Politics in the Gilded Age (College Board AP® US History): Flashcards
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Define patronage.
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Cards in this collection (16)
Define patronage.
Patronage is giving government jobs or other benefits to loyal party members and campaign contributors, regardless of their qualifications.
Why was President James Garfield assassinated in 1881?
He was shot by Charles Guiteau, a disappointed office-seeker who had been denied a federal position.
The Pendleton Act (1883) required federal employees to pass exams to gain government positions.
The Pendleton Act (1883) required federal employees to pass competitive exams to gain government positions.
Define tariff.
A tariff is a tax on imported goods that protects domestic industries and raises revenue for the government.
Why did farmers oppose high tariffs?
Tariffs raised the price of essential goods and lowered the profits from their crops.
Define Populist Party.
The Populist Party (People's Party) was a political movement supported mainly by farmers that sought political fairness and economic equality.
Which Gilded Age policies did the Populists blame for farmers' struggles?
They blamed high tariffs, the gold standard, and the monopolistic practices of big businesses.
Why did the Omaha Platform (1892) call for the direct election of senators?
It aimed to tackle corruption and the political influence of wealthy elites.
Define graduated income tax.
A graduated income tax is a system in which wealthier people pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes.
How would unlimited coinage of silver help farmers?
It would increase the money supply and inflation, reducing the real value of their debts.
What was the Populist Party's legacy?
It never won the presidency, but its concerns about monopolies, banking, and worker rights were addressed in later Progressive Era reforms.
Define political machine.
A political machine was an organized urban group that controlled local government, often through corrupt means, led by a "boss."
How did political machines win immigrants' votes?
Machines offered jobs, money, housing, legal help, and other favors in exchange for votes.
True or False?
Political machines relied only on legal favors, such as jobs and housing, to keep power.
False.
Machines also used fraudulent practices such as election rigging, bribery, and embezzlement of public money.
What was Tammany Hall?
Tammany Hall was a powerful Democratic political machine in New York City that controlled city politics through patronage and corruption.
How was Boss Tweed, head of Tammany Hall, brought down?
Boss Tweed was arrested and convicted after journalists exposed his embezzlement of millions of dollars from the city treasury.
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