The Gilded Age - The Era of Weak Presidents

Question 1

Name presidents in order from 1876-1892 and the years they were in power from

Answer 1

1877-81: Rutherford Hayes; Republican
1881: James Garfield; Republican
1881-84: Chester Arthur; Republican
1884-89: Grover Cleveland; Democrat
1893-97: Grover Cleveland; Democrat

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Question 2

Why is the last third of the 19th century and twentieth century criticised by historians?

Answer 2

• a period of excessive corruption in political life
  politicians only interested in furthering selfish, often economic, interests - rather than public good
• described as an age of “negation”, “cynicism” and “excess”

Question 3

What were the democrats and republicans like?

Answer 3

• few differences between the parties
• similar ideologies at this time

Question 4

who dominated the new york custom house?

Answer 4

• Roscoe Conkling and Thurlow Weed dominated politics by control of New York Custom House
• New York main port,controlling commerce and collecting revenue from ports
• centre of spoils system
• employed 1000 workers

Question 5

what were politicians like in this period?

Answer 5

• small minded and corrupt
• little real concern for policy or public good
• spoils system corrupt

Question 6

give an example of corruption in the New York Custom House?

Answer 6

• undervalued imports then make an official discovery of the mistake
• then had to be forfeit under law
• half the total went to the head of the Custom House

Question 7

Some historians argue the opposite of this negative view? what do they say?

Answer 7

• some leaders did want to make a difference
• they did try to reduce corruption
• sig dif between D and R
• Republicans placed greater stress on gov activism to encourage further economic development
• the protective tariff a centrepiece of R economic programme
• favour of restricting immigration
• D tended to cling to parties traditional belief in very limited federal and state government intervention - opposed tariff reform and protectionism
• One democratic voting strength was the solid support from white segregationists in the South
• reflected southern resentment of Republicans carried over from the Civil War and Reconstruction
• AA when they had right to vote likely to vote for R