History Unit 11 Gilded Age Politics Flashcards
Thomas Nast
1st famous cartoonist
Exposes “Boss Tweed”
Uses simple, familiar images to make a point
How were politics corrupted
Spoils system-gov jobs for party members
Holds political parties together
Postmaster general–every president made head of post a friend
Who assassinated Garfield?
Charles J. Guiteau
Chester A Arthur
President, after Garfield, former VP
What was the Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883
Civil service commission test to get a job
Grover Cleveland
President (1884-1888) and (1892-1896)
Return to honesty
Economic issues (tariffs)
Role of tariffs
Higher=protect us industries (rep), expensive consumer goods (Dem)
Monetary Policy
Gold standard or bimetallism
Coinage Act of 1873
$1=1 piece of gold
Farmers issues
Low crop prices
Farmers mortgagee land to buy new materials
Debt rises
How was big business a problem
Railroads charge high prices for shipping
Monopolies over transportation
High interest rates from banks
Political leaders now from eastern urban states
What did the Populist Party (1892) believe
Coinage of silver (More money available, Pay debts easier)
Resist control of wealthy elite by having the government own railroads–>lowers price
What did William Jennings Bryan do
Gave the “Cross of Gold Speech”
Bimetallism –> you shall not crucify mankind on a crown of gold
Election 1896
Populists endorse Bryan as democratic nominee
Similar goals
Urban workers do NOT join, so William McKinley (R) wins
