USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Under the Spoils System, candidates for political office would offer potential jobs in exchange for votes. The spoils system also gave supporters access to money and political favors. During the Gilded Age, the Republicans and Democrats had roughly the same number of supporters.

Detailed explanation-2: -The spoils system involves political activity by public employees in support of their party and the employees’ removal from office if their party loses the election.

Detailed explanation-3: -It was during the Gilded Age that Congress passed the Sherman Anti-Trust Act to break up monopolistic business combinations, and the Interstate Commerce Act, to regulate railroad rates. State governments created commissions to regulate utilities and laws regulating work conditions.

Detailed explanation-4: -In the Gilded Age, corruption and graft permeated every level of American politics. Campaigns promised patronage and civil service positions in order to win elections and access to infrastructure benefitted corporations over small-scale farmers. This corruption met various forms of resistance.