20. Political 20. Political Realignments in the Realignments in the

1890s1890s1877 - 19001877 - 1900

After Civil War Literature After Civil War Literature focused on Realismfocused on Realism

►Samuel Clemons: Samuel Clemons: Tom SawyerTom Sawyer, etc., etc.►Stephen Crane: Stephen Crane: Red Badge of CourageRed Badge of Courage► Jack London: Jack London: The Call of the WildThe Call of the Wild

Same Thing in Visual ArtSame Thing in Visual Art

Following ReconstructionFollowing Reconstruction

►National sigh of relief / the worst was National sigh of relief / the worst was overover

►Congress focuses on the expansion of Congress focuses on the expansion of business and settlement of the westbusiness and settlement of the west

►Federal government settles into a Federal government settles into a stalemate and little activity.stalemate and little activity.

►Dominated by the Civil War Dominated by the Civil War generation.generation.

Presidential Lack of PowerPresidential Lack of Power

►Lincoln had been assassinated. Lincoln had been assassinated. ►Andrew Johnson had been impeachedAndrew Johnson had been impeached►U.S. Grant’s administration was U.S. Grant’s administration was

plagued with scandal.plagued with scandal.►Hayes is suspect as a result of the Hayes is suspect as a result of the

dispute over the Election of 1876dispute over the Election of 1876

Era of Weak PresidentsEra of Weak Presidents

► Basically forgettableBasically forgettable Rutherford B. Hayes (R)Rutherford B. Hayes (R) James A. Garfield (R)James A. Garfield (R) Chester A. Arthur (R)Chester A. Arthur (R) Grover Cleveland (D)Grover Cleveland (D) Benjamin Harrison (R)Benjamin Harrison (R)

►Mostly show with little Mostly show with little substancesubstance

►With one exception all With one exception all served only one termserved only one term

Other Causes of the InactivityOther Causes of the Inactivity

►Political ideology of the timePolitical ideology of the time No government interference in businessNo government interference in business

►Campaign tacticsCampaign tactics Don’t take a stand; avoid controversyDon’t take a stand; avoid controversy

►Party patronageParty patronage The “Good Ol Boy” systemThe “Good Ol Boy” system

Republicans Waved the Bloody Republicans Waved the Bloody FlagFlag

► Union veterans had been wounded by southern Union veterans had been wounded by southern DemocratsDemocrats

► Abraham Lincoln had been murdered by a DemocratAbraham Lincoln had been murdered by a Democrat► Reminded voters of their anti-slavery stanceReminded voters of their anti-slavery stance

► Core came from business men and middle classCore came from business men and middle class► Anglo-Saxon, protestantAnglo-Saxon, protestant

► Supported protective tariffs for businessesSupported protective tariffs for businesses

Republican PlatformRepublican Platform

►Maintain a strong central government.Maintain a strong central government.►Advocated moral progress and Advocated moral progress and

material wealthmaterial wealth►Used subsidies to promote progress Used subsidies to promote progress

(Transcontinental Railroad)(Transcontinental Railroad)►Promoted civil rightsPromoted civil rights►High protective tariffHigh protective tariff

DemocratsDemocrats► Solid in the Southern statesSolid in the Southern states

► In the north, came from big political machinesIn the north, came from big political machines► Immigrant voteImmigrant vote

► Catholic, Lutheran and JewishCatholic, Lutheran and Jewish► Opposed to temperance and prohibitionOpposed to temperance and prohibition

► Still believed in states’ rights and a limited Still believed in states’ rights and a limited governmentgovernment

Democratic PlatformDemocratic Platform

►Wanted government local and smallWanted government local and small►State’s RightsState’s Rights►Decentralization of political powerDecentralization of political power►Limited governmentLimited government►Less sectional than the Republicans.Less sectional than the Republicans.

Republicans Controlled Republicans Controlled CongressCongress

►For most of this time periodFor most of this time period►Passed legislation for most of this timePassed legislation for most of this time►Billion Dollar CongressBillion Dollar Congress►The legislation passed at this time The legislation passed at this time

shaped a great deal of the future shaped a great deal of the future policy of the nation.policy of the nation.

Republicans SplitRepublicans Split►Two groups form: Stalwarts and Half-Two groups form: Stalwarts and Half-

BreedsBreeds►Compete for “spoils”Compete for “spoils”►Third group: Mugwumps switched Third group: Mugwumps switched

sides at willsides at will

Rutherford B. HayesRutherford B. Hayes►Withdrew federal Withdrew federal

troops from the troops from the southsouth

► Corrupt BargainCorrupt Bargain

James A. GarfieldJames A. Garfield► Shot by one as he Shot by one as he

boarded a trainboarded a train►Died after 11 weeksDied after 11 weeks

Chester A. ArthurChester A. Arthur► Anti-high tariffsAnti-high tariffs

► Pendleton Act of 1883Pendleton Act of 1883► Actions anger fellow Actions anger fellow

RepublicansRepublicans

Grover Cleveland

First Democrat elected since Buchanan in 1856

Benjamin Harrison elected after Cleveland’s 1st term.

