The Democratic and Republican parties in the Gilded Age

AP US History 2 Origins of Democratic and Republican Separation The political battles during the Gilded Age (1869-1889) were not fought with weapons and lives as was the Civil War directly before them, but with pamphlets, verbal accusations and national ideals. However, were the two most prominent foes vying due to differing economic policies, or were they similar parties that based their separation on national origin, geography, history, and emotion? The basic economic reforms were, in …

…were so distinctly different that such a large variation could only be bridged over several centuries. The Democrats and Republicans of the Gilded Age were, in reality, overwhelmingly distinct political parties. The groups and ideals that both parties represented were absolutely opposite. The similarity in their economic reforms is explained by their desire to create a prosperous America - one that could only be achieved through civil service reforms, government-issued currency, and further economic legislation.