14-1 Flashcards
From the end of Reconstruction to the late 1890’s, how was the electorate divided?
evenly between Democrats and Republicans
From the end of Reconstruction to the late 1890’s, how was voter turnout?
very high due to political machine services
How was party loyalty determined?
Mainly by region. Northerners tended to be Republican while Southerners tended to be Democrat.
Who controlled parties during this time?
bosses and machines
What would machines do within a party?
offer services in exchange for votes
What would bosses do within a party?
dictate who would hold what positions
What was the president more like at this time?
more symbolic
What was the president’s time mostly spent doing and which area dominated the most time?
The president’s time was mostly spent making appointments. The post office dominated this time.
What two groups did the Republicans split into?
half-breeds and stalwarts
What was the difference between half-breeds and stalwarts?
Half-breeds favored reform, while stalwarts favored traditional and professional machines politics.
This president’s presidency was known as “His Fraudulency.”
Rutherford B. Hayes
What was the compromise the Republicans came up with for the election of 1880? Did it work?
Nominating a half-breed (James Garfield) for president and a stalwart (Chester Arthur) for vice president. It worked due to unified efforts.
What happened to James Garfield?
He was shot twice while standing in Washington DC’s railroad station. (Basically a 50 Cent except he didn’t make it.)
How did Chester Arthur become president?
He became president because of his vice presidency during Garfield’s assassination.
Why did President Arthur try to follow an independent course?
He felt he wasn’t serving his own term.
What was President Arthur’s biggest accomplishment?
The Pendleton Act
What did the Pendleton Act do?
- made a limited number of federal jobs based on Civil Service (requiring a written exam)
- becoming a type of test case that most federal employees were required to complete by the mid 20th century
Who ran for election in 1884 and who won?
Democrat Grover Cleveland and Republican James Blaine. Cleveland won. (Arthur didn’t run for reelection.)
What did President Cleveland think about the people and the government?
He said “…though the people support the government, the Government should not support the people.”
What happened when President Cleveland tried to get Congress to reduce tariffs?
It ended in a deadlock. (Congress didn’t do anything.)
Who ran for election in 1884 and who won?
Democrat Grover Cleveland and Republican Benjamin Harrison. Harrison won despite Cleveland winning the popular vote.
What was President Harrison’s administration like?
drab and useless. He made no effort to influence Congress whatsoever.
Who really controlled Congress and the government during President Harrison’s presidency?
Thomas “Czar” Reed
What did the McKinley Tariff do?
raise tariffs to the highest point
Who won the election of 1892 and what did that make him?
Cleveland won. It made him the first president to serve two nonconsecutive terms.
What caused the financial depression in 1893?
overspending, speculation, labor disorders, and ongoing agricultural depression
Who helped bail out the government during the depression?
JP Morgan (the richest person at the time)
What was the Wilson-Gorman Tariff?
a small federal income tax
What did Congress pass to overrule the Supreme Court saying income taxes were unconstitutional?
16th amendment
How were presidents from Grant to Cleveland remembered overall?
forgettable
Who controlled politics during that time?
party bosses of political machines
