GILDED AGE POLITICS

EUGENIA LANGANMATER ACADEMY CHARTER HIGH SCHOOLHIALEAH GARDENS, FLORIDAWITH THANKS TO SUSAN POJER AND TONY MILLER

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:

TODAY:

WHAT FACTORS (CHANGES AND CONTINUITIES) SHAPED GUILDED AGE POLITICS?

WHAT FACTORS GAVE RISE TO THE POPULIST PARTY AND WHAT WAS ITS EFFECT?

BROAD:

HOW DID THE U.S. BECOME A SUPERPOWER?

WHEN AND HOW DO POPULIST MOVEMENTS ARISE AND HOW HAVE THEY SHAPED U.S. POLITICS?

THE GILDED AGE – 1869 - 1900

"WHAT IS THE CHIEF END OF MAN?--TO GET RICH. IN WHAT WAY?--DISHONESTLY IF WE CAN; HONESTLY IF WE MUST."

-- MARK TWAIN-1871

"GILDED - COVERED IN A THIN LAYER OF GOLD. OFTEN HIDING SOMETHING UNATTRACTIVE UNDERNEATH."

THE GILDED AGE IS A TIME OF EXTREME WEALTH – AND EXTREME POVERTY

REAL GDP AND GDP PER CAPITA SOARED – PERIOD OF GREATEST GROWTH IN U.S. HISTORY

BUT THE TOP 1/8 WEALTHIEST HELD 7/8 OF TOTAL NATION WEALTH – HUGE RICH-POOR GAP (LIKE TODAY!)

A DIFFERENT MEASURE: % 0F NATIONAL WEALTH HELD BY TOP 1% WEALTHIEST INDIVIDUALS: NOTE THE TREND SINCE MID-1970s (EFFECT OF BUSH TAX CUTS AND RECESSION/BAILOUTS – TODAY TOP 10% HOLD 75%, TOP 1% HOLD 40.4%)

GILDED AGE "BILLIONAIRES" TO KNOW:

J. PIERPONT MORGAN: BANKING

JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER, STANDARD OIL

ANDREW CARNEGIE, CARNEGIE STEEL

1876 – 1892: "THE POLITICS OF EQUILIBRIUM"

REALLY A TWO-PARTY STALEMATE

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS DEPENDED LARGELY ON SWING STATES, ESPECIALLY NY, NJ, CONN. & IND. (SWUNG BASED ON DEMOGRAPHICS AND FRAUD)

NEITHER PARTY TOTALLY CONTROLLED CONGRESS

GILDED AGE PRESIDENTS

ULYSSES S. GRANT (R): TWO TERMS RUTHERFORD HAYES (R): ONE TERM JAMES A. GARFIELD (R): FIVE MONTHS

(ASSASSINATED) CHESTER A. ARTHUR (R): ONE TERM GROVER CLEVELAND (D): ONE TERM (THEN) BENJAMIN HARRISON (R): ONE TERM GROVER CLEVELAND (D): ONE MORE TERM

"THE LESS A MAN KNOWS THE BIGGER THE NOISE HE MAKES AND THE HIGHER THE SALARY HE COMMANDS." MARK TWAIN, FROM A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR'S COURT

VOTER TURNOUT HIGH DURING GILDED AGE (NOTE THAT IT DECLINES – A TREND THAT WILL CONTINUE IN THE 20TH CENTURY).

BUT IT WAS A TIME OF INTENSE PARTY LOYALTY (USUALLY)

WHY?

WELL-DEFINED CLASS AND INTEREST BLOCS

WELL-DEFINED VOTING BLOCS – TINDERBOX BUT POLITICAL BALANCE KEPT THE LID ON UNTIL LATE '80S

DEMOCRATICBLOC

REPUBLICANBLOC

WHITE SOUTHERNERS(PRESERVATION OFWHITE SUPREMACY)CATHOLICSRECENT IMMIGRANTS(ESP. JEWS)LABOR MOST FARMERS

NORTHERN WHITES(PRO-BUSINESS)AFRICAN AMERICANSNORTHERN PROTESTANTSOLD WASPS (SUPPORTFOR ANTI-IMMIGRANT LAWS)MOST OF THE BOURGEIOSIE

SOME OF THE BLOCS – CONFLICTS KEPT MOSTLY IN CHECK BY POLTICAL “EQUILIBRIUM” UNTIL PANIC OF 1893

FARMERS THE USUAL PROBLEM: CYCLE OF DEBT DESIRE FOR FREE SILVER OR GREENBACKS

MADE WORSE BECAUSE # OF FARM TRIPLED 1860 – 1900 & FARM MACHINERY INCREASED FARM PRODUCTION OVERPRODUCTION OF FARM PRODUCTS

SINKING PRICES CYCLE OF DEBT WORSE, FORECLOSURES, INCREASED DESIRE FOR FREE SILVER

BY 1888, ¼ OF ALL FARMS WERE TENANT FARMS (MORE DEBT!)

