSUES DURING THE GILDED AGE – DIVIDED DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS • INDEPENDENT POLITICAL PARTIES DISAGREED WITH THE MAJOR PARTY’S COMMITMENT TO THE GOLD STANDARD – USING GOLD FOR THE NATIONS CURRENCY
Tariffs • ISSUES OVER TARIFFS DIVIDED • DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS – • BECAME A MAJOR ISSUE DURING • THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF • 1888
Tariffs • THE REPUBLICANS FAVORED HIGH TARIFFS BECAUSE IT WOULD ALLOW AMERICAN INDUSTRY TO GROW AND PROMOTE JOBS IN MANUFACTURING • THE DEMOCRATS WERE AGAINST HIGH TARIFFS BECAUSE IT INCREASED THE COST OF GOODS TO CONSUMERS AND MADE IT HARDER FOR AMERICAN FARMERS TO SELL THEIR GOODS
