Politics in the Gilded Age 1870-1900

Bloody shirt campaign

The strategy of Republican candidates to stress the sacrifices that the nation had to endure in its Civil War against Democratic southern secessionists.

Civil service

The contrast to the spoils system, where political appointments were based on merit, not favoritism.

Coxey’s Army

An 1894 protest, led by businessman Jacob Coxey, to advocate for public works jobs for the unemployed by marching on Washington, DC.

Farmers’ Alliance

A national conglomeration of different regional farmers’ alliances that joined together in 1890 with the goal of furthering farmers’ concerns in politics.

Gilded Age

The period in American history during which materialism, a quest for personal gain, and corruption dominated both politics and society.

Grange

A farmers’ organization, launched in 1867, which grew to over 1.5 million members in less than a decade.

Half-Breeds

The group of Republicans led by James G. Blaine, named because they supported some measure of civil service reform and were thus considered to be only “half Republican”.

Mugwumps

A portion of the Republican Party that broke away from the Stalwart-versus-Half-Breed debate due to disgust with their candidate’s corruption.

Populist Party

A political party formed in 1890 that sought to represent the rights of primarily farmers but eventually all workers in regional and federal elections.

Stalwarts

The group of Republicans led by Roscoe Conkling who strongly supported the continuation of the patronage system.

Subtreasury plan

A plan that called for storing crops in government warehouses for a brief period of time, during which the federal government would provide loans to farmers worth 80 percent of the current crop prices, releasing the crops for sale when prices rose.