GRANGER MOVEMENT, 1867 – FARMERS BEGIN TO ORGANIZE

OLIVER KELLEY, FOUNDER, PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY (AKA THE GRANGE)

GRANGE ORGANIZED FARM CO-OPERATIVES (COLLECTIVE BUYING AND SELLING)

MOSTLY FOUGHT RAILROADS GRANGER LAWS IN MIDWEST (INVALIDATED IN WABASH CASE, BUT INTERSTATE COMMERCE ACT, 1877)

FARM ALLIANCES, BEGINNING 1877 – SEEDS OF POPULISM

STARTED IN SOUTH (SOUTHERN ALLIANCE), SPREAD THROUGHOUT MIDWEST (NORTHERN ALLIANCE). THERE WAS ALSO A COLORED FARMER'S ALLIANCE.

MORE POLITICAL THAN GRANGE

ALLIED WITH LABOR

RADICAL – DECRIED "CAPITALISTS," THREATENED BOYCOTTS

CONTROLLED 8 STATE LEGISLATURES AND HAD 47 REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS IN 1890S

THE U.S. ENCOURAGED MASSIVE IMMIGRATION IN THE GILDED AGE – NEEDED FACTORY WORKER AND FARMERS TO SETTLE THE WEST

“NEW IMMIGRANTS” FROM EUROPE

"NEW IMMIGRANTS"

FROM EASTERN EUROPE (BOHEMIA, POLAND, SLAVS, LITHUANIA, ETC)

AND SOUTHERN EUROPE (ITALIANS, GREEKS)

FOR 1ST TIME – LOTS OF JEWS FROM EASTERN EUROPE

LABOR UNIONS

RAILROAD CRAFT UNIONS MID 19TH C.

GENERAL UNIONS/ UNION FEDERATIONS:

KNIGHTS OF LABOR, 1869 (TERENCE POWDERLY) – ADVOCATED HARMONY AMONG EMPLOYERS, WORKERS, WOMEN, ETC. MAIN ISSUE = 8-HOUR DAY. LATER = ELEMENT OF POPULIST PARTY

AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR, 1881 (SAMUEL GOMPERS) – CRAFT UNIONS (THOUGH GOMPERS FAVORED INDUSTRIAL UNIONS)

AMERICAN RAILWAY UNION, 1886 (EUGENE V. DEBS) -- SOCIALIST

TERENCE POWDERLY AND SAMUEL GOMPERS

FEDERAL/ STATE POLICY TOWARD UNIONS: ILLEGAL CONSPIRACIES

1876: STRIKE AGAINST BALTIMORE & OHIO R.R. OVER WAGE CUTS

STARTED IN BALTIMORE, STRIKE AND RIOTING SPREAD TO BALTIMORE, PITTSBURG, ST. LOUIS, CHICAGO – MIGHT HAVE GONE NATIONAL

BUT HAYES SENT FEDERAL TROOPS TO BALTIMORE AND MARTINSBURG, W. VA. AS STRIKEBREAKERS

SET A PATTERN!

HARPER’S ILLUSTRATION OF CONFRONTATIONBETWEEN FEDERAL TROOPS AND STRIKERS IN BALTIMORE

STRIKE BLAMED ON GERMAN AND BOHEMIAN IMMIGRANTS AND COMMUNISTS

BUT MOSTLY VERY LAISSEZ-FAIRE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT – FROM 1870 TO 1890 GOVERNMENT DID LITTLE DOMESTICALLY

IN PART DUE TO POLITICAL PARALYSIS IN PART DUE TO SOCIAL DARWINISM MAIN FEDERAL DUTIES: POST OFFICE MILITARY (INDIAN WARS) FOREIGN AFFAIRS (NOT MUCH GOING ON!) COLLECT TARIFFS AND DUTIES ADMINISTER CIVIL WAR VETS/ WIDOW/ ORPHAN

PENSIONS

PROVIDE PATRONAGE JOBS!

