1. Why was the period of the late 19^th century known as the Gilded Age? 2. Describe campaigns in the late 1800s. 3. Describe Republicans in the late 1800s. 4. Describe Democrats in the late 1800s. 5. What happened to President Garfield in 1881?Why? 6. In what ways was civil service reformed in the late 1800s? 7. Compare and contrast the two sides of the Money Question.

1. The period of the late 19th century was known as the Gilded Age because it was a time of rapid economic growth and industrialization, but also of political corruption and social inequality. The term "Gilded Age" was coined by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner in their 1873 novel "The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today," which satirized the era's materialism and political corruption.<br /><br />2. In the late 1800s, there were several notable campaigns that shaped the political landscape. The Populist Party, also known as the People's Party, emerged in the early 1890s and advocated for the interests of farmers and laborers, including the free coinage of silver and government ownership of railroads. The Progressive Movement, which gained momentum in the late 1800s and early 1900s, sought to address social and political issues such as corruption, monopolies, and women's suffrage. The temperance movement, which aimed to prohibit the sale and consumption of alcohol, also gained significant traction during this period.<br /><br />3. In the late 1800s, the Republican Party was associated with the interests of business and industry, as well as the preservation of the Union. The party supported the gold standard, high tariffs, and the expansion of the railroad network. Republicans also generally favored a strong federal government and were more likely to support the idea of a centralized national economy.<br /><br />4. The Democratic Party in the late 1800s was more closely aligned with the interests of farmers, workers, and the South. Democrats generally opposed the gold standard and supported the free coinage of silver, which they believed would inflate the currency and make it easier for farmers and workers to pay off debts. They also advocated for states' rights and were more likely to support a decentralized federal government.<br /><br />5. In 1881, President James Garfield was shot by Charles J. Guiteau, a disgruntled office seeker who was upset about not receiving a government job. Garfield was initially expected to recover, but he ultimately succumbed to complications from his injuries in 1896. The assassination highlighted the issues of political patronage and the need for civil service reform.<br /><br />6. Civil service reform in the late 1800s was driven by the desire to eliminate the patronage system, which allowed politicians to appoint government employees based on political loyalty rather than merit. The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883 was a significant step in this direction, as it established a merit-based system for federal employment and created the Civil Service Commission to oversee the process. This reform aimed to promote efficiency, accountability, and fairness in the federal bureaucracy.<br /><br />7. The Money Question in the late 1800s revolved around the debate over the use of gold or silver as the sole basis for the national currency. The gold bugs, who were primarily associated with the Republican Party, believed that the gold standard was the only way to maintain economic stability and prevent inflation. On the other hand, the silverites, who were mainly Democrats, advocated for the free coinage of silver and believed it would inflate the currency and help farmers and workers pay off debts. The debate over the Money Question was a significant factor in the political landscape of the time and influenced the election of 1896, in which William McKinley (Republican) and William Jennings Bryan (Democrat) competed for the presidency.