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Political Issues During The Gilded Age

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The Gilded Age, which lasted from approximately 1868 to 1900, was a period of rapid economic growth and industrialization in the United States. The term "Gilded Age" was coined by Mark Twain to describe the era's glittering surface of wealth and prosperity, but also the corruption and political corruption that lay beneath it. This period of American history was marked by significant political changes, as well as the emergence of new political issues and groups. One of the major political issues during the Gilded Age was the question of tariffs. The Republican Party, which controlled the federal government during this period, favored high tariffs on imported goods in order to protect American industry. The Democratic Party, on the other hand, opposed high tariffs and favored free trade. This issue was a major point of contention between the two parties and played a role in several presidential elections during the Gilded Age. …show more content…

The Spoils System, which had been in place since Andrew Jackson's presidency, allowed the President to remove government employees and replace them with political supporters. This led to widespread corruption and inefficiency in the government. Civil service reformers, led by President Rutherford B. Hayes and later President James A. Garfield, sought to put an end to the Spoils System by implementing a merit-based system for government jobs. A third major political issue during the Gilded Age was the question of money and finance. The country was moving towards a more industrialized economy, but the currency was backed by gold and silver, which limited the amount of money in circulation. Those who advocated for the gold standard believed that it would keep the economy stable, while those who advocated for the silver standard believed that it would help farmers and other debtors by increasing the amount of money in

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