THE PRESIDENCY AS A SYMBOLIC OFFICE

PARTY BOSSES (LIKE CONKLING)RULED NATIONAL PARTY

WITH ASSISTANCE AND SUBJECT TOLOCAL MACHINE BOSSES (TAMMANYHALL, ETC.)

PRESIDENTS COULD NOT AFFORDTO OFFEND PARTY LEADERS ($$$)

PRESIDENTS JUST DOLED OUT FEDERAL JOBS(MOSTLY SINECURES)

FEDERAL CIVILIAN WORKERS

SENATOR ROSCOE CONKLING

1865 189053,000 166,000

1880 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

MAIN ISSUE WITHIN REPUBLICAN PARTY = CIVIL SERVICE REFORM:

STALWARTS (NO REFORM) V. HALF-BREEDS (MODERATE REFORM) – CONKLING V. JAMES G. BLAINE OF MAINE "THE PLUMED KNIGHT" OR "THE CONTINENTAL LIAR FROM MAINE"

NEAR DEADLOCK – AND NEITHER COULD WIN

BLAINE: RUMORS OF R.R. BRIBES

CONKLING: TOO NOTORIOUSLY CORRUPT

THE COMPROMISE REPUBLICAN TICKET

JAMES A. GARFIELD, CHESTER A. ARTHUR,LESSER HALF-BREED LESSER STALWART

AND COLLECTOR ATN.Y CUSTOMS HOUSE(JACKSON, GRANT, HAYES SCANDALS)

DEMOCRATIC NOMINEES: WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK AND WILLIAM ENGLISH

HANCOCK WAS CAREER ARMY OFFICER AND UNION CIVIL WAR GENERAL, NICKNAMED "SUPERB HANCOCK" FOR HIS STRATEGIC SKILLS

NONETHELESS, REPUBLICANS WAVED THE BLOODY SHIRT

"THE DEMOCRATIC TROJAN HORSE: FOREWARNED, FOREARMED. THE DEFENDERS OF THE CITY WILL NOT BE MISLED BY A 'SUPERB' FIGUREHEAD."

HARPER'S LED THE MEDIA CRY AGAINST "SPOILS SYSTEM" AND MACHINE POLITICS -- SCOTT TOED THE HARPER'S LINE SO IT DIDN'T ATTACK HIM – JUST THE COMPANY HE KEPT

1880 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

CONGRESS REMAINED CLOSE TO 50/50

1881 – GARFIELD ASSASSINATED AT UNION STATION BY CHARLES GUITEAU (FIRST "LONE NUT" ASSASSIN)

"I AM A STALWART, AND ARTHUR IS PRESIDENT NOW!"

FLUNKED OUT OF U. MICH; JOINED ONEIDA COMMUNITY WHICH NICKNAMED HIM "CHARLES GITOUT". THOUGHT GARFIELD OWED HIM AMBASSADORSHIP

CHESTER A. ARTHUR – FOX IN THE HENHOUSE?

BUT HE SUPPORTED THE PENDLETON ACT (HAD TO) – ASSASSINATION OF GARFIELD PUBLIC SUPPORT FORCIVIL SERVICE REFORM

PENDLETON CIVIL SERVICE REFORM ACT ("PENDLETON ACT) -1883

CIVIL SERVICE JOBS TO BE AWARDED BASED ON MERIT (NOT PATRONAGE)

MERIT DETERMINED BY CIVIL SERVICE EXAMS

CREATED U.S. CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

WEAKNESS: FEWER THAN 10% OF FEDERAL JOBS WERE CIVIL SERVICE – MOST POLITICAL APPOINTEES

DIDN'T SATISFY REFORMERS IN REPUBLICAN PARTY CHET OUT AFTER ONE TERM (NOT NOMINATED!)

BUT OVER TIME, DUE TO PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR REFORM AND CHANGING POLITICS,MORE AND MORE FEDERAL JOBS WERE CLASSIFIED AS CIVIL SERVICE:

1883: 14,000 OUT OF 117,000 GOV'T JOBS

1900: 100,000 OUT OF 200,000 GOV'T JOBS

OF COURSE PENDLETON ACT DID NOTHING ABOUT LOCAL MACHINE POLITICS, LIKE TAMMANY HALL!

