Reminders Vowell due tonight by midnight!
Back to you by Tuesday
Exam #1 – 2/27 – study group @ 415 Notes and study guide on website
Begin reading Riis (Due 3/5) Writing activity out on Wednesday
NATIONAL POLITICS IN THE GILDED AGE, 1877-1900
Politics in the Gilded Age “Gilded Age” –
Mark Twain Corruption and
patronage Weak presidents –
“Do-Littles” or “Do Nothings”
Turned blind eye towards cities
Belief in Limited Government
Roots in: Social Darwinism Laissez-faire economics Loose interpretation of govt. regulations Weak laws passed by the govt.
Campaign Strategies Democrats:
Began to attract Jewish and Catholic immigrants
Many believed in states rights
“Maintain the status quo”
Republicans – “waving the bloody shirt” “Lincoln was shot by
a Democrat” Brass bands, free
beer, picnics Pro-business
attitude The North likes this
Party Patronage Main objectives:
Gain office Hold office Provide jobs to party
faithful Get reelected as
much as possible
Mugwumps
Stalwarts
Presidential Politics Rutherford B. Hayes
Won disputed election of 1876
Withdrew troops from South
Honest government “Lemonade Lucy” Vetoed certain
immigration bills
Presidential Politics James A. Garfield
Republican Won Election of
1880 Running mate –
Chester A. Arthur Patronage – 100,000
jobs 1881 – Assassinated
Arthur becomes president
Presidential Politics Chester A. Arthur
Better than expected
Developed modern Navy
Questioned tariffs Republicans went
crazy!
Not reelected in 1884
Major Issues Civil Service
Reform Pendleton Act of
1881 Federal applicants Tested and competed
for jobs Tried to eliminate
patronage Applied to 10% of all
federal employees
Major Issues Money Question:
Should we expand the money supply? Increased tension
“Haves” – rich, industrialists Cash backed by gold
“Have nots” – farmers, workers Lower interest rates Pay off loans with inflated money
Major Issues Farmers
The Grange (1868) Oliver H. Kelley
Social outlet for farmers
1873 – Grange in every state
Set up farmer cooperatives
Made it illegal for RRs to fix prices
Major Issues Farmers (cont.)
Interstate Commerce Act (1886) Rates must be
“reasonable and just” Set up the Interstate
Commerce Commission
Actually helped RRs, not farmers Made rates stable in
favor of RRs
Major Issues Farmers (cont.)
National Alliance Direct election of
Senators Lowered tariffs Graduated income tax New banking system Increase money
supply
Gave rise to the Populist Party
Money, Money, Money Greenbacks
Issued during Civil War for emergency funds
1875 – Specie Resumption Act Withdrew greenbacks
from circulation Greenback Party
James B. Weaver – Iowa Election of 1878 – 1
million votes
Growth of Discontent Election of 1888
Grover Cleveland (D) Protested high tariffs Wanted lower interest
rates Appealed to farmers
and workers Benjamin Harrison
(R) High tariff Pro-business
Accomplishments Under Harrison McKinley Tariff
(1890) – Raised taxes on imports to 48%
Increased pension to CW veterans
Wanted to protect black voting rights
Election of 1892 James Weaver –
Populist
Grover Cleveland – Democrat
Benjamin Harrison - Republican
Panic of 1893 Railroad
overbuilding – AGAIN!!!
Money not backed by strong currency
Worst depression in U.S. History
Coxey’s Army 1894 – Jacob Coxey
Led thousands of unemployed to DC
Demanded jobs $500 million for
public utilities jobs Trespassing and
arrested
