Political Corruption in Postbellum America

ASU HST 200 (Historical Themes) Politics in the Gilded Age 1870-1900 Political Corruption in Postbellum America Beyond Reconstruction and the difficulty of establishing an economy free of slavery, Americans faced many more difficulties in the years after the Civil War. The nation's political and social reconstruction, together with the related issue of racial relations in the aftermath of slavery, were of utmost importance. Furthermore, farmers had to cultivate the dry soils of the West and sell their produce in the growing global commodities market, while laborers in urban sectors endured unsafe working conditions, long hours, and stagnating salaries. Farmers, who remained the majority of Americans, were confronted with escalating debt due to the decline in crop prices. The cultivation of more land with more productive agricultural equipment and techniques, competitive worldwide markets, price manipulation by commodity merchants, excessive railroad freight charges, and the high cost of loans that farmers relied on were all major contributors to these decreased prices. For many, the fruits of their labor were only a persistent drop in prices and much more debt. After Reconstruction ended, federal political power was mired in a partisan impasse and corruption pervaded both state and federal levels. These farmers and others, seeking leaders to mend the scars left by the Civil War, organized in various states and eventually formed a national thirdparty challenge. Presidents had relatively limited authority throughout the Gilded Age, mostly because of fiercely contested elections with extremely narrow popular majorities. Without a popular majority, the Electoral College was won by two presidents. A Congress dominated by politicians who functioned on the basis of political patronage further undermined its effectiveness. Eventually, dissatisfied with Washington's lack of initiative, a number of Americans started creating their own groups and political parties to take on the issues they were facing head-on. Farmers and workers created a new grassroots reform movement in response to the frustrations of war, presidential political ineptitude, and the overwhelming rate of industrial change. However, by the end of the century, this movement was surpassed by an even greater Progressive movement that was mostly composed of middle-class individuals. Change was brought about by these reform initiatives, but not without resistance. The Gilded Age, which lasted from 1870 to 1900, brought about a number of notable difficulties and changes to postbellum American politics. After the Civil War, Americans faced a wide range of challenges, going well beyond Reconstruction and the need to reconstruct a country free of the legacy of slavery. After slavery was abolished, the country struggled with political and social rebuilding, which included resolving the complicated problem of race relations. In the meantime, Western farmers found it difficult to compete in the expanding global commodities market while growing crops on dry soils. Workers in cities faced dangerous working conditions, long hours, and stagnating pay. Most Americans were still farmers, but their debts were getting bigger because crop prices were so low. Crop prices were in a downward spiral due to a number of factors, including expanded land cultivation, sophisticated agricultural technology, intense worldwide rivalry, manipulation by commodities dealers, excessive railroad freight rates, and high borrowing expenses. Many farmers, in spite of their hard work, were caught in a never-ending cycle of declining profits and mounting debt. As Reconstruction drew to an end, partisan deadlock entangled federal political authority, and corruption seeped into both state and federal administrations. Farmers and other marginalized groups, frustrated by the lack of leadership in Washington and the inability to handle post-war issues, started organizing at the state level and eventually came together to form a national third-party movement. During the Gilded Age, the president's power was significantly curtailed, partly because of very competitive elections with extremely narrow popular majorities. The fact that two presidents were chosen by the Electoral College without winning the popular vote highlights the unstable political climate of the time. Effective government was further hampered by a Congress controlled by politicians motivated by patronage. The economic downturn and governmental stagnation prompted Americans to start organizing grassroots reform initiatives. Disillusioned with the war's aftermath and the president's incompetence as a leader, farmers and laborers attempted to take their complaints directly to the president. But by the end of the century, a larger Progressive movement that was mostly spearheaded by middle-class people had surpassed the strength of these groups. Even though these reform efforts resulted in substantial change, opposition existed. Reform faced significant challenges due to the ingrained interests of influential elites and the sluggishness of long-standing political institutions. Nevertheless, in spite of these difficulties, the Gilded Age paved the way for a period of significant social and political change in the US.