U.S. History: Gilded Age, Political Scandals, and Economic Policies

Ulysses S. Grant

Civil War general and 18th U.S. president (1869-77), whose administration was marred by corruption scandals.

The "Last Frontier"

The closing of the American West as settlement and railroads reached across the continent.

"Waving the Bloody Shirt"

A Republican tactic of reminding voters of the Civil War to discredit Democrats.

Whiskey Ring

A scheme in Grant's administration where officials cheated the government of liquor taxes.

Credit Mobilier Scandal

A Union Pacific Railroad construction company bribed Congress to cover up overcharging.

The "Tweed Ring"

William "Boss" Tweed's corrupt political machine in NYC's Tammany Hall.

Force Acts (1870-71)

Laws empowering the president to use federal troops against the KKK and protect Black voting rights.

Amnesty Act (1872)

Restored political rights to most former Confederates.

Coinage Act (1873)

Law ending the minting of silver dollars, called the "Crime of '73" by silver supporters.

Specie Resumption Act (1875)

Law requiring paper money to be backed by gold, restoring the gold standard in 1879.

Hamilton Fish

Grant's secretary of state, respected for settling international disputes like the Alabama Claims.

The Alabama Claims

U.S. demands for damages from Britain for Confederate warships built there; settled peacefully.

Rutherford B. Hayes

19th U.S. president (1877-81), won a disputed election and ended Reconstruction.

"His Fraudulency" / "Old Man Eight to Seven"

Nicknames mocking his contested 1876 victory decided by an 8-7 commission vote.

Stalwarts

A Republican faction favoring patronage and opposing civil service reform.

Carl Schurz

A reform-minded Republican leader and advocate for civil service reform.

Bland-Allison Act (1878)

Required limited silver coinage to satisfy "free silver" advocates.

James A. Garfield

20th U.S. president (1881), assassinated early in his term by Charles Guiteau.

Chester A. Arthur

21st U.S. president (1881-85), who surprised many by supporting civil service reform.

Charles G. Guiteau

Assassin of President Garfield, motivated by denied patronage.

Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)

First major U.S. immigration restriction, banning Chinese laborers.

Pendleton Act (1883)

Established merit-based civil service exams, reducing patronage.

Populist Party

Farmers' party (1890s) calling for free silver, income tax, and direct election of senators.

Mugwumps

Reform-minded Republicans who backed Democrat Grover Cleveland in 1884.

Grover Cleveland

Only president to serve two non-consecutive terms (1885-89, 1893-97); supported limited government.

"Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion"

A Republican slur against Democrats in 1884, insulting Catholics and costing votes.

Patronage

The practice of giving government jobs to supporters and friends.

Spoils System

Giving government jobs to loyal supporters, often leading to corruption.

Hatch Act (1887)

Funded agricultural experiment stations to improve farming.

Dawes Act (1887)

Law breaking up tribal lands into private allotments to assimilate Native Americans.

Interstate Commerce Act (1887)

First federal law regulating railroads, banning unfair rates.

Benjamin Harrison

23rd U.S. president (1889-93), supported tariffs and pensions for veterans.

"Pork Barrel" Public Works

Government spending benefiting a specific politician's district.

McKinley Tariff Act (1890)

Raised tariffs to the highest level yet, angering consumers.

Logrolling

Legislators trading votes to pass each other's projects.

Sherman Anti-Trust Act (1890)

First federal law banning monopolies and restraints of trade.

Sherman Silver Purchase Act (1890)

Required government to buy silver, increasing money supply.

Pan-American Conference (1889)

Meeting promoting cooperation and trade among the Americas.

James B. Weaver

Populist Party presidential candidate in 1892.

Omaha Platform (1892)

Populist platform calling for free silver, direct elections, and government control of railroads.

Panic of 1893

A severe economic depression caused by railroad failures and stock crashes.

Jacob Coxey

Populist who led unemployed workers in the 1894 "Coxey's Army" march on Washington.

Coxey's Army

Protest march of unemployed demanding government public works jobs.

Wilson-Gorman Tariff (1894)

Lowered tariffs slightly and included an income tax later struck down.

Richard Olney

Cleveland's attorney general/secretary of state; used troops against Pullman Strike.

Olney Interpretation

Asserted U.S. authority to intervene in Western Hemisphere disputes under the Monroe Doctrine.

Marcus A. Hanna

Republican political manager and advisor to McKinley, master of campaign fundraising.

William McKinley

25th U.S. president (1897-1901), led nation through Spanish-American War.

William Jennings Bryan

Democratic/Populist candidate, famous for "Cross of Gold" speech supporting free silver.

"Full Dinner Pail"

McKinley's 1900 reelection campaign theme promising prosperity.

Dingley Tariff Act (1897)

Raised tariffs to record levels under McKinley.

Gold Standard Act (1900)

Officially placed U.S. currency on the gold standard.

Spanish-American War (1898)

U.S. war with Spain over Cuba; resulted in U.S. gaining Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.

John Hay

U.S. secretary of state who promoted the Open Door Policy in China.

Open Door Policy (1900)

U.S. policy calling for equal trading rights in China and preserving Chinese territorial integrity.

Boxer Rebellion (1900)

Anti-foreign uprising in China; suppressed by international forces including the U.S.