The Politics of the Gilded Age, 1877-1900 Chapter 19 AMSCO

"My Dear Nephew,

"Never allow yourself to lose sight of that fact that politics, and not poker, is our great American game. If this could be beaten into the heads of some presumably well-meaning but glaringly unpractical people, we should hear less idiotic talk about reform in connection with politics. Nobody ever dreams of organizing a reform movement in poker ....

"Mr. Lincoln, a very estimable and justly popular, but in some respects an impracticable man, formulated widely different error regard to politics. He held that ours is a government of the people, by the people, for the people. I

maintain, on the contrary, that it is government of politicians, by politicians, for politicians. If your political career is to be a success, you must understand and

respect this distinction with a difference."

-William McElroy, journalist, "An Old War Horse to a Young Politician," published anonymously in the Atlantic Monthly, 1880.

McElroy's letter uses humor to make a point. Which of the following statements reflects McElroy's true criticism?

• Americans pay too much attention to politics.

• Elections were so close that for candidates it was similar to gambling.

• Lincoln was admired more than he deserved to be.

• Politics was primarily about holding office for personal gain.

Voters demanded patronage reform in politics after

• President James Garfield was assassinated.

• the Mugwumps sided with the opposing party.

• the Greenback Party won mid-year elections in 1878.

• Grover Cleveland threatened Republican dominance.

Which of the following would the author, as a critic of the politics of the era, most likely oppose?

• Laws limiting the number of terms one person could serve in an

  elective office.

• Rules reducing the number of patronage jobs controlled by

  politicians.

• Court decisions allowing unlimited campaign contributions by

  wealthy donors.

• Prosecutions of corruption in urban political parties and among

  political bosses.

Which of the following best explains the tariff rates during the period from 1865 to 1900?

• American farmers believed that high tariffs would result in high

  farm prices.

• Republicans believed that high tariffs would protect American

  business from foreign competition.

• Democrats believed that high tariffs would create jobs for

  American workers.

• Consumers believed that high tariffs would result in high-quality

  manufactured goods made in the United States.

Which statement best describes the level of tariffs in the United States in the 19th century?

• Tariffs were generally highest during Democratic administrations.

• The election of Lincoln ushered in a period of high tariffs

• The election of McKinley resulted in a period of lower tariffs.

• Tariffs were closely linked to the value of the U.S. dollar.

Which of the following most likely explains the change in the amount of currency in circulation between 1865 and 1870?

• The decline of gold mining in the United States.

• The withdrawal of "greenbacks" from circulation.

• The refusal of Congress to purchase silver for coinage.

• The increasing poverty of most Americans.

Which of the following groups during the period from 1865 to 1895 most actively campaigned to increase the money supply?

• Farmers and debtors.

• Bankers and lenders.

• Merchants and consumers.

• The federal and state governments.

A decline in the amount of money in circulation in proportion to the population would most likely result in a(n)

• increase in prices and a decline in wages.

• increase in the value of the dollar along with decrease in purchasing power

• increase in interest rates and a decline in prices.

• decrease the value of the dollar and increase in prices