Waving the Bloody Shirt

Study Notes

A political strategy used by Republicans during the 1876 election to shift focus from corruption accusations.
Blamed Democrats for the Civil War to garner votes and deflect criticism.

Election of 1868

Republicans selected Ulysses S. Grant, who won against Democratic nominee Horatio Seymour.

Ulysses S. Grant

Served as the eighteenth President of the United States from 1869 to 1877.
Gained fame as a Union general during the American Civil War.

Depression of 1873

Economic downturn caused by excessive railroad and factory overexpansion and imprudent bank loans.
Resulted from over-speculation and easy credit, leading to unpaid loans and financial instability.

Whiskey Ring

A 1875 scandal involving conspiracy among government officials, politicians, and whiskey producers to divert tax revenues.

William Belknap

Secretary of War who resigned due to accepting bribes from suppliers for Indian reservations.

Horace Greeley

Influential newspaper editor and founder of the Republican Party.
His New York Tribune shaped public opinion on antislavery and various reforms from 1840 to 1870.

Jay Cooke and Co.

A private firm authorized to sell war bonds during the Civil War.
Received a commission for each bond sold, incentivizing their involvement in financing the war.

Greenback Labor Party

A political party focused on enhancing laborers' conditions and advocating for inflation.
Achieved significant success in 1878, garnering over a million votes and electing fourteen Congressional members.

Election of 1876

Marked the end of the Reconstruction Era as no candidate received an electoral majority.
Rutherford B. Hayes was elected and subsequently promised to conclude Reconstruction.

Patronage System

Political mechanism where governmental benefits are distributed based on loyalty to a specific party or politician.

Roscoe Conkling

Prominent New York politician who served in both the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.
Led the Stalwart faction of the Republican Party, supporting patronage.

Stalwarts

Conservative faction within the Republican Party in the late 1800s, resistant to civil service reform.
Advocated for the existing political machine and patronage systems.

Halfbreeds

Republican reformers accused of seeking reforms only to provide opportunities for their own supporters.

Scalawags

Pejorative term for white Southerners who supported Reconstruction after the Civil War.

Blaine Amendments

Revisions to state constitutions aimed at preventing government aid to religiously affiliated educational institutions.
Proposed by President Grant and supported by James G. Blaine.

Description

Test your knowledge on the historical context of the phrase 'Waving the Bloody Shirt' and the events surrounding the elections of 1868 and 1876. This quiz includes important figures like Ulysses S. Grant and explores the political strategies of that era. Dive into the complexities of American political history post-Civil War.

Waving the Bloody Shirt - Blaine Amendments

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Questions and Answers

What was 'Waving the Bloody Shirt' used for during the election of 1876?

Who was nominated by the Republicans in the Election of 1868?

Who is Ulysses S. Grant?

The economic crash of 1873 was caused by over-speculation and too-easy _____

What was the Whiskey Ring Scandal?

Who was William Belknap?

Who was Horace Greeley?

What was Jay Cooke and Co. authorized to sell during the Civil War?

What was the Greenback Labor Party?

What event did the Election of 1876 effectively end?

What is the Patronage System?

Who was Roscoe Conkling?

What were the Stalwarts in the Republican Party?

What were Halfbreeds?

Who were Scalawags?

What are the Blaine Amendments?