Unit 16 Flashcards
What two factions existed in the Republican Party?
The Stalwarts (Republicans who opposed any significant reforms in government) and the Half-Breeds (Republicans who were more moderate and favored at least some reforms)
How did President Hayes end Reconstruction?
By removing the last Federal troops from the South
Who were the two main candidates for President in 1880?
Republican James A. Garfield and Democrat Winfield Scott Hancock
What happened to President Garfield in July of 1881?
He was shot at a Washington railroad station and died several weeks later
What did the Pendleton Act provide for?
Those who scored highest on objective exams would get Federal jobs, not those who were political supporters of the President
Who were the two main presidential candidates in 1884?
Republican James G. Blaine and Democrat Grover Cleveland
What personal attacks were made against James G. Blaine and Grover Cleveland?
Blaine was attacked for his political maneuvering and for the use of his influence for personal gain, while Cleveland was attacked for his extramarital affair
What was the significance of Cleveland’s win?
It marked the first time a Democrat had been elected President in 28 years
What two opposite actions on civil service did President Cleveland take?
He doubled the number of Federal jobs on civil service, but then replaced about two/thirds of the Federal bureaucracy with what he called “honest Democrats”
What was Cleveland’s stance on Union Army veterans’ pensions?
He was opposed to them, thinking that the requests were fraudulent
Who were the two leading candidates for President in 1888?
Democrat Grover Cleveland and Republican Benjamin Harrison
What issue did the Dawes Act address?
Native American tribes to no longer be autonomous, and tribal lands were to be divided among individuals
What was the purpose of the Sherman Antitrust Act?
To forbid business combinations or conspiracies that linked trade or that created monopolies in interstate commerce
The U.S. Treasury increased its purchases of what during Harrison’s term?
Silver
What were the results of the 1890 mid-term election?
Democrats gained an almost 3-to-1 majority in the House and cut the Republican majority in the Senate from 14 to 6
What was the problem with state banks?
Due to state regulations varying, the worth, reliability, and notes varied as well
What were the restrictions felt under a hard money policy?
It did not allow enough money in the economy to encourage business and facilitate growth
What kind of banks did the National Bank Act of 1863 authorize?
Federal banks
What was the ratio of silver to gold used in minting coins?
16 ounces of silver to 1 ounce of gold
What did the Bland-Allison Act authorize?
2 million to 4 million dollars in silver coins to be minted each month at the ratio of $16 silver to $1 gold
What did the Sherman Silver Purchase Act require?
The Treasury to purchase $4.5 million in silver each month and to buy it with paper money that could be redeemed in either gold or silver
What is the term for using both silver and gold as the standard for money?
Bimetallism
What was Cleveland’s position on the Silver Purchase Act?
He had it repealed due to the threat of runaway inflation
What was the main interest of government during the late 1800s?
Making business conditions better
What group felt left out during this time?
Midwestern and southern farmers
What problems existed with organizing those who were felt left out during this time?
The fact that farmers were traditionally independent and lived several miles apart from each other
What was the first national organization specifically for farmers?
The National Grange of the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry (just remember the Grange)
What were the later groups formed for farmers called?
The Greenback Party, the Northwestern Alliance in the Midwest, and the Southern Alliance in the South
The political party organized by farmers was called what?
The People’s Party or the Populist Party
