Politics and ReformPolitics and Reform

Clean-up PoliticsClean-up Politics

1.1. Rutherford B. Hayes- condemned Spoils Rutherford B. Hayes- condemned Spoils SystemSystem

2.2. James GarfieldJames Garfielda.a. Pendleton Act- government jobs given by Pendleton Act- government jobs given by

means of the merit system means of the merit system

Business InfluenceBusiness Influence

A.A. Grover ClevelandGrover Cleveland 11stst Democratic Democratic

president in 28 yearspresident in 28 years Only president to Only president to

serve two serve two nonconsecutive termsnonconsecutive terms

Business InfluenceBusiness Influence

B.B. Benjamin Harrison: Benjamin Harrison: RepublicanRepublican1.1. McKinley Tariff- raised McKinley Tariff- raised

tariffs to highest levelstariffs to highest levels

2.2. Sherman Anti-Trust Sherman Anti-Trust Act- to prevent Act- to prevent monopolies by making monopolies by making it illegal to establish it illegal to establish trusts trusts

PopulismPopulism Sought to advance in the interests of Sought to advance in the interests of

farmers and laborersfarmers and laborers

PopulismPopulismA.A. Unrest: Prices dropping due to Unrest: Prices dropping due to

technologytechnology1.1. Money Supply:Money Supply:

a.a. Deflation- prices fall, value of $ increasesDeflation- prices fall, value of $ increases

b.b. Problem for farmersProblem for farmers

2.2. ““Crime of ’73”: Gold Crime of ’73”: Gold became the only metallic became the only metallic standard standard

PopulismPopulismB.B. Recession of 1873- Farm prices fell, Recession of 1873- Farm prices fell,

businesses failedbusinesses failedi.i. Debt & unemploymentDebt & unemployment

PopulismPopulism

C.C. Farmer’s Alliance Farmer’s Alliance (Texas 1877)(Texas 1877)

1.1. People’s Party or People’s Party or PopulistsPopulists

a.a. Wanted free Wanted free coinage of silvercoinage of silver

b.b. Sherman Silver ActSherman Silver Act

Panic of 1893Panic of 18931.1. Crisis of U.S. TreasuryCrisis of U.S. Treasury

a.a. Stock market crashedStock market crashed

b.b. 15,000 businesses and 500 banks 15,000 businesses and 500 banks collapsedcollapsed

c.c. 1/5 unemployed1/5 unemployed

Election of 1896Election of 18961.1. Populists endorse William Jennings Populists endorse William Jennings

Bryan (Dem.)Bryan (Dem.)

2.2. Republican: William McKinley winsRepublican: William McKinley wins Populism collapsesPopulism collapses