Dollars Dominate Democracy: The Politics of the Gilded Age

I. The 3rd Party System: Republicans Rout Democrats

Republican Dominance: President Party Home State YearsHayes Rep Ohio 1876-1880Garfield Rep Ohio 1881Arthur Rep New York 1881-1884Cleveland Dem New York 1884-1888Harrison Rep Indiana 1888-1892Cleveland Dem New York 1892-1896McKinley Rep Ohio 1896-1900

Where WhoRepublicans Midwest, rural

Northeast“native” Americans, Union

veterans, African-AmericansDemocrats South,

Northeastern citiesImmigrants, white south

II. Why Republicans WinA. Waving the Bloody Shirt: The Grand Army of the Republic and

Voting as you Shot

B. Rewarding Your Supporters: Patronage and the Spoils System

C. Warning of the Immigrant Menace: Ethnicity, Religion, and Nativism

III. What Do Republicans Do Once in Office?

1. Support Higher Tariffs -- Ex. McKinley tariff = ~48%

2. Complain About Corruption – And Contribute to It

Complaint #1: Boss Tweed

Complaint #2: Garfield’s Assassination and the Pendleton Act

Contribution: The Credit Mobilier Scandal

3. But Both Republicans and Democrats Ignore…..

• Workers’ Complaints• Ex-Slaves• Native Americans