Political Corruption in the Gilded Age: Calls for Reform

1. Section 3: Politics in the Gilded Age: • Main Idea: Local and national political corruption in the 19th Century led to calls for reform. • Why it Matters Now: Political reforms paved the way for a more honest and efficient government in the 20th Century and beyond.

2. Gilded Age Politics 1877-1900

3. The Gilded Age • Name comes from the title of an 1873 Mark Twain book • Referred to the “superficial glitter” of the new wealth that developed in the late 1800s • Dominated by a belief in limited government, laissez-faire economics, & Social Darwinism • Marked by political corruption & ineffectiveness

4. Gilded Age Politics • Era was most highly competitive politically in US history • Voter turnout reached highest levels in US history • Parties avoided controversial issues that might alienate voters • Led to issue-free campaigns focused on party loyalty & regional, religious, & ethnic ties

5. Political Corruption • Political Machines: Tightly organized groups of politicians that controlled the political parties in urban areas

6. Role of the Political Boss • The “Boss” (typically the mayor) controlled jobs, business licenses, and influenced the court system. Precinct captains and ward bosses, often 1st or 2nd generation immigrants, helped new immigrants with jobs, housing, and naturalization in exchange for votes. Boss Tweed ran NYC

7. The Tweed Ring Scandal William M. Tweed, known as Boss Tweed, was head of Tammany Hall, NYC’s powerful Democratic political machine. Between 1869-1871, he led the Tweed Ring of corrupt politicians in defrauding the city. Convicted of 120 counts of fraud & extortion, he was sentenced to 12 years in jail, but released after one. Rearrested, he escaped to Spain.

8. Political Corruption • Politics focused on winning and holding office, not on issues or legislation • Led to an increase in patronage (spoils system), i.e. giving away government offices for votes, kickbacks, & party service • Reformers targeted spoils system as being inefficient & corrupt

9. Republican Factions • Stalwarts and Half-Breeds • Stalwarts: Led by Roscoe Conkling, Senator who favored spoils system • Half-Breeds: Led by James G. Blaine, Congressman who favored civil service reform

10. Gilded Age Presidents Rutherford B Hayes (1877-1880) • Republican • Elected as a result of the Compromise of 1877; ended Reconstruction • Attempted to reestablish honest government after Grant • Supported temperance • Vetoed efforts to restrict Chinese immigration

11. Gilded Age Presidents James Garfield (1881) • Republican – Half-Breed • Appointed most patronage jobs to Half-Breeds; angered Conkling & the Stalwarts • Assassinated by a deranged Stalwart office seeker in 1881 • Became a martyr in a corrupt civil service system—spurred public demand for reform

12. Gilded Age Presidents Chester A Arthur (1881-1885) • Republican – Stalwart • Became president when Garfield died • Supported civil service reform • Signed the Pendleton Act (1883) • Prohibited hiring office holders based on wealth • Established a merit system for making appointments

13. Cleveland’s Presidency • First Democrat in 28 years • Staunch believer in laissez faire economics • Believed in the merit system, but eventually replaced Republicans with “deserving Democrats” • Vetoed farm assistance – “Though the people support the government, the government should not support the people.” • Vetoed pension bills • Supported a lower tariff • First real issue that divided the Democrats & Republicans • Would end a treasury surplus • Meant lower prices for consumers and less protection for monopolies

14. Benjamin Harrison’s Presidency • Reversed most of Cleveland’s policies • Sherman Silver Purchase Act • McKinley Tariff Act • Raised tariffs to highest peacetime level: 48% • Damaged farmers who voted the Republicans out in the next election