The Gilded Age - The Presidency of Hayes (1876 - 1881) Flashcards
1
Q
The Presidency of Hayes (1876 - 1881)
What were the aims of President Hayes? /
What did he do to achieve this?
continuety?
A
He wanted to change the civil service office holders elections from the spoils system to appointment by merit:
- faced conflict from those who favoured spoils system e.g Roscoe Conkling
- Appointed Carl Schurz (secretary of the interior) and William M. Evarts (secretary of state) to lead a cabinet committee to draw up new rules for federal appointments
- Congress would not outlaw the spoils system
- Hayes issued an executive order that forbade federal officeholders from being required to make campaign contributions
- Legislation did not pass under Hayes but it could be argued he pave the way for later reform
2
Q
The Presidency of Hayes (1876 - 1881)
When were the Railroad Strikes?
What were the Railroad Strikes?
A
- The Great Railroad Strike of 1877
- Recover from 1873 financial losses, major railroad companies cut employees wages several times in 1877
- Led to a strike of railway workers
- Hayes was prepared to send in federal troops
- This showed federal government support for business and industry in the face of strike action
3
Q
The Presidency of Hayes (1876 - 1881)
What were Hayes strengths?
A
- Won support of big business during railway strike
- Attempted Civil Service reform that paved the way for later legislation
4
Q
The Presidency of Hayes (1876 - 1881)
What were Hayes weaknesses?
A
- Lacked the support of Congress (i.e on Civil Service reform issue)
- Faced strong opposition from the ‘Stalwarts’ (a faction of Republican Party led by Senator Conkling)
- Achieved very little
