Chapter 15.3 - Politics in the Gilded Age

Political Machines

These were organized groups that controlled the activities of a political party in a city

Boss Tweed

He was the head of Tammany Hall in New York which was New York's most powerful machine

Patronage

It is the giving of government jobs who helped a candidate get elected

Civil Service

These are jobs that deal with government administration.

Rutherford B Hayes

He was a strong supporter of civil service reform. He was able to clean up the nations custom houses. He named independents to his Cabinet.

James A Garfield

He was a staunch reformer that would be assassinated by a stalwart he turned down for a job.

Chester Arthur

He was the stalwart VP under James Garfield that took up Garfield's reform policy and pushed for Pendleton Civil Service Act.

Pendleton Civil Service Act

Required applicants for government job to first pass an examination

Grover Cleveland

Benjamin Harrison

Graft

This was any type of unethical or illegal use of political influence for personal gain

Stalwarts

They were strong supporters of New York politician Roscoe Conkling who opposed civil service reform.