TAMMANY HALL DOMINATED NEW YORK CITY AND OFTEN STATE POLITICSUNTIL 1934

MUGWUMPS, INCLUDING TEDDY ROOSEVELT, FOUGHT AGAINST IT. HARPERS ALWAYS DID TOO.

GROVER CLEVELAND JAMES G. BLAINE (DEMOCRAT) (REPUBLICAN)FORMER MAYOR OF BUFFALOAND GOVERNOR OF N.Y.

1884 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

A DIRTY CAMPAIGN (AGAIN)

"MA, MA, WHERE'S MY PA? GONE TO THE WHITE HOUSE, HA, HA, HA!

CLEVELAND MIGHT HAVE HAD AN ILLEGITIMATE CHILD (HE WASN'T SURE – NO-ONE KNEW WHO THE FATHER WAS!]

CARTOON DEPICTING BLAINE AS THE "TATOOED MAN" – MARKED BY ALL RUMORED SCANDALS. WHO'S THAT IN THE CENTER OF THE AUDIENCE?THEODORE ROOSEVELT, N.Y. LEGISLATURE -- MUGWUMP

MUGWUMPS "MEN MAY COME AND MEN MAY GO, BUT THE WORK OF REFORM GOES ON FOREVER"

CLASSICAL LIBERALS (NOT LIKE TODAY'S "LIBERALS"):

SOCIAL DARWINIST (ANCESTORS OF PROGRESSIVES)

LAISSEZ-FAIRE

SAW POLITICAL CORRUPTION, PATRONAGE AS GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION, INTERFERENCE WITH "SURVIVAL OF FITTEST" (MERIT)

"RUM, ROMANISM, AND REBELLION" DR. SAMUEL BURCHARD, LED DELEGATION OF MINISTERS TO BLAINE IN NY, MADE THAT COMMENT REFERRING TO DEMOCRATS

BLAINE SLOW TO REPUDIATE RUMORS OF ANTI-CATHOLICISM

BLAINE’S CATHOLIC PROBLEM: PROPOSAL OF BLAINE AMENDMENT BANNING STATE AID TO RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS (MOST STATES INCLUDING FLORIDA ADOPTED IT) WAS PERCEIVED AS ANTI-CATHOLIC

IRONIC – BLAINE’S MOTHER CATHOLIC & SISTER A NUN

STILL, ONLY A NARROW VICTORY FOR CLEVELAND – MORE EVIDENCE OF PARTY LOYALTY

GROVER CLEVELAND: "A PUBLIC OFFICE IS A PUBLIC TRUST"

SAME PRINCIPLES AS MUGWUMPS – REFORM AND LAISSEZ-FAIRE

OPPOSED FREE SILVER

OPPOSED TARIFF

OPPOSED GOVERNMENT HELPING BUSINESS OR POOR (VETOED OVER 200 PRIVATE ACTS OF CONGRESS GRANTING CIVIL WAR VET PENSIONS)

SO HE WAS UNPOPULAR WITH TAMMANY, SILVERITES, PROTECTIONISTS, VETS

ELECTION OF 1888

GROVER CLEVELAND (D) BENJAMIN HARRISON (R) INDIANA (GRANDSON OF WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON)

MAIN ISSUE IN 1888: TARIFFS, AGAIN!

HIGH TARIFFS SINCE CIVIL WAR YIELDED U.S. $100 MILLION SURPLUS BY 1885

INDUSTRY SUPPORTED CONTINUED HIGH TARIFF

CONSUMERS WANTED REDUCTION (HIGHER PRICES)

MUGWUMPS OPPOSED TARIFFS (LAISSEZ-FAIRE, SOCIAL DARWINISM

NO DIRTY CAMPAIGNING IN 1888!

GROVER CLEVELAND ON THE TARIFF:

“WHEN WE CONSIDER THAT THE THEORY OF OUR INSTITUTIONS GUARANTEES TO EVERY CITIZEN THE FULL ENJOYMENT OF ALL THE FRUITS OF HIS INDUSTRY AND ENTERPRISE... IT IS PLAIN THAT THE EXACTION OF MORE [TAXES] THAN [THE U.S. NEEDS] IS INDEFENSIBLE EXTORTION AND A CULPABLE BETRAYAL OF AMERICAN FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE."

