The gilded age presidents Essay Example

individual’s merit or by competitive written examination. Although Grant finally gave in, the republicans hated it. One of the Grant’s scandals was credit mobilier. It was French-owned construction company that helped build the union pacific railroad. The heads of credit mobilier had used position as union pacific stockholders to get construction contracts. Directors transferred stock to buy members of congress to prevent investigation.

Besides credit mobilier, president grant’s private secretary and secretary of war was involved in a whiskey ring scandal. Group of distillers cheated the government out of taxes by filing false reports and gave bribes to keep it secret. Secretary of war accepted bribes to keep white employees on an Indian reservation known as Indian Ring. These corruptions were the first step for political paralysis. Furthermore, social issues such as segregation and lynching were. Jim Crow made Jim Crow Laws which established to disfranchise African Americans in southern society.

For example, he favored segregation of schools, poll taxes, segregation of services, and lynching. Lynching, mainly by KKK, was more miserable and gave more pain than murder. In addition, during Hayes’ presidency, he called in federal troops and killed more than 70 as the labor disputes exploded into riots. If they tried to solve issues, they would have protected social issues from growing. Although the economy was suffering, presidents did not try to solve the problem but robbed the money. The panic of 1875 began with the failure of a leading investment banking firm.

It lasted for four years and greenback question was back. Although debtors wanted greenbacks (paper currency) reinstated, Grant and other republicans wanted sound currency based on gold that would favor banks and other

creditors, did not want to put more money in circulation. In 1875, Republicans passed Specie Resumption Act which pegged greenback dollars to the price of gold. Later, national greenback party formed. It was unsuccessful but kept money issue alive. During Hayes’ presidency, political faction overshadowed his presidency and eventually brought political chaos.

When Hayes became the presidency, republicans were divided by stalwarts who favored traditional and professional machines politics and half-breeds who favored reform. Neither group was really interested in change, but rather wanted a larger share of the patronage pie. He did not much reform to impress the Stalwarts as Half-Breeds portion of the party. Ultimately, it overshadowed Hayes’ presidency and election of 1880 came. Because Republicans did not want to lose the election, they had a compromise.

They chose James Garfield as Half-Breed’s president and Chester Arthur as Stalwart’s vice president. Although Garfield became the president, he was shot twice by deranged gunman saying “I am a stalwart, and Arthur is president now! ” Because Garfield lingered for nearly three months and died, he could not do anything to solve big issues. While Arthur was a stalwart, he kept most of Garfield’s appointees, tried to follow an independent course and promote reform. First of all, he worked to create civil service reform known as Pendleton Act.

It was the first national civil service measure which limited number of federal jobs to be filled by competitive written examinations rather than by patronage. By the mid 20th century, most federal employees were civil servants. Everything Arthur did was not totally failure. Although Cleveland tried to reduce the tariff rates and committed to economy in government, he did not

have much affect nor solved any issues. Known as the veto governor, Cleveland said “though the people support the government, the government should not support the people.

Later, he asked congress to reduce the tariff rates which led the end of presidency. On his second term, he faced with a devastating depression caused by overspending, speculation, labor disorders, and ongoing agriculture depression. He had to ask J. P. Morgan for a loan and supported tariff reduction by passing Wilson-Gorman Tariff. It was small federal income tax to reduce tariff established by Benjamin Harrison. Because Supreme Court declared tax unconstitutional, he made 16th amendment to make it legal.

Even though he devoted to minimal government to help economy, he did not have much affect on issues like other gilded age presidents. Because Benjamin Harrison made no effort to influence Congress, his presidency was failed economically and politically. During his presidency, Billion dollar congress controlled by Thomas “Czar” Reed passed the McKinley Tariff Act of 1800 which raised tariff to highest point. As a result, people were outraged and stopped supporting. That is why he was defeated by Cleveland in election of 1892.

In conclusion, presidency from Grant to Cleveland round two was failure politically, socially, and economically not because they did not try anything but because they did not have much affect although some president did not do anything to solve issues or reforms. They faced depression and political faction. Billion dollar congress raised tariff to highest point. Also, corruption and scandal made them “forgettable. ” It was usual that many political leaders robbed public money or accepted bribes. Moreover, social issue such as lynching and segregation was active

during that time.