Cleveland’s First TermCleveland’s First Term

►Expands the scope of the Pendleton ActExpands the scope of the Pendleton Act► Interstate Commerce Act (1887) first Interstate Commerce Act (1887) first

effort to regulate businesseffort to regulate business►Dawes Act: control of Native AmericansDawes Act: control of Native Americans►Retrieved millions of acres of Retrieved millions of acres of

government land from cattle ranchers government land from cattle ranchers and railroads.and railroads.

Issue: Money SupplyIssue: Money Supply

►Reflection of the tension between Reflection of the tension between those who have with those who don’t those who have with those who don’t (a recurring(a recurring

theme in the Gilded Age).theme in the Gilded Age).►Gold bugs vs. SilveritesGold bugs vs. Silverites

Western View (Silverites)Western View (Silverites)

►Debtors, farmers and new business Debtors, farmers and new business ownersowners

►Wanted more money in circulationWanted more money in circulation►Lower interest ratesLower interest rates► Inflated dollars would help pay off loansInflated dollars would help pay off loans►Wanted to end the “gold standard” , Wanted to end the “gold standard” ,

print more paper money, and mint more print more paper money, and mint more silversilver

Eastern Businessmen Eastern Businessmen (Goldbugs)(Goldbugs)

►Also bankers, creditors and investorsAlso bankers, creditors and investors►Keep the gold standardKeep the gold standard►Keep inflation downKeep inflation down►With the population of the U.S. With the population of the U.S.

growing and the supply of gold growing and the supply of gold basically set, the value of the dollar basically set, the value of the dollar would continue to increase.would continue to increase.

William Jennings BryanWilliam Jennings Bryan► Champion of the Champion of the Free Silver movementFree Silver movement

► Cross of Gold SpeechCross of Gold Speech ““You shall not press down upon the brow of labor You shall not press down upon the brow of labor

this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.”mankind upon a cross of gold.”

Issue: TariffIssue: Tariff

►Another regional splitAnother regional split►Farmers did not want tariffFarmers did not want tariff►Northeastern businesses wanted itNortheastern businesses wanted it

Off Year elections of 1890Off Year elections of 1890

►Democrats regain control of congressDemocrats regain control of congress

Issue: Issue: PopulismPopulism

►Began as agrarian discontent in the Began as agrarian discontent in the west among farmers and rancherswest among farmers and ranchers

►Originated in meetings of the Grange Originated in meetings of the Grange and the Farmers’ Alliancesand the Farmers’ Alliances

►Became a third party (Populist Party) Became a third party (Populist Party) when they met in Omaha in 1892when they met in Omaha in 1892

Populist Party: The PlatformPopulist Party: The Platform

►Government ReformGovernment Reform Direct popular election of U.S. senators Direct popular election of U.S. senators Initiatives and referendums placed on ballotsInitiatives and referendums placed on ballots

► Economic ReformEconomic Reform Unlimited coinage of silver Unlimited coinage of silver A graduated income taxA graduated income tax Public ownership of railroadsPublic ownership of railroads Government control of telegraph and telephone Government control of telegraph and telephone

companiescompanies Loans and warehouses to stabilize pricesLoans and warehouses to stabilize prices Eight hour work day for industrial workersEight hour work day for industrial workers

Was the Wizard of Oz a Was the Wizard of Oz a Populist Allegory?Populist Allegory?

► Scarecrow: Scarecrow: Midwestern farmerMidwestern farmer

► Tin-Man: Urban Tin-Man: Urban industrial workerindustrial worker

► Cowardly Lion: Cowardly Lion: William Jennings William Jennings BryanBryan

► Yellow Brick Road: Yellow Brick Road: Gold StandardGold Standard

►OZ: The PresidentOZ: The President

ResultsResults

►Grover Cleveland is elected againGrover Cleveland is elected again►Only president to serve two non-Only president to serve two non-

consecutive termsconsecutive terms

Issue: The EconomyIssue: The Economy

►Panic of 1893Panic of 1893 Four year depression following stock Four year depression following stock

market crash (over speculation) and many market crash (over speculation) and many businesses going into bankruptcy (over businesses going into bankruptcy (over building)building)

20% unemployment20% unemployment Cleveland adopted a hands off policy. He Cleveland adopted a hands off policy. He

turned to J.P. Morgan for a $65 million turned to J.P. Morgan for a $65 million dollar loan.dollar loan.

