Presidents

Question 1

Rutherford B. Hayes (Republican, 1877 – 1881)

Answer 1

a quiet compromiser who emphasized nat’l unity, opposed violence, and attempted to get rid of the spoils system by battling Conklin (he fired Chester Arthur, Conklin’s protégé, from NY Customs).

Question 2

James Garfield (Republican, 1881)

Answer 2

aimed to reduce the tariff and maintain and independent position, but he was assassinated by a rebuffed patronage seeker and was succeeded by former Conklin protégé

Question 3

Chester Arthur (Republican, 1881 – 1885)

Answer 3

became a prudent leader: he passed the Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883), supported RRD regulation, and used the veto to control business.

Question 4

Grover Cleveland (Democrat, 1885 – 1889)

Answer 4

expanded civil service, vetoed private pension bills, and tried [and failed] to lower tariffs. Cleveland was defeated in 1888 by Benjamin Harrison (Republican, 1889 – 1893) b/c he was better at cheating.

Question 5

Harrison

Answer 5

influenced the legislation that was passed, resulting in more bills than usual; issues dealt w/included civil service reform and the Dependents’ Pension Act [Union veterans]. Consequently, though, the budget exploded, giving the Democrats another opportunity.

Question 6

Cleveland ran again and won, during his second term (1893 – 1897) he attempted to

Answer 6

deal w/currency, tariffs, and labor problems but ended up having to rely on big business, esp. b/c of the panic of 1893.