SOUND FAMILIAR?TODAY IT’S THE REPUBLICAN PARTY LINE!

“FILING OFF THE ROUGH EDGES” : IN FACT TARIFF OF 1888 DIDN’T PASS

ELECTION OF 1888

CLEVELAND WON THE POPULAR VOTE BUT LOST THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTE. REPUBLICAN MAJORITIES IN BOTH HOUSES (BUT NOT 2/3 OF SENATE)

“‘COMING OUT’ FOR HARRISON: PROTECTED MONOPOLIES -- ‘CHECK IN YOUR VOTES THERE, AND DON’T FORGET YOU’RE WORKING FOR ____ KANE.”

HARRISON WON NEW YORK AND INDIANA DUE TO ELECTION FRAUD AND VOTER COERCION

BILLION-DOLLAR CONGRESS (51ST ): REPUBLICAN CONGRESS UNDER HARRISON SPENT LAVISHLY (PENSIONS, YELLOWSTONE, FUNDING "LAND GRANT" COLLEGES IN SOUTH, ETC.)

OTHER ACTS OF BILLION-DOLLAR CONGRESS:

SHERMAN ANTITRUST ACT, 1890. FIRST FEDERAL LAW AIMED AT PROHIBITING MONOPOLIES:

“Section 1: Every contract, combination in the form of TRUST or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, is declared to be illegal.

Section 2: Every person who shall monopolize, or attempt to monopolize, or combine or conspire with any other person or persons, to monopolize any part of the trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, shall be deemed guilty of a felony.”

WHAT GROUPS WAS THE SHERMAN ACT ENFORCED AGAINST IN GILDED ERA? LABOR UNIONS

MC KINLEY TARIFF, 1890. RAISED TARIFF (AVERAGE 48.4 – BUT NOT ON IMPORTS FROM COUNTRIES THAT DID NOT IMPOSE TARIFFS ON U.S. EXPORTS -- EARLY FREE-TRADE AGREEMENT)

SHERMAN SILVER PURCHASE ACT, SAME DAY IN 1890 AS MC KINLEY TARIFF (TO GET FARMERS AND WESTERN SILVER INTERESTS TO SUPPORT TARIFF)

BACKGROUND – COINAGE ACT OF 1873 (“CRIME OF 1873”) = GOLD STANDARD

BLAND-ALLISON ACT, 1878, REQUIRED U.S. TREASURY TO BUY $2 – 4 MILLION OF SILVER MONTHLY, ISSUE SILVER DOLLARS (16:1 GOLD/ SILVER RATIO)

SHERMAN SILVER PURCHASE ACT REQUIRED U.S. TREASURY TO BUY ADDITIONAL 4.5 MILLION OZ. OF SILVER BOULLION PER MONTH

ALSO REQUIRED TREASURY TO FUND SILVER PURCHASES BY ISSUING BONDS REDEEMABLE IN EITHER GOLD OR SILVER

DEPLETION OF TREASURY GOLD STOCKS (BECAUSE MOST INVESTORS REDEEMED BONDS FOR GOLD) ANOTHER ARGUMENT FOR GOLDBUGS!

PEOPLE'S PARTY (POPULIST PARTY) ESTABLISHED 1891

GREW OUT OF 1899 MERGER OF NORTHERN, SOUTHERN AND COLORED FARMER ALLIANCES, AND THEIR ALLIANCE WITH POWDERLY AND THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR

STARTED IN SOUTH, TRIGGERED BY FALLING COTTON PRICES

SPREAD TO MIDWEST, DUE TO FALLING WHEAT PRICES (> 66% SINCE 1867)

FARM PRODUCT PRICE INDEX COMPARED WITH CPI, 1865 - 1910

POPULIST CONVENTION. COLUMBUS, NEBRASKA 1891.

