Political Paralysis in the Gilded Age
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Questions and Answers

What did the Fourteenth Amendment guarantee?

  • Citizenship based on parent's nationality
  • Citizenship to all foreign nationals
  • Citizenship exclusively to white males
  • Citizenship to all persons born in the United States (correct)
  • Which doctrine differs from 'birthright citizenship'?

  • Naturalization through military service
  • Right of blood-tie (correct)
  • Citizenship through investment
  • Citizenship based on residence
  • What is a significant outcome of the doctrine of 'birthright citizenship'?

  • It provides equal citizenship rights to all immigrants (correct)
  • It restricts citizenship to individuals with U.S. parents
  • It favors citizenship based on employment
  • It protects only native-born Americans
  • Who was the notorious Stalwart henchman mentioned?

    <p>Chester Arthur</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which state was associated with James Garfield?

    <p>Ohio</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a significant aspect of the Republicans' platform when they nominated Grant for presidency in 1868?

    <p>Continued Reconstruction of the South</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the wealthier eastern delegates demand regarding federal war bonds?

    <p>Redemption in gold</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the stance of poorer Midwestern delegates regarding the monetary policy?

    <p>Advocacy for redemption of war bonds in greenbacks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes Grant's political experience prior to his nomination?

    <p>He had only cast one presidential vote before running</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the key issue contested among delegates within the Democratic Party's platform?

    <p>Military Reconstruction policies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who was the Democratic nominee who repudiated the Ohio Idea?

    <p>Horatio Seymour</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the major economic concern among debt-burdened agrarian Democrats?

    <p>Keeping more money in circulation to lower interest rates</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the main action taken by hard-money Republicans during the Gilded Age?

    <p>Called on Grant to maintain gold stock and refuse monetary expansion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the name given to the era following the Civil War, characterized by economic and political challenges?

    <p>The Gilded Age</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the effect of the contraction policy on the economy?

    <p>It had a deflationary effect and worsened the depression</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant political outcome occurred due to the hard-money policies in 1874?

    <p>Democrats regained control of the House of Representatives</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the Greenback Labor Party's main objective?

    <p>To abolish the gold standard</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What event in 1879 was known as Redemption Day?

    <p>The resumption of metallic-money payments</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterized the political landscape during the Gilded Age?

    <p>Frequent and highly competitive elections with little variation in issues</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a common misconception about the impact of the greenback policy by 1879?

    <p>Most holders preferred to exchange bills for gold</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In terms of monetary policy debates, what was true about the Gilded Age?

    <p>It was characterized by ongoing disputes over monetary control</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary consequence of the Compromise of 1877 for southern blacks?

    <p>End of federal support for Reconstruction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which amendment's interpretation significantly affected civil rights during this period?

    <p>Fourteenth Amendment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the Supreme Court rule about the Civil Rights Act of 1875 in 1883?

    <p>Much of the act was ruled unconstitutional</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the nature of the electoral agreement reached in the Compromise of 1877?

    <p>A partisan vote that resolved the standoff</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What consequence did the withdrawal of federal troops by President Hayes have?

    <p>Caused the collapse of Republican regimes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a major compromise of the Compromise of 1877?

    <p>The sacrifice of civil rights for a peaceful resolution</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of the Civil Rights Act of 1875 did radical Republicans seek to address?

    <p>Protection against racial discrimination</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the outcome for the Republican Party as a result of the Hayes-Tilden deal?

    <p>Abandoned their commitment to racial equality</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why was the Compromise of 1877 described as 'explosive'?

    <p>It was settled just days before the new president took office</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a major legal interpretation issue surrounding the Fourteenth Amendment?

    <p>Its provisions mainly addressed government actions, not individual ones</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the legal outcome of Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896?

    <p>It upheld the principle of 'separate but equal' facilities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterized the treatment of black voters in the post-Reconstruction South?

    <p>They faced violent intimidation for exercising their rights.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor contributed to the high number of lynchings of black individuals in the 1890s?

    <p>The mere act of asserting equal rights.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a consequence of the 'separate but equal' doctrine?

    <p>The proliferation of inferior facilities for black individuals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection clause not prevent in practice during the post-Reconstruction era?

    <p>The establishment of racially segregated public facilities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What societal issue did the Supreme Court's ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson effectively validate?

    <p>A racial order based on segregation and discrimination.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was notable about the public facilities available to black individuals during this period?

    <p>They were systematically separated and inferior to those for whites.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What major societal change was anticipated to address the imbalances left by Jim Crow laws?

    <p>A second Reconstruction nearly a century later.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During the post-Reconstruction era, what was the main reason for black lynchings in the South?

    <p>Assertion of rights and equality.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did the ruling of Plessy v. Ferguson impact the education of black children?

    <p>It maintained separate and often inferior educational facilities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Political Paralysis in the Gilded Age (1869-1896)

    • The period following the Civil War, known as the Gilded Age, was marked by political stalemate and widespread corruption.
    • Grant's election in 1868, largely due to the "bloody shirt" campaign tactic, highlighted the enduring impact of the Civil War on American politics.
    • The public's disillusionment with professional politicians during Reconstruction fueled the popularity of a general.
    • Republicans nominated Grant, emphasizing his military achievements.
    • The Democratic platform opposed military Reconstruction, but lacked unified policy.
    • The campaign featured debates over financial policy, including the redemption of war bonds in gold or greenbacks (the Ohio Idea).

