Politics in the Gilded Age: APUSH Study Guide 🏛️
Introduction
Welcome to the rollercoaster ride of Gilded Age politics! 🌀 From the colorful characters in government to epic political standoffs, this era had it all. Grab your popcorn, history lovers, and let’s unravel the saga of the United States from 1865 to 1898, where political corruption and party rivalries were as common as mustaches on men!
The Political Landscape 🎫
The Big Two: Republicans and Democrats
In the North, Republicans weren't just waving their hands—they were waving the "bloody shirt," constantly reminding everyone of the Civil War. They blamed Southern Democrats for the bloodshed and Lincoln’s assassination. This emotional appeal was their way of saying, "Never forget!" Their support mainly came from peppy business folks, middle-class Anglo-Saxon Protestants, and dedicated reformers.
Meanwhile, down in the South, the Democrats were as solid as a free refill on sweet tea. Post-1877, they owned every election in the former Confederate states, with their stronghold fueled by big city political machines and the immigrant vote in the North. Their supporters? Mostly Catholics, Lutherans, and Jews who just wanted to keep their drinks flowing, opposing the teetotaller Republicans.
Patronage and the Colorful Cast: Stalwarts, Halfbreeds, and Mugwumps
Forget legislative agendas; winning elections and grabbing jobs was the name of the game. In New York, Senator Roscoe Conkling led the Stalwarts, securing jobs for loyal party members. His opponents, the Halfbreeds, led by James G. Blaine, wanted to act cool and push for civil service reform. And then there were the Mugwumps, those wishy-washy Republicans who couldn’t decide which side of the fence to jump off of. Picture snooty aristocrats with monocles, constantly ridiculing their fence-sitting colleagues.
Presidential Soap Opera 🎭
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Rutherford B. Hayes: Known for ending Reconstruction by pulling out the last federal troops from the South. It’s like he said, “You’re on your own now!”
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James Garfield: Swarmed by job-seekers wanting government gigs, Garfield faced the ultimate “Not today, Satan” moment when a disappointed office seeker shot him in 1881.
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Chester A. Arthur: With the Pendleton Act, he started cleaning up civil services. He also spiffed up the navy and questioned those pesky high tariffs. “Make the navy great again!”
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Grover Cleveland: Twice the President, double the effort. He was all about vetoing fake Civil War pensions, bringing down business frauds, and throwing railroad, lumber, and cattle companies off their ill-gotten land. He also took the first step in regulating businesses with the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 and tried to help American Indians with the Dawes Act.
Major Legislative Acts 📜
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Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883): Kicked off with a feather in Arthur's cap, the Civil Service Commission started conducting competitive exams to award jobs based on merit rather than nepotism. Initially, it covered only 14,000 jobs, but it grew, minimizing corruption—think of it as an ancient government's version of "The Office."
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Greenbackers and Silverites: Paper money not tied to gold or silver was a hit with Northern farmers but a sore spot for creditors. When Congress halted silver coinage, Nevada’s silver lodes revived calls for more coins. The Bland-Allison Act was a silver compromise, although farmers found it too restrictive. This era was like a never-ending episode of "Storage Wars," with people fighting over which shiny metal was best.
Congressional Shenanigans 💰
- Harrison’s Billion Dollar Congress: Imagine Congress with a budget like a reality show star on a shopping spree. During Benjamin Harrison’s term, Congress passed the McKinley Tariff (raising tariffs to record heights), the Sherman Antitrust Act (making trust-busting cool), and the Sherman Silver Purchase Act (a silver surprise!).
The Populist Party 🌾
Emerging from the farmers alliance movement, the Populist Party aimed to be the Avengers of political reform. At the 1892 Omaha Convention, they called for direct election of senators, public ownership of railroads, telegraphs, telephones, and even an 8-hour workday. Though their hero, William Jennings Bryan, killed it with his “Cross of Gold” speech, splitting votes led to McKinley’s 1896 win, ending their golden era.
Economic Drama 🎬
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Panic of 1893: The stock market did its best Titanic impression and sank, starting with the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad’s failure. Everyone sold stocks to buy gold, draining the US Treasury. Businesses tanked, thousands of banks shuttered, and unemployment soared to 3 million by mid-1894. Fun times, right?
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Coxey’s Army: Jacob Coxey, with 3,000 followers, marched to D.C., demanding road-building jobs funded by printed money. Met with clubs and jail time, Coxey’s march highlighted widespread discontent.
City Life and Political Machines ⚙️
Urban areas saw poor immigrants relying on political machines, which were as helpful as a smartphone that never needs recharging—finding jobs, providing baskets of food, or organizing picnics for slum kids. Despite the notorious corruption of figures like Boss Tweed and his Tammany Hall gang, many immigrants viewed them as weirdly benevolent villains.
Key Terms to Know 🤓
- Benjamin Harrison: 23rd U.S. President, high tariffs, and pro-business.
- Bland-Allison Act: Silver purchase bill aiming to expand money supply.
- Political Machine: Organizations that controlled political power through patronage in urban areas.
- Populist Party: Advocated for farmers and laborers with broad reforms.
- Sherman Antitrust Act: The original trust-buster law.
Conclusion
The Gilded Age wasn’t just about glittering facades; underneath was a whole lot of grit and grime in politics. From dramatic economic crises to political grandstanding, the era was as rich in character as it was in corruption. Keep these key points and cheeky anecdotes in mind, and you’ll be navigating APUSH like a boss! Good luck, history detectives! 🚀
