OpenStax US History Chapter 20

Mark Twain’s Gilded Age is a reference to _

the corrupt politics of the post-Civil War era

How did the Great Compromise of 1877 influence the election?

It encouraged southern states to support Hayes.

What accounted for the relative weakness of the federal government during this era?

The contested elections of the Gilded Age, in which margins were slim and two presidents were elected without winning the popular vote, meant that incumbent presidents often had only a weak hold on their power and were able to achieve little on the federal level. Some Americans began to establish new political parties and organizations to address their concerns, undermining the federal government further. Meanwhile, despite the widespread corruption that kept them running, urban political machines continued to achieve results for their constituents and maintain political strongholds on many cities.

A Mugwump is ________.

a former member of the Republican Party

Which president made significant steps towards civil service reform?

Chester A. Arthur

Why were U.S. presidents (with few exceptions) so adamant about protecting the spoils system of patronage during the late nineteenth century?

Politics of the day were fiercely fought and won with razor-thin margins. While presidents may have wanted to see the system change, few were in a position to effect such change. They owed their presidencies to the various party leaders and political operatives who had gotten them there, and they were expected to repay the favors with political positions. Any candidate who spoke out firmly against patronage virtually guaranteed that he would not receive the support of local or regional politicians, or machine bosses. Without such support, a candidate’s chances of being elected were virtually nonexistent. Therefore, they continued to work within the system.

Which of the following was not a vehicle for the farmers’ protest?

the Mugwumps

Which of the following contributed directly to the plight of farmers?

overproduction

What were women’s roles within the Farmer’s Alliance?

Women were able to play key roles in the alliance movement. The alliance provided them with political rights, including the ability to vote and hold office within the organization, which many women hoped would be a positive step in their struggle for national women’s rights and suffrage. In the end, nearly 250,000 women joined the movement.

How were members of Coxey’s Army received when they arrived in Washington?

They were arrested.

Which of the following does not represent one of the ways in which William Jennings Bryan appealed to Populists?

He advocated for higher tariffs.