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The '''Mugwumps''' were [[Republican Party|Republican]] political activists who supported [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] candidate [[Grover Cleveland]] in the presidential election of 1884. They switched parties because they rejected the financial corruption associated with Republican candidate, [[James Blaine]]. In a close election the Mugwumps possibly made the difference in New York state and swung the election to Cleveland.

The '''Mugwumps''' were [[Republican Party|Republican]] political activists who supported [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] candidate [[Grover Cleveland]] in the presidential election of 1884. They switched parties because they rejected the financial corruption associated with Republican candidate, [[James Blaine]]. In a close election the Mugwumps possibly made the difference in New York state and swung the election to Cleveland, a conservative with a very strong record against corruption.

After the election, ''mugwump'' survived for more than a decade as an epithet in American politics. Many Mugwumps became Democrats or remained independents; most continued to support reform well into the 20th century. <ref> Tucker (1998)</ref>  During the [[Third Party System]], party loyalty was in high regard and independents were rare.  [[Theodore Roosevelt]] stunned his upper class New York City friends by supporting Blaine in 1884; by rejecting the Mugwumps he kept alive his Republican party leadership.<ref> Henry F. Pringle, ''Theodore Roosevelt: A Biography.'' (1931) Page 88. </ref>

After the 1884 election, ''mugwump'' survived for more than a decade as an epithet in American politics. Many Mugwumps became Democrats or remained independents; most continued to support reform well into the 20th century. <ref> Tucker (1998)</ref>  During the [[Third Party System]], party loyalty was in high regard and independents were rare.  [[Theodore Roosevelt]] stunned his upper class New York City friends by supporting Blaine in 1884; by rejecting the Mugwumps he kept alive his Republican party leadership.<ref> Henry F. Pringle, ''Theodore Roosevelt: A Biography.'' (1931) Page 88. </ref>

[[Image:84tattoo.jpg|thumb|400px|1884 cartoon in ''Puck'' magazine ridicules Blaine as the tattooed-man, with many indelible scandals.]]

[[Image:84tattoo.jpg|thumb|400px|1884 cartoon in ''Puck'' magazine ridicules Blaine as the tattooed-man, with many indelible scandals. A few years before a visiting Hawaiian diplomat with many tattoos had created a sensation in Washington]]

New England and the northeastern United States had been a stronghold of the GOP since the Civil War era, but the Mugwumps considered Blaine to be untrustworthy, and a fraudulent candidate. Their idealism and reform sensibilities led them to oppose the political corruption in the politics of the [[Gilded Age]]. <ref> Summers (2000)</ref>  

New England and the northeastern United States had been a stronghold of the GOP since the Civil War era, but the Mugwumps considered Blaine to be untrustworthy, and a fraudulent candidate. Their idealism and reform sensibilities led them to oppose the political corruption in the politics of the [[Gilded Age]]. <ref> Summers (2000)</ref>