OCALA DEMANDS -- POPULIST PLATFORM ADOPTED BY CONVENTION IN OCALA, FL. 1890:

SUB-TREASURY: WHEN FARM PRICES LOW, FARMERS WOULD STORE PRODUCE IN GOVERNMENT WAREHOUSES; GOVERNMENT WOULD GIVE GREENBACK LOANS TO FARMERS TO TIDE THEM OVER; WHEN FARM PRICES ROSE, FARMERS WOULD SELL STORED PRODUCE AND PAY BACK LOANS

ABOLITION OF PRIVATE BANKS

GOVERNMENT REGULATION OR OWNERSHIP OF RAILROADS, TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE COMPANIES

LOW TARIFF

PROGRESSIVE INCOME TAX

POPULAR ELECTION OF U.S. SENATORS

POPULISM = "THE PEOPLE" V. ELITES

IN POPULIST PARTY, "THE PEOPLE" = FARMERS AND LABORERS (RECALL JACKSON'S "FARMERS AND MECHANICS!)

HIGH TARIFF AND BILLION-DOLLAR CONGRESS MADE BENJAMIN HARRISON AND REPUBLICANS UNPOPULAR (LOST SEATS IN CONGRESS IN 1890 MIDTERM ELECTION)

GROVER REDUX! 1892 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, CLEVELAND V. HARRISON AGAIN

ALSO RUNNING IN 1892: POPULIST CANDIDATE JAMES P. WEAVER

(GOT OVER 1 MILLION VOTES AND PARTY WON SEVERAL HOUSE SEATS FROM SOUTH AND MIDWEST)

POPULIST OMAHA PLATFORM, 1892: OCALA PLUS!

SUBTREASURY (ALWAYS HEART OF POPULIST DEMANDS)

FREE SILVER

RESTRICTION OF IMMIGRATION

8-HOUR INDUSTRIAL WORKDAY

ABOLISH PINKERTON DETECTIVE AGENCY (STRIKEBREAKERS)

ONE TERM ONLY FOR PRESIDENT

INITIATIVE AND REFEREDUM

POPULIST LEADER MARY B. LEASE:

"FARMERS SHOULD RAISE LESS CORN AND MORE HELL!"

OTHER WOMEN IN POPULIST MOVEMENT INCLUDED FRANCES WILLARD AND WCTU

"PLATFORM OF LUNACY"

CLEVELAND = FIRST AND SO FAR ONLY PRESIDENT TO SERVE NON-CONSECUTIVE TERMS. NOTE WEAVER CARRIED 5 STATES

UNLUCKY GROVER! LOST SUPPORT FAST!

PANIC OF 1893 – WORST DEPRESSION UNTIL GREAT DEPRESSION – LASTED UNTIL 1899 (WITH ANOTHER PANIC IN 1896)

CAUSES: RAILROAD OVERBUILDING RAILROAD BANKRUPTCIES PANIC AND BANK RUNS BANK FAILURES, SAVINGS LOST, CREDIT CRUNCH BUSINESS FAILURES STOCK MARKER CRASH AND UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 17-19%. MORE FARM DISTRESS – FARM PRICES TUMBLE EVEN MORE

CLEVELAND'S RESPONSE: LAISSEZ-FAIRE, AND REPEAL SHERMAN SILVER PURCHASE ACT

EUROPEAN INVESTORS IN U.S. BONDS PANICKED, REDEEMED (FOR GOLD), DOMESTIC HOLDERS OF U.S. BONDS DID THE SAME

U.S. TREASURY GOLD DEPLETED, WOULD HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REDEEM FURTHER DEBT --

ENTER J.P. MORGAN WITH $65 MILLION IN GOLD LOAN TO U.S. TREASURY – HE BAILED OUT THE U.S.!

OF COURSE, PEOPLE BLAMED CLEVELAND AND REPEAL OF SHERMAN SILVER PURCHASE ACT FOR THE DEPRESSION (AS IF THE PRESIDENT CAN CONTROL THE ECONOMY!)

REPUBLICANS AND CLEVELAND BLAMED SHERMANSILVER PURCHASE ACT FOR DEPRESSION

COXEY'S ARMY, 1894 – UNEMPLOYED MEN LED BY JACOB COXEY START MARCH ON WASHINGTON

JACOB COXEY AND HIS "COMMONWEALTH OF CHRIST"

