Politics in the Gilded Age: Causes of Stalemate

The opening chapter explores the fundamental causes of political gridlock during the Gilded Age. The period was characterized by governmental complacency and conservative approaches to governance, influenced by three main factors: political ideology, campaign tactics, and party patronage.

Definition: Social Darwinism and laissez-faire economics dominated political thinking, promoting limited government intervention in social and economic affairs.

Example: Campaign strategies relied heavily on spectacle, featuring brass bands, flags, and crowd-pleasing events to attract voters.

Highlight: Both major parties maintained strong organizational structures, with Republicans dominating state-level politics while Democrats controlled city politics.

The chapter also details the presidential politics of the era, beginning with Rutherford B. Hayes' controversial election in 1876 and his subsequent actions to end Reconstruction.