Gilded Age: Politics, Industry, and Society (1877-1900)

A set of practice Q&A flashcards covering major events, figures, and policies of the late 19th-century United States as described in the notes.

What was the Compromise of 1877 and its key terms?

A deal that resolved the 1876 election dispute: Hayes would withdraw federal troops from Louisiana, South Carolina, and Florida; include at least one southerner in his cabinet; appoint conservatives to political offices, effectively ending Reconstruction.

Why was Rutherford B. Hayes chosen by the Republicans in 1877?

Because of his war record and reputation for honesty and integrity; he was seen as a moderate on Reconstruction to appeal to both Democrats and Republicans.

Who was the Democratic candidate in the 1876 election and what was his platform?

Samuel J. Tilden; campaigned to end corruption of capitalism and reform.

Which states produced contested electoral votes in 1877 and why?

Louisiana, South Carolina, and Florida, with allegations of fraud leading to competing electoral votes.

What was the Joint Electoral Commission and its outcome?

A special body created to resolve the disputed electoral votes; it awarded the presidency to Hayes on party lines.

What nickname did Hayes earn and why?

“His Fraudulency” due to the Compromise of 1877 and the contested nature of the election.

What did the Pendleton Act establish?

Civil service reform: merit-based appointments and the Civil Service Commission to administer competitive exams.

Who were the Stalwarts and Half-Breeds and what issue divided them?

Two Republican factions; Stalwarts backed the spoils system (Grant); Half-Breeds backed civil-service reform and Blaine.

Who were Garfield and Hancock in the 1880s context?

James A. Garfield (Republican) and Winfield S. Hancock (Democrat) with Hancock advocating civil-service reform.

What happened to Garfield after his election?

Garfield was assassinated by an office-seeker and died weeks later from surgical complications, not the gunshots.

Who became president after Garfield and how did he support reform?

Chester A. Arthur; promoted civil-service reform and presided over the Pendleton Act's passage.

Who were mugwumps in the 1884 election?

Republicans who defected to support Grover Cleveland due to reform concerns.

What veto did Cleveland issue related to veterans’ pensions?

Vetoed extended pensions for Union veterans.

What were the Dawes Act of 1887 and the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887?

Dawes Act distributed Indian lands to individuals; Interstate Commerce Act regulated railroads, required rate publication, banned special rates, and created the Interstate Commerce Commission.

Who was ‘Young Tippecanoe’ and when did he become president?

Benjamin Harrison; elected in 1888; grandson of William Henry Harrison and a war hero.

What happened in the 1888 election regarding popular vs. electoral votes?

Cleveland won the popular vote but Harrison won the electoral vote and the presidency.

Who were the ‘Big Four’ in railroad development?

A group of backers including Leland Stanford who financed the building and expansion of the railroads.

What does vertical integration mean? Give Carnegie as an example.

Control of every stage of production from raw materials to finished product; Carnegie controlled ore, shipping, and steelworks to eliminate competition.

What does horizontal integration mean? Give Rockefeller as an example.

Cooperation or consolidation of competing companies to form a monopoly; Rockefeller’s Standard Oil dominated refining and sale of petroleum.

What role did J. Pierpont Morgan play in the steel industry?

In 1901 he helped create United States Steel Corporation and used interlocking directorates to restructure companies.

What is the Gospel of Wealth?

Carnegie’s idea that the wealthy have a duty to use wealth for the public good, leading to philanthropy.

What was the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 and its early effectiveness?

Prohibited trusts; initial enforcement was weak and the act lacked teeth in practice.

What did US v. E. C. Knight Co. (1895) decide?

Manufacturing monopolies were not considered interstate commerce, so they skirted the act’s reach.

What issues did the New Immigrants face and what acts addressed them?

Racial/ethnic tension and anti-immigrant sentiment; violence against Chinese; Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882; earlier 1879 veto attempt by Hayes.

What was Tammany Hall and who led it?

Infamous New York City political machine led by Boss Tweed; controlled immigrant votes; Tweed jailed in 1872.

What was the impact of political machines on cities?

They modernized cities and aided immigrant assimilation in exchange for votes, despite corruption.

What time-related reform did railroads drive in 1883?

Adoption of four time zones and national standard time to coordinate schedules.

What was the impact of the growth of railroads on the economy and society?

Expanded markets, boosted steel and related industries, enabled westward movement, and created new wealth and political power.

What prompted the rise of the Populists in the 1890s?

The Farmers’ Alliance evolved into the People’s Party, advocating for railroad and telegraph nationalization, a graduated income tax, crop storage loans, and unlimited silver coinage.