Political and Economic Challenges

Name ______Pd__Date______Chapter 16 Section 2 Political and Economic Challenges

Focus Question

Why did the political structure change during the Gilded Age?  Congress passed few laws between 1877 and 1900, in an era marked by inaction and political corruption.  The ______raised questions about whether or not democracy could succeed.

Political Parties are Equal

 Between 1877 and 1897, party ______were evenly divided.  Neither political party achieved ______of both the ______and ______for more than two years in a row.  Presidents during the Gilded Age were elected only by ______.

Corruption

 Corruption ______national politics as many officials accepted ______.  Writers, such as ______, expressed concerns over the corruption.  The ______, in which party supporters received government jobs regardless of their ______, shifted power to a few.  This system made the political ______extremely ______.

Civil Service Reform

 A ______arose to promote ______reform.  Ending the spoils system was ______.  Change finally happened, in part, because President James ______was ______by a man who believed the Republican Party owed him a job.

Civil Service Reform

 Chester A. ______became President and supported civil service reform.  In 1883, he signed into law the ______, which established a ______system for government employment.

Tariffs and Monetary Policy

 The economic issues of ______and monetary ______caused debate during the Gilded Age.  Tariffs taxed ______goods, which supported ______but increased ______prices.  Monetary policy ______concerned the ______, where gold became the basis of the nation’s ______.

Coinage Act of 1873

 Monetary policy centered on a debate over the ______Act of 1873.  Some people wanted to use only ______as money.  Some wanted to use both ______and ______.  Bankers were worried silver would ______the economy. ______favored it to create ______and raise their ______.