The Gilded Age
By: Allie McKee
"Gilded" in the Gilded Age
The "Bloody Shirt" Elects Grant
The Democrats denounced military Reconstruction, but could agree on little else. Wealthy eastern delegates demanded a plank promising that federal war bonds be redeemed in gold, which was answered by the poorer midwestern delegates with the "Ohio Idea" calling for redemption in greenbacks. Midwestern delegates got the platform, but not the candidate. Instead, former New York governor, Horatio Seymour, was nominated in hope for success by repudiating the Ohio Idea.
Republicans showed support for Grant by "waving the bloody shirt" and reviving gory memories of the Civil War. Grant won the election of 1868.
Ulysses S. Grant
Corruption in the Gilded Age
Tammany Hall
Headed by William Marcy "Boss" Tweed.
The Tammany Hall political machine of the late 1860s and early 1870s used graft, bribery, and rigged elections to bilk the city of over $200 million. Some money went to create public jobs that helped people, support the local economy, and other money went into constructing public buildings. He was successful through his use of kick-backs and bribes. Tammany Hall set up support for widows, orphans, and other underprivileged people. This resulted in leaving many people wanting system reform.
Union and Central Pacific Railroad Company
The directors created an alternate company, Credit Mobilier, made to supply materials and labor. The directors kept their involvement with Credit Mobilier quiet and paid the company huge prices for all its services and materials. Heavy extracts of government money bankrupted the company and led to bribing congressmen in order to draw off attention of the scandal.
Fisk and Gould
Courageous Thomas Nast
Compromise of 1877
Passed by Congress
Set up an electoral commission with 15 men selected from the Senate, House of Representatives, and the Supreme Court. It would determine which party would win the election. The committee determined, without opening the ballot from 3 disputed states, that the Republicans had won in the disputed ballots from the states, giving Republicans the presidency. The Democrats were angry with the results, but agreed that Republican Hayes could take office if he withdrew the federal troops from Louisiana and South Carolina.