121B: The presidents of the Gilded Age Flashcards
Who were the four presidents of the Gilded Age?
Hayes, Garfield, Arthur and Cleveland
What two major issues dominated the presidency of Hayes?
Civil Service Reform and the Railroad Strike of 1877
Instead of giving jobs to political supporters, how did Hayes wish to award jobs?
By merit, according to an examination that all applicants had to take
By the 1870s what was the government made up of?
Incompetent and demoralised party hacks
What did Hayes call for reform bring him into?
Conflict with those who supported favoured the spoils system
Did Hayes convince Congress to outlaw the spoils system?
No
What executive order did Hayes issue instead?
An order which forbade federal officeholders from being required to make campaign contributions or taking part in party politics
Although reform legislation did not pass during Haye’s presidency what did he set the way for?
Further civil service reform under his successors, particularly the Pendleton Act of 1883
What was Hayes faced with in his first year in office?
The largest labour disturbance in US history, the Great Railroad Strike of 1877
What caused the Railroad Strike?
The major railroads cut their employees wages several times in 1877, which led to a strike of railroad workers
What did Hayes show in response to the Great Railroad Strike?
Federal government support for business and industry in the face of possible strike action, as Hayes was prepared to send federal troops to prevent riots
How long did Garfield’s presidency last?
Only a matter of months
Did Garfield support reform of the civil service?
Yes, he believed the spoils system was damaging to the presidency
What else did Garfield continue from his predecessor?
Reform of the Post Office
Why was there a Congressional investigation into the Post Office Department?
Profiteering rings allegedly stole millions of dollars, employing bogus mail contracts called ‘star routes’
Who did Garfield force the resignation of?
Thomas J Brady, one of the ringleaders of the ‘star routes’ who was indicted for conspiracy in 1883
What happened to Garfield on 2nd July 1881?
President Garfield was assassinated by Charles Guiteau
What did Garfield’s death call for?
The increased demand for and support of further civil service reform
What was Arthur’s most notable civil reform act?
The Pendleton Act of 1883
How did the Pendleton act come about?
Senator George Pendleton authored this act, the first law was intended to begin the professional handling of the civil service
What was the beginning of the end of the spoils system?
The creation of the first Civil Service Commission
What did the Pendleton Act call for?
A merit system for promotions within the service and ensured continuity in federal employees from one administration to the next
What was the other first law that Arthur signed?
The first federal immigration law that excluded paupers, criminals and the mentally ill
What other immigration law did Congress pass?
The Chinese Exclusion Act
What was the original draft of the Chinese Exclusion Act?
Chinese immigration would have been illegal for 20 years and excluded Chinese immigrants from US citizenship
How did Arthur respond to the initial draft of the Chinese Exclusion Act?
He vetoed the bill and signed a revised bill that was not as harsh
What did Arthur try to do to tariffs?
Lower tariff rates
What act did Arthur sign in 1883?
The Tariff Act
What did the Tariff Act do?
Reduced tariffs by an average of 1.47%
What was Cleveland the first of after the Civil War?
The first Democratic president elected after the Civil War
What did Cleveland continue to reform?
The Civil Service
What did Cleveland announce he would do when he took office?
He would not fire any Republican doing his job well and he would not employ anyone on the basis of party service
What did Cleveland believe in?
Limited role for federal government
What did Cleveland often resort to doing?
Using his veto powers as he faced a Republican-dominated Senate
What is the most famous veto Cleveland used?
The veto against the Texas Seed Bill
What would the Texas Seed Bill have done?
Appropriated $10,000 to purchase seed grain for farmers in Texas who experienced droughts
