Gilded Age Chapter 23
Anna Woo Furnish-5th
"Gilded"
"Gilded" means that it carries connotations of cheap commercialization, shoddiness, and fakery, like statues covered in gold to make it look good.
The Gilded Age left a permanent mark on American politics and the public’s beliefs about their government and officeholders. The Gilded Age also suggests a fascination with gold itself and with the wealth and power that gold symbolizes.
Election of Grant and the "Bloody Shirt" campaign
The Republicans nominated the popular Civil War hero Ulysses S. Grant for president, in 1868. Grant won the election against democrat, Horatio Seymeour because Grant had the black votes from the 15th amendment in 1870. But Grant wasn't prepared to be president. The Republicans supported the Reconstruction of the South, while Grant stood on the platform of "just having peace".
The "Bloody Shirt" elects Grant, the picture is "Waving the Bloody Shirt" with left to right, is Irish immigrant, Bedford- KKK, and Seymour with Reconstruction at the bottom.
Corruption during the Gilded Age (William "Boss" Tweed &Thomas Nast)
Grant presided over an era of unprecedented growth in the nation, but also one of unprecedented corruption. Grant’s administration was held responsible for the Whiskey Ring Scandal, Gould and Fiske’s attempt to corner the gold market, and Secretary of War William Belknap’s bribe-taking from Indian reservation suppliers.
The "Boss" Tweed employed bribery, graft, and fraudulent elections to milk New York of as much as $200 million known as Tweed Ring. Tweed was eventually put into prison.
Tomas Nast is a crusading cartoonist and reporter that drew cartoons to show immigrants Tweed's corruptions because the immigrates were still voting for him because they didn't understand. He drew cartoons like a Republican "Southern Strategy", mocking the Democrats.
Compromise of 1877
The Compromise of 1877 was set up for an electoral commission consisting of 15 men selected from the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Supreme Court. It's purpose was to determine which party would win the election and stretched over for months. The South was finally returning full force and was united like never before. The compromise didn't want the South joining the pre-war ally, West, and upsetting the East West Alliance causing the East to be an isolated minority. When the committee finally determined, without the ballots from 3 disputed states, the Republicans won because of the 3 states, giving the Republicans presidency.