1 A Two-Party Stalemate 2 Intense Voter

1. A Two-Party Stalemate

2. Intense Voter Loyalty to the Two Major Political Parties

3. Well-Defined Voting Blocs Democratic Bloc Republican Bloc

Opposing Political Parties

4. Very Laissez Faire Federal Govt.

5. The Presidency as a Symbolic Office Senator Roscoe Conkling

1868 Presidential Election

1872 Presidential Election

The Panic of 1873

Hayes and The Compromise of 1877

1880 Presidential Election: Republicans Half Breeds Stalwarts Sen. James G. Blaine (Maine) compromise James A. Garfield Sen. Roscoe Conkling (New York) Chester A. Arthur (VP)

1880 Presidential Election

1881: Garfield Assassinated! *Death causes reexamination of the spoils system Charles Guiteau: I Am a Stalwart, and Arthur is President now!

Pendleton Act (1883)

1884 Presidential Election

A Dirty Campaign Ma, Ma…where’s my pa? He’s going to the White House, ha… ha…!

1884 Presidential Election

Cleveland’s First Term

The Tariff Issue

1888 Presidential Election Grover Cleveland (DEM) Benjamin Harrison * (REP)

Coming Out for Harrison

1888 Presidential Election

Changing Public Opinion

1892 Presidential Election Grover Cleveland again!* (DEM) Benjamin Harrison (REP)

1892 Presidential Election

Cleveland Loses Support Fast!

Gilded Age Presidents in a Nutshell “The Forgettable “Presidents”

• 23 rd-Benjamin Harrison (1889 -1893) • Signed Sherman Anti-Trust Act • Approves high tariffs – Hurts economy; dips too deep into treasury to pay pensions

Writing Prompt • Evaluate the success of the political system during the Gilded age. (USE SFI)?