Final answer:
The scandals in President Grant's administration, such as the Crédit Mobilier and Whiskey Ring, exposed widespread political corruption and set the stage for Gilded Age politics, which were marked by their focus on business interests, showmanship, and the discussion around patronage, tariffs, and gold.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scandals of the war hero's administration, likely referring to Ulysses S. Grant's presidency, had a significant impact on setting the stage for what would be known as Gilded Age politics. The Gilded Age, a term made famous by Mark Twain, denoted an era of rapid economic growth coupled with underlying corruption within the political sphere. Grant's administration was plagued with multiple scandals, such as the Crédit Mobilier affair, the Whiskey Ring, and the Indian Trading scandals, exposing the extent of corruption within the government. These events helped to generate a public dialogue on government transparency and integrity, culminating in a political atmosphere ripe for reform and change.
Gilded Age politics were characterized by their showmanship, focusing largely on serving business interests and maintaining political power rather than addressing the needs of the average American. Major political issues, such as patronage, tariffs, and the gold standard, were hotly debated, yet the period is marked by an ineffectiveness in legislation, with very few measures providing direct assistance to those struggling with the country's transformation into an industrial society.
In summary, the scandals during Grant's administration illustrated the widespread corruption that became a hallmark of the Gilded Age, laying ground for discussions about corporate power, political reform, and the workings of democracy, alongside the more tangible burgeoning grassroots protest against corruption and expansion of industry in America.