end of reconstruction/start of the gilded age in government: reconstruction in the south brought in:...

End of Reconstruction/Start of the Gilded Age in Government:

Reconstruction in the South brought in:

Federal $$$$$

Northern Politicians

Black Army troops

Voting for blacks

Freedman’s Bureau

Financial and Political Carpetbaggers

Grantism: example of Bad Government

Grantism: example of Bad GovernmentScandal Description Dat

e

Black FridaySpeculators tied to Grant corner the gold market and ruin the economy for

several years.186

9

New York custom house ring

Alleged corruption ring at the New York Custom House under two of Grant's appointees.

1872

Star Route postal ringCorrupt system of postal contractors, clerks, and brokers to obtain lucrative

Star Route postal contracts.187

2

Salary grab Congressmen receive a retroactive $5,000 bonus for previous term served.187

2

Sanborn contractJohn Sanborn charged exorbitant commissions to collect taxes and split the

profits among associates.187

4

Delano AffairInterior Secretary Columbus Delano allegedly took bribes in order to secure

fraudulent land grants.187

5

Pratt & BoydAttorney General George H. Williams allegedly received a bribe not to

prosecute the Pratt & Boyd company.187

5

Whiskey RingCorrupt government officials and whiskey makers steal millions of dollars in

national tax evasion scam.187

6

Trading Post RingWar Secretary William Belknap allegedly takes extortion money from trading

contractor at Fort Sill.187

6

CattelismSecretary of Navy George Robeson allegedly receives bribes from Cattell &

Company for lucrative Navy contracts.187

6

Safe Burglary Conspiracy

Private Secretary Orville Babcock indicted over framing a private citizen for uncovering corrupt Washington contractors.

1876

Republicans and National Govt

• Dominated post war Congress and Prez

• Argued over jobs: split Party into Half Breeds (Blaine) and Stalwarts (Conkling)

What’s the message of this election?

1881: Garfield 1881: Garfield Assassinated!Assassinated!1881: Garfield 1881: Garfield Assassinated!Assassinated!

Charles Guiteau:I Am a Stalwart, and Arthur is President now!

Charles GuiteauCharles GuiteauCharles GuiteauCharles Guiteau

Pendleton Act (1883)Pendleton Act (1883)Pendleton Act (1883)Pendleton Act (1883)

Civil Service Act.

The “Magna Carta” of

civil service reform.

1883 14,000 out of117,000 federal govt.jobs became civilservice exam positions.

1900 100,000 out of 200,000 civil service federal govt. jobs.

Democrats and City Gov’t

• Democrats used new immigrants to dominate local, urban government

• Created urban political “machines”

Boss Tweed and (Political) Machine Politics in the City: