Issues during the Gilded Age

During the late 19th century, a great number of issues arose, and not necessarily just between political parties. "Waving the blood shirt" was a phrase used to describe the election of former military war heroes as president. Some examples include George Washington, Andrew Jackson, William Henry Harrison, Zachary Taylor, and Ulysses S. Grant. This was really a cheap method of acquiring presidential office, as a great general cannot be guaranteed to be a great president. …

…of silver enabled them to purchase it more easily. By far, the most significant issue was the "bloody shirt" problem. Essentially, this proved crippling to the nation because since it encouraged the election of various war heroes who were not meant to be presidents. Ulysses S. Grant was perhaps the most prominent of these presidents, as his foolish trust of his subordinate cabinet members started the corruption that opened the way for the Gilded Age.