Gilded Age (1865-90)

Question 1

What was the Gold Scandal of 1869 about?

Answer 1

It was when Gould and Fisk tried to manipulate the govts. gold reserves

Question 2

What was the Whiskey Ring Scandal of 1875 about?

Answer 2

It was when a group of distillers conspired to defraud the govt. of millions of taxes

Question 3

What was the Congress Salary Grab of 1873 about?

Answer 3

It increased wages by 50% and made it retrospective for 2 years

Question 4

In 1880, the republican party was divided over finding a successor for Hayes. What were these divides?

Answer 4

Stalwarts - grouped around Conkling, ‘Half breeds’ - reformist group led by James Blaine

Question 5

What did Garfield do?

Answer 5

He strengthened the control of the New York’s Customs House (removed Conkilng) and reformed the Post Office

Question 6

What was formed in 1881 and what was its aim?

Answer 6

The Civil Service Reform League - campaign for an end to the patronage

Question 7

What was passed in 1883 by Arthur and what did it mean?

Answer 7

Pendleton Act - Meant that govt. jobs had to be awarded on merit and capabilty

Question 8

Who was Cleveland supported by?

Answer 8

Mugwumps
(Republicans that would rather support an honest Democrat)

Question 9

What was passed in 1890 (during Harrison’s presidency)?

Answer 9

the Sherman Anti Trust Act and the Sherman Silver Act

Question 10

What did the EC Knight Case of 1895 show? What did the sugar company (EC Knight) get away with?

Answer 10

1. Showed that the Sherman Anti Trust Act was not effective and had loopholes
2. Got away with owning a 98% share of USA’s sugar refining

Question 11

Harrison had a cabinet full of men who had paid for his election campaign and congress was dominated by Republicans, WHY?

Answer 11

So that he could push through a political agenda, incuding the McKingley Tariff Act

Question 12

What did Cleveland repeal in 1893 after the depression?

Answer 12

Silver

Question 13

What did Cleveland pass in response to the Pullman strike of 1894 and what was it about?

Answer 13

The Omnibus Indictment Act - was an injunction against the strike which also sent in troops to stop the strike

Question 14

What did Cleveland vetoe and what was it about?

Answer 14

Texas Seed bill - would have provided seeds to drought sicken farmers (Cleveland argued that it was not the govts. responsibility to provide charity)

Question 15

Cleveland vetoed more bills than any previous president had, why? What did he believe?

Answer 15

He believed he had to stop ‘bad laws’