Download or read book Politics in the Gilded Age, 1870-1900 written by The Open The Open Courses Library and published by . This book was released on 2019-10-14 with total page 51 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Politics in the Gilded Age, 1870-1900 U.S. History All told, from 1872 through 1892, Gilded Age politics were little more than political showmanship. The political issues of the day, including the spoils system versus civil service reform, high tariffs versus low, and business regulation, all influenced politicians more than the country at large. Very few measures offered direct assistance to Americans who continued to struggle with the transformation into an industrial society; the inefficiency of a patronage-driven federal government, combined with a growing laissez-faire attitude among the American public, made the passage of effective legislation difficult. Some of Harrison's policies, such as the Sherman Anti-Trust Act and the Sherman Silver Purchase Act, aimed to provide relief but remained largely ineffective. Chapter Outline: Introduction Political Corruption in Postbellum America The Key Political Issues: Patronage, Tariffs, and Gold Farmers Revolt in the Populist Era Social and Labor Unrest in the 1890s The Open Courses Library introduces you to the best Open Source Courses.