POLITICS in the Gilded Age [APUSH Unit 6 Topic 13] Period 6: 1865-1898

Summary

This video script from Heimler's History delves into the political landscape of the Gilded Age in the United States, a period marked by laissez-faire governance and rampant corruption. The major political parties, the Democrats and Republicans, were largely defined by their Civil War-era divisions, with the Democrats advocating for states' rights and racial segregation, while the Republicans were more industrial and favored by black voters and the middle class. Politics was reduced to a game of securing elections and distributing federal jobs through patronage. Key issues included civil service reform, which led to the Pendleton Act of 1881, and economic debates over the gold standard, money supply, and tariffs. The script also highlights the rise of the Populist Party, which pushed for economic and political reforms to address the concentration of power among the elite. Despite the Populists' lack of electoral success, their influence was significant. The narrative concludes with a look at urban political machines, particularly Tammany Hall in New York City, which, despite its corruption, played a complex role in community development and control.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ The Gilded Age's politics were characterized by a laissez-faire attitude towards government intervention, leading to widespread corruption.
• 🎨 The Democrats and Republicans represented the post-Civil War divisions, with Democrats favoring states' rights and racial segregation, while Republicans were the more industrial, northern party.
• 🤝 Both parties lacked a strong legislative agenda, focusing more on winning elections and rewarding loyal supporters with federal jobs through a system known as patronage.
• 🔍 The issue of civil service reform gained attention after President Garfield's assassination, leading to the passage of the Pendleton Act of 1881, which introduced competitive examinations for federal jobs.
• 💰 The parties debated over the money supply, with some advocating for an expansion beyond the gold standard to include more paper money and the unlimited coinage of silver.
• 🛡️ Tariffs were a significant source of federal revenue, but they were a burden to consumers and farmers due to higher prices and retaliatory tariffs affecting international sales.
• 🌱 The Populist Party emerged as a political force advocating for the people, aiming to correct the concentration of economic power and proposing reforms such as direct election of senators and an eight-hour workday.
• 📈 The Populist Party's influence led to the Democratic Party adopting some of their key issues, like the unlimited coinage of silver, in the 1896 election.
• 🏙️ Urban politics during the Gilded Age were dominated by corrupt political machines like Tammany Hall, which secured votes by controlling the distribution of jobs and services.
• 💸 Tammany Hall, under Boss Tweed, organized community needs but also engaged in fraudulent schemes to enrich themselves, creating a complex relationship with the community they claimed to serve.
• 📚 The video script provides a comprehensive overview of Unit 6, Topic 13 of the AP U.S. History curriculum, focusing on the political landscape of the Gilded Age.

Q & A

What was the general attitude towards government intervention during the Gilded Age?

The general attitude towards government intervention during the Gilded Age was largely hands off due to the laissez faire approach.

Which two major political parties dominated the Gilded Age?

The two major political parties during the Gilded Age were the Democrats and the Republicans.

What was the primary concern of the Democrats during the Gilded Age?

The Democrats were primarily concerned with states' rights and racial segregation.

What was the main political strategy of both the Democrats and Republicans during the Gilded Age?

The main political strategy of both parties was to win elections and award federal jobs to faithful party supporters through a practice known as patronage.

What was the Spoils System, and who was a notable proponent of it?

The Spoils System was a practice where political parties rewarded their supporters with government positions. Andrew Jackson was a notable proponent of this system.

What event led to the passing of the Pendleton Act of 1881?

The assassination of President James Garfield by a man he decided not to appoint to a federal job led to the passing of the Pendleton Act of 1881.

What was the main purpose of the Pendleton Act of 1881?

The Pendleton Act of 1881 aimed to replace the patronage system with a competitive examination for federal jobs, making the process more merit-based.

What was the significance of the gold standard in the United States' money supply during the Gilded Age?

The gold standard ensured that the federal government would only print paper currency that could be backed by the value of gold in their vaults, which helped to maintain the currency's value against inflation.

Why did farmers and entrepreneurs argue for an expanded money supply beyond the gold standard?

Farmers and entrepreneurs argued for an expanded money supply to allow them to borrow more money at lower interest rates and to pay their debts with inflated dollars, which they saw as beneficial.

How did protective tariffs impact American farmers and consumers during the Gilded Age?

Protective tariffs, while benefiting American industrialists, were a financial burden for farmers due to retaliatory tariffs from other nations, reducing international sales for their crops. For consumers, they led to higher prices for imported goods.

What was the Omaha Platform, and what did it advocate for?

The Omaha Platform was a set of political and economic reforms published by the Populist Party. It advocated for direct election of senators, use of initiatives and referendums, unlimited coinage of silver, a graduated income tax, and an eight-hour workday.

How did the Populist Party influence the Democratic Party's stance in the 1896 election?

The Populist Party gained significant attention for their platform, which led the Democratic Party to adopt some of their main themes, most notably the unlimited coinage of silver, to secure Populist voters in the 1896 election.

What was the role of corrupt political machines like Tammany Hall in urban politics during the Gilded Age?

Corrupt political machines like Tammany Hall controlled urban political parties, securing votes for their parties by organizing the needs of businesses, immigrants, and the poor. They also engaged in deceit and fraud to steal from taxpayers.