NEVER MADE IT TO D.C. BECAUSE CLEVELAND SENT ARMY TO STOP THEM

PULLMAN STRIKE, 1894

HARD ECONOMIC TIMES LABOR UNREST BECAUSE EMPLOYERS CUT WAGES AND MAKE LAYOFFS

PULLMAN PALACE CAR COMPANY OF CHICAGO (RAILROAD LOUNGE AND SLEEPER CARS) CUT PORTERS' WAGES THEY STRUCK

NATIONWIDE SYMPATHY STRIKE ON OTHER RAILROADS, LED BY AMERICAN RAILWAY UNION AND EUGENE V. DEBS

INTERIOR OF PULLMAN SLEEPER, AND EUGENE V. DEBS

FEDERAL COURT ISSUED INJUNCTION AGAINST STRIKE (USUAL!) – STRIKES IGNORED

DEBS IMPRISONED FOR CONTEMPT

PRESIDENT CLEVELAND SENT 12,000 FEDERAL TROOPS TO CHICAGO TO BREAK STRIKE

37 STRIKERS KILLED, 57 WOUNDED

CLEVELAND TOTALLY LOST THE LABOR VOTE

DEBS READ KARL MARX IN PRISON, BECAME A SOCIALIST (RAN FOR PRESIDENT WHILE IN PRISON AND GOT OVER 100,000 VOTES!)

POPULIST VOTEINCREASED BY40% IN THE BI-ELECTION YEAR,1894.

DIVERTED VOTES FROM DEMOCRATIC PARTY!

REPUBLICANSWON CONTROL OF THE HOUSE.

1894 MIDTERM ELECTIONS

1896 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

GOLDBUG AND SILVERBUG PINS

WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN (1860-1925): “THE PRAIRIE LION”

THE “GREAT COMMONER” ?

BRYAN, FIERY ORATOR

DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN

GOT DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION IN 1896 BY ADOPTING POPULIST PLATFORM

ESPECIALLY FREE SILVER AND PROHIBITION

BRYAN'S "CROSS OF GOLD SPEECH" AT 1896 DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION:

"YOU SHALL NOT PRESS DOWN UPON LABOR THIS CROWN OF THORNS. YOU SHALL NOT CRUCIFY MANKIND UPON A CROSS OF GOLD!"

"WHO SWALLOWS WHOM?"

BRYAN, THE FARMER’S FRIEND18,000 MILES OF WHISTLE-STOP CAMPAIGNING –

ADVOCATING SILVER STANDARD 16:1

PLATFORM FREE SILVER, TARIFF REDUCTIONS; INCOME TAX; STRICTER CONTROL OF THE TRUSTS (ESPECIALLY RAILROADS) – PURE POPULISM!

DEMOCRATIC PARTY TAKEN OVER BY RADICAL FARMERS

DEMOCRATIC PARTY SPLIT, “BOURBON”. GOLDBUGS V. POPULISTS

REPUBLICAN NOMINEE, WILLIAM MC KINLEY (1843- 1901) AND HIS CAMPAIGN MANAGER, SENATOR MARCUS ALONSO (“MARK” HANNA)

HANNA RAISED $3.5 MILLION FOR CAMPAIGN HEAVY ADVERTISING: BEGINNING OF MODERN CAMPAIGNS

REPUBLICAN PLATFORM = GOLD STANDARD, HIGH TARIFF, “PLURALISM” – SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE (LOL)

REALLY PRO-BUSINESS, IMPERIALIST

ALSO-RAN:

JOSHUA LEVERETT, PROHIBITION PARTY

HEYDEY OF POPULISM – 1890 - 1900

VESTIGES PERSIST TODAY, FOR EXAMPLE IN MINNESOTA DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS “DEMOCRATIC FARMERS AND LABORERS PARTY”

WHY POPULISM DECLINED:

NOT ABLE TO BREAK THROUGH PRE-EXISTING PARTY LOYALTIES

PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS ADOPTED THE POLITICALLY PALATABLE PARTS OF THEIR AGENDA

ECONOMY IMPROVED!

ERA OF SMALL, INDEPENDENT FARMERS WAS ENDING

LEGACIES OF POPULISM

POPULIST RHETORIC IN ALMOST ALL NATIONAL POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS

FUTURE DEMOGOGUES WILL USE POPULIST MOVEMENTS

PROGRESSIVE INCOME TAX

DIRECT ELECTION OF SENATORS – 17TH AMENDMENT, 1913

PROHIBITION – 18TH AMENDMENT, 1919

POPULARITY OF BALLOT INITIATIVES AND REFERENDA IN WESTERN AND MID-WESTERN STATES

POPULISM LIVES!

THE TEA PARTY TODAY