A Level History - America - Practice Exam

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Prepare for the A Level History Exam focused on American history with engaging quizzes and detailed study materials. Challenge your knowledge and strengthen your exam strategies!

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Who were the Stalwarts in the context of American politics during the Gilded Age?

Members of the Democratic Party advocating for civil service reform
Republicans who resisted the abandonment of the spoils system
Progressives pushing for women's suffrage
Union leaders fighting for workers' rights

The correct answer is: Republicans who resisted the abandonment of the spoils system

The Stalwarts were a faction within the Republican Party during the Gilded Age that ardently supported the spoils system, which granted government jobs to party loyalists and supporters. They opposed civil service reform, which aimed to implement merit-based hiring practices and reduce corruption in government jobs. Leaders of the Stalwarts, such as Roscoe Conkling, believed that the spoils system helped maintain party loyalty and political power. Their resistance to reform measures reflected their commitment to the traditional party patronage system, contrasting with more reformist factions like the Half-Breeds, who sought to end the patronage system and promote merit-based appointments.