    The Era of Good Stealings

    • Post-war America saw a rise in corruption, extending to various spheres of society, including business and government.
    • Prominent individuals like Fisk and Gould orchestrated a plot to corner the gold market, aiming to profit from its artificially inflated value.
    • The Tweed Ring in New York City exemplified widespread political corruption, engaging in bribery and fraud to enrich themselves.
    • Cartoonist Thomas Nast played a critical role exposing this corruption, while Samuel J. Tilden spearheaded the prosecution.
    • The Credit Mobilier scandal involved railroad insiders defrauding the government, highlighting corrupt practices within the government.
    • The Whiskey Ring defrauded the US Treasury of excise-tax revenue, with Grant's own private secretary among the culprits.

    The Liberal Republican Revolt of 1872

    • Discontent with the political establishment led to the formation of the Liberal Republican party.
    • The party nominated Horace Greeley, a controversial figure.
    • The election of 1872 saw Grant's re-election, marking a triumph of the Republican party.
    • Disputes over monetary policy, Reconstruction, and economic issues continued to divide the two political factions.

    Depression, Deflation, and Inflation

    • The Panic of 1873 triggered a major economic depression, a period of widespread financial distress.
    • Overreaching business practices and reckless lending contributed to the economic decline.
    • Debates about monetary policy and currency, such as the reintroduction of greenbacks or other types of inflation, characterized the period.
    • The political opposition to inflation became a defining feature of the age.

    Pallid Politics in the Gilded Age

    • The period was marked by political apathy despite intense partisan conflict.
    • Sharp contrasts existed in the religious and cultural values and beliefs held by members of the two major political parties.
    • Patronage, a system of rewarding political supporters with public offices, played a significant role in shaping political outcomes.

    The Hayes-Tilden Standoff of 1876

    • The presidential election of 1876 resulted in an electoral dispute.
    • Disputed electoral votes from several Southern states led to a deadlock.
    • The Compromise of 1877 resolved the dispute, marking the end of Reconstruction in the South in exchange for political concessions.

    The Compromise of 1877 and the End of Reconstruction

    • The Compromise of 1877 ended Reconstruction.
    • In return for Hayes being declared the winner, federal troops were withdrawn from the South, leading to the rise of Jim Crow laws.
    • The agreement marked a significant setback for civil rights and racial equality.

    The Birth of Jim Crow in the Post-Reconstruction South

    • Following Reconstruction, Southern states implemented Jim Crow laws, creating a system of racial segregation.
    • These laws denied African Americans equal rights and opportunities.
    • The Supreme Court's decision in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) formally sanctioned segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine.

    Class Conflicts and Ethnic Clashes

    • Social and economic tensions, including labor disputes, marked the 1870s and 1880s.
    • Labor unrest, exemplified by railroad strikes, highlighted the ongoing class conflicts of the era.
    • Ethnic tensions and discrimination, such as against Chinese immigrants, also played a significant role.

    Garfield and Arthur

    • James Garfield's assassination in 1881 propelled Chester Arthur to the presidency.
    • The circumstances surrounding Garfield's assassination fueled reforms, including the Pendleton Act, aimed at curbing political corruption and patronage.

    Chester Arthur

    • Arthur implemented reforms aimed at the spoils system.
    • The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, enacted in 1883, established a merit-based system for federal appointments, helping to curb the excesses of political patronage.
    • Arthur's legacy is complex, showing a mixture of reform and continued ties with political establishments.

    The Blaine-Cleveland Mudslingers of 1884

    • The presidential campaign of 1884 was marred by bitter personal attacks and partisan rhetoric.
    • Grover Cleveland's victory marked a significant shift in the political landscape.

    "Old Grover" Takes Over

    • Cleveland's presidency was marked by his strong commitment to fiscal conservatism and limited government intervention.
    • He vetoed several bills, advocating for a hands-off approach to legislative issues.

    Cleveland Battles for a Lower Tariff

    • Cleveland's commitment to reducing tariffs was a significant policy challenge in his administration.
    • This initiative proved controversial and pitted him against industrialists who favored protectionist policies.

    The Billion-Dollar Congress

    • The Republican-controlled Congress, known as the "Billion-Dollar Congress," increased government spending.
    • This was primarily in response to pressure from the Grand Army of the Republic to award more pensions to Civil War veterans.
    • The passage of the McKinley Tariff Act in 1890 significantly increased tariffs to protect manufacturers, while straining the farmers who had to bear the brunt of the increased costs.

    The Drumbeat of Discontent

    • Populist dissatisfaction grew due to factors like economic hardship, unequal distribution of wealth, and discriminatory practices.
    • The Populist party emerged as a significant force, challenging the established two-party system.

    Cleveland and Depression

    • The economic depression of 1893 significantly impacted Cleveland's administration.
    • The government's response to the crisis was a major focal point of political discussion.

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    Description

    Explore the complexities of the Gilded Age, a period characterized by political stalemate and corruption from 1869 to 1896. Learn about key events such as Grant's election and the implications of financial policies. This quiz dives into the political climate following the Civil War and the rise of significant figures during this time.

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