Unit 3- Reading Guide 1
Name_________________________
Vocab: Be prepared to define each of the following terms
“Gilded Age”
Patronage
Political machine
Civil service
Graft
Stalwarts
William “Boss” Tweed
James A. Garfield
Tammany Hall
Chester Arthur
Thomas Nast
Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883)
Crédit Mobiliér
Guided Reading Questions: Provide comprehensive answers, in complete
sentences, to each of the following questions.
1. What did British historian James Bryce name as “the one conspicuous failure
of the United States” during the Gilded Age?
2. On a separate piece of paper, make a diagram showing how political
machines were organized and the role of different levels of workers within
the political machine.
3. What type of reputation did political machines gain during the Gilded Age?
How did they retain control of city governments despite this reputation?
4. Provide examples of how political machines used graft.
5. Describe the events of “Boss” Tweed’s notorious New York County
Courthouse project. How was the Tweed Ring’s corruption exposed to the
public?
6. Explain the Crédit Mobiliér scandal. How did the scandal work? How did the
managers try to hide their corruption? How high up in federal government
did the corruption go?
7. Explain the Whiskey Ring scandal. Why might someone view President Grant
as a hypocrite because of this scandal?
8. Patronage is no different than the Spoils System of Andrew Jackson. What are
the dangers of patronage in civil service jobs? How did the issue of patronage
and reform affect the Republican party during the 1880s?
9. Why did President Hayes provoke anger from politicians over the issue of
civil service patronage and reform?
10. What compromise is made between civil service reformers and Stalwarts of
the Republican party in the election of 1880? Who are the president and vice
president candidates and what position does each hold regarding civil
service and reform?
11. How did Garfield’s assassination backfire on Charles Guiteau and Stalwarts
like him? Explain the unintended consequence that the Pendleton Civil
Service Act had on the relationship between politicians and big business.