Pullman StrikePullman Strike

Continued…Continued…

►Coxey’s Army Coxey’s Army marches on marches on WashingtonWashington 18941894 Thousands of Thousands of

unemployedunemployed Demanded the Demanded the

government spend government spend to create public to create public works projects to works projects to supply jobs.supply jobs.

Election of 1896: The Election of 1896: The DemocratsDemocrats

William Jennings BryanWilliam Jennings Bryan Unlimited coinage of silverUnlimited coinage of silver Gold Bug Democrats broke from the party and Gold Bug Democrats broke from the party and

nominated their own candidatenominated their own candidate Marks the merging of Democrats with the Marks the merging of Democrats with the

Populist movementPopulist movement Populists also nominated BryanPopulists also nominated Bryan

The Election of 1896: The The Election of 1896: The RepublicansRepublicans

►William McKinley of OhioWilliam McKinley of Ohio►Supported a high protective tariffSupported a high protective tariff►Friend of laborFriend of labor►Blamed the Democrats for Panic of Blamed the Democrats for Panic of

18931893►Upheld the gold standardUpheld the gold standard

The Election of 1896: The The Election of 1896: The CampaignCampaign

►Bryan and the Democrats took the election Bryan and the Democrats took the election on the road to reach as many people as on the road to reach as many people as they could (Campaigns are forever they could (Campaigns are forever changed)changed)

►McKinley relied on the Republican machine McKinley relied on the Republican machine and stayed at homeand stayed at home

►Bryan is hurt by rising wheat prices and Bryan is hurt by rising wheat prices and worker intimidation by owners.worker intimidation by owners.

►McKinley wins / beginning of modern politicsMcKinley wins / beginning of modern politics

Politics in the Southern Politics in the Southern StatesStates

► Jim Crow laws allowed in the SouthJim Crow laws allowed in the South►Supreme Court sanctions “separate Supreme Court sanctions “separate

but equal”but equal” Plessy v. FergusonPlessy v. Ferguson 18961896

What was the basic demand What was the basic demand of Coxey’s Army?of Coxey’s Army?

a.a. The government should stay out of the The government should stay out of the economy.economy.

b.b. Businesses that caused the depression Businesses that caused the depression should be closed.should be closed.

c.c. The government should provide jobs for The government should provide jobs for the unemployed.the unemployed.

d.d. Protectionist tariff rates should be Protectionist tariff rates should be raised.raised.

e.e. The US should declare war on SpainThe US should declare war on Spain

What was the main issue in What was the main issue in the election of 1896the election of 1896

a.a. The role of the federal governmentThe role of the federal government

b.b. Foreign affairsForeign affairs

c.c. Gold vs. SilverGold vs. Silver

d.d. Tax ratesTax rates

e.e. Military spendingMilitary spending

Which of the following correctly Which of the following correctly describes the impact of Andrew describes the impact of Andrew

Johnson’s impeachment?Johnson’s impeachment?

a.a. Tended to weaken CongressTended to weaken Congress

b.b. Strengthened the presidencyStrengthened the presidency

c.c. Established a better balance between Established a better balance between Congress and the presidentCongress and the president

d.d. Tended to weaken the presidencyTended to weaken the presidency

e.e. Forced Congress and the president to Forced Congress and the president to work togetherwork together

Which best describes the source of Which best describes the source of agrarian anger and protest in the late agrarian anger and protest in the late

nineteenth century?nineteenth century?a.a. Farm prices fell far more than did prices for Farm prices fell far more than did prices for

other commodities.other commodities.

b.b. Railroad rates increased dramatically Railroad rates increased dramatically between 1870 and 1900.between 1870 and 1900.

c.c. Farmers perceived their social and Farmers perceived their social and economic position as declining throughout economic position as declining throughout the period.the period.

d.d. All of the aboveAll of the above

e.e. None of the aboveNone of the above

Until the 1890s,Until the 1890s,

a.a. The presidency was weaker than Congress.The presidency was weaker than Congress.

b.b. The presidency was able to assert its The presidency was able to assert its power.power.

c.c. Congress had little interest in national Congress had little interest in national affairs.affairs.

d.d. Few presidents seemed committed to Few presidents seemed committed to national affairs.national affairs.

e.e. Power was equally divided between the Power was equally divided between the president and Congress.president and Congress.

Which of the following was NOT a reason Which of the following was NOT a reason for farm discontent in the late for farm discontent in the late

nineteenth century?nineteenth century?

a.a. The inability to organize and voice The inability to organize and voice their discontenttheir discontent

b.b. The lack of power over their destinyThe lack of power over their destiny

c.c. The inability to control market pricesThe inability to control market prices

d.d. The perception of a loss of status in The perception of a loss of status in societysociety

e.e. Far mortgagesFar mortgages