Chapter 8 Flashcards
political machines
well-organized political parties in charge of public offices
- managed by political bosses
Alexander Shepherd
political boss who spent $20 million on civic improvements and new jobs in Washington D.C.
What role did political machines play in the growth of U.S. cities?
provided jobs
What demands did political bosses work to achieve?
- fire and police departments
- sanitation departments
- construction of bridges, parks, schools, streets, sewer systems, and utility systems
Tammany Hall
a democratic political machine in New York City that helped immigrants become naturalized and find temporary housing
James Pendergast
a political boss from Kansas City, Missouri who provided jobs and special services to his African American, Irish American, and Italian American constituents
Describe the relationship between immigrants and political machines.
immigrants needed jobs and political machines needed votes
graft
the acquisition of money/political power through illegal or dishonest methods
kickbacks
payments of part of the earnings from a job or contract
What scandals occurred during Grant’s presidency?
- gold scandal
- railroad credit scandal
- whiskey ring scandal
Who became president in 1876 after Ulysses S. Grant?
Rutherford B. Hayes
Who became president and vice president in 1880?
- James A. Garfield was president
- Chester A. Arthur was vice president
How did Chester A. Arthur become president?
Garfield was assassinated
Pendleton Civil Service Act
established the Civil Service Commission to administer exams to people seeking government jobs
What economic hardships did farmers face?
- oversupply
- low prices for crops
- high prices for land and machinery
- high rates for freights
- loans couldn’t be repaid
- lost their farms
cooperatives
organizations in which groups of farmers pool their resources to buy and sell goods
graduated income tax
taxed higher incomes at a higher rate
Farmers’ Alliance
a farmers organization that offered farmers low cost insurance; lobbied for tougher bank regulations, government ownership of railroads, and a graduated income tax
Mary Elizabeth Lease
leader of the Farmers’ Alliance movement who traveled the county urging people to take action
Interstate Commerce Act
prohibited railroads from giving secret refunds to large shippers or charging more for short hauls
gold standard
type of monetary system in which a dollar is worth a specific amount in gold
Sherman Silver Purchase Act
required the government to buy silver each month and mint it into coins
List the platforms of the Populist Party.
- graduated income tax
- government ownership of railroads
- free coinage of silver
William McKinley
became president in 1896; adopted a conservative platform upholding the gold standard
