Veterans interests and the transition to government growth: 1870-1915

Civil War veterans were the first interest group to use their political pow er to obtain substantial monetary transfers from the U.S. Treasury. Veteran s supported the Republican party, and in exchange Republicans provided incr easingly generous veterans benefits, placing a strain on the Treasury that led toward a demand for increased taxes. Veterans also established a preced ent that other groups could follow to petition the goverment for economic b enefits, shaping the transformation of American government in the Progressi ve era which led to the substantial growth of the federal government in the 20th century.