Chapter 184. Reflections on Presidential Politics, Chapter 18

There is no right or wrong answer to this question. Your answer has been accepted and your response will be reviewed by your instructor.

Correct. The answer is a. The author’s main point about presidential politics is that, although they had little influence over the economy, the Republican presidents of the Gilded Age struggled to balance the demands of the patronage system with those of political reformers, and to maintain both the power and unity of their party.

Incorrect. The answer is a. The author’s main point about presidential politics is that, although they had little influence over the economy, the Republican presidents of the Gilded Age struggled to balance the demands of the patronage system with those of political reformers, and to maintain both the power and unity of their party.

Correct. The answer is d. To support her argument that Republican presidents of the Gilded Age were torn between influential party bosses and determined political reformers, the author cites the example of President Hayes’s difficult term and decision not to seek reelection in 1880. She suggests that Hayes was a hardworking and well-informed president, but that his efforts to steer a middle ground between the two groups alienated him from both, and that he knew he could not win reelection.

Incorrect. The answer is d. To support her argument that Republican presidents of the Gilded Age were torn between influential party bosses and determined political reformers, the author cites the example of President Hayes’s difficult term and decision not to seek reelection in 1880. She suggests that Hayes was a hardworking and well-informed president, but that his efforts to steer a middle ground between the two groups alienated him from both, and that he knew he could not win reelection.

Correct. The answer is b. The author argues that Congress was only able to pass the Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883 and undermine the spoils system after a disappointed office-seeker assassinated President James Garfield.

Incorrect. The answer is b. The author argues that Congress was only able to pass the Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883 and undermine the spoils system after a disappointed office-seeker assassinated President James Garfield.

Correct. The answer is c. The author suggests that Democrats believed their candidate would win the presidency because Mugwumps—Republicans who supported political reform—threw their support to Cleveland instead of backing the Republican Blaine.

Incorrect. The answer is c. The author suggests that Democrats believed their candidate would win the presidency because Mugwumps—Republicans who supported political reform—threw their support to Cleveland instead of backing the Republican Blaine.

Correct. The answer is b. The author suggests that Cleveland only won the election after his scandal because Blaine committed a political misstep that alienated Irish Catholic voters, which caused him to lose New York state.

Incorrect. The answer is b. The author suggests that Cleveland only won the election after his scandal because Blaine committed a political misstep that alienated Irish Catholic voters, which caused him to lose New York state.

There is no right or wrong answer to this question. Your answer has been accepted and your response will be reviewed by your instructor.

There is no right or wrong answer to this question. Your answer has been accepted and your response will be reviewed by your instructor.

There is no right or wrong answer to this question. Your answer has been accepted and your response will be reviewed by your instructor.