Issues of the Gilded Age Chapter 9. Stalemate in Washington When Pres. Hayes took office, he...

Issues of the Gilded AgeIssues of the Gilded Age

Chapter 9Chapter 9

Stalemate in WashingtonStalemate in Washington When Pres. Hayes took office, he attacked the When Pres. Hayes took office, he attacked the

practice of patronage (giving jobs to those who practice of patronage (giving jobs to those who support you) by appointing reformers and support you) by appointing reformers and kicking out those who got their job through a kicking out those who got their job through a party bossparty boss Party bosses were referred to as “Stalwarts”Party bosses were referred to as “Stalwarts” Republican reformers were called “Halfbreeds” since Republican reformers were called “Halfbreeds” since

they gave up on reconstruction after the Civil War, they gave up on reconstruction after the Civil War, allowing Democrats back into officeallowing Democrats back into office

The election of 1880 was won by the mix ticket The election of 1880 was won by the mix ticket of James Garfield, a Halfbreed and Chester of James Garfield, a Halfbreed and Chester Arthur, a StalwartArthur, a Stalwart

Stalemate in WashingtonStalemate in Washington

Pres. Garfield was in office only a few months Pres. Garfield was in office only a few months before being assassinated before being assassinated His assassination led to the passing of the Pendleton Act His assassination led to the passing of the Pendleton Act

which says a president may only appoint someone who which says a president may only appoint someone who as completed the appropriate exams to qualify for the as completed the appropriate exams to qualify for the job; after appointment, that person cannot be removed job; after appointment, that person cannot be removed for political reasonsfor political reasons

Pres. Arthur supported the act despite him being a Pres. Arthur supported the act despite him being a StalwartStalwart

This is when the US begins to move away from the This is when the US begins to move away from the “spoils system” or patronage“spoils system” or patronage


Republicans during this time:Republicans during this time: Controlled New England and the MidwestControlled New England and the Midwest Were supported by Union soldiers and Were supported by Union soldiers and

strongly patriotic people as well as big strongly patriotic people as well as big business and Great Plains farmersbusiness and Great Plains farmers

Party of reform (supported abolition, Party of reform (supported abolition, temperance)temperance)

Party of moralityParty of morality


Democrats:Democrats: Supported by the South (whites)Supported by the South (whites) Supported in big cities with large immigrant and/or Supported in big cities with large immigrant and/or

Catholic populationsCatholic populations The party of personal libertyThe party of personal liberty

Both parties had equal distribution of power Both parties had equal distribution of power during the 1870s-1890s (usually)during the 1870s-1890s (usually) Elections of 1880 and 1888 came down to swing Elections of 1880 and 1888 came down to swing

statesstates Where have you heard this term before?Where have you heard this term before?


The election of 1884 came down to a The election of 1884 came down to a Republican named James Blaine and a Republican named James Blaine and a Democrat named Grover ClevelandDemocrat named Grover Cleveland

Many Republicans abandoned Blaine and Many Republicans abandoned Blaine and became known as “Mugwumps” meaning they became known as “Mugwumps” meaning they thought is was more important to help the thought is was more important to help the country than follow party linescountry than follow party lines

In the end Cleveland took the presidency by In the end Cleveland took the presidency by winning NY (a typical Republican stronghold)winning NY (a typical Republican stronghold)


Pres. Cleveland was an easy-going person Pres. Cleveland was an easy-going person in his personal life, but would soon see how in his personal life, but would soon see how stressful the job of president isstressful the job of president is Many Democrats felt he should give them jobs, Many Democrats felt he should give them jobs,

many Mugwumps felt he should multiply the many Mugwumps felt he should multiply the number of positions covered under the merit number of positions covered under the merit systemsystem

He chose a middle ground, making both groups He chose a middle ground, making both groups angryangry

The economic issues ahead would soon The economic issues ahead would soon overshadow the debate over the political systemovershadow the debate over the political system


Many Americans believed that the railroads were Many Americans believed that the railroads were price gouging since corporations like Standard price gouging since corporations like Standard Oil could get “rebates” or partial refunds, and Oil could get “rebates” or partial refunds, and lower prices due to the amount they shipped lower prices due to the amount they shipped while small businesses and individuals were while small businesses and individuals were stuck paying much higher pricesstuck paying much higher prices This led to the Interstate Commerce Commission This led to the Interstate Commerce Commission

creationcreation• Made it illegal to offer rebates to high volume customers, Made it illegal to offer rebates to high volume customers,

charger higher rates for short hauls and limited RRs to charger higher rates for short hauls and limited RRs to “reasonable and just” rates“reasonable and just” rates

• Was not really effective because the courts had to uphold the Was not really effective because the courts had to uphold the lawlaw


The issue of tariffs would once again The issue of tariffs would once again reemerge in a presidential election since reemerge in a presidential election since Congress was deadlocked on the issueCongress was deadlocked on the issue Republican candidate Benjamin Harris Republican candidate Benjamin Harris

supported higher tariffs, while Cleveland didn’tsupported higher tariffs, while Cleveland didn’t One of the closest elections in history resulted One of the closest elections in history resulted

from the two candidatesfrom the two candidates• Harrison lost the popular vote but won the electoral Harrison lost the popular vote but won the electoral

college, therefore becoming the next presidentcollege, therefore becoming the next president• Can you think of any other president who lost the Can you think of any other president who lost the

popular vote, but won the electoral college?popular vote, but won the electoral college?


With Congress back in control of the White With Congress back in control of the White House and both the House and Senate, House and both the House and Senate, they were able to pass the McKinley Tariff they were able to pass the McKinley Tariff which cut tobacco taxes and tariff rates which cut tobacco taxes and tariff rates and raw sugar, but hiked tariffs on things and raw sugar, but hiked tariffs on things like textileslike textiles This turned the federal budget surplus into a This turned the federal budget surplus into a

budget deficit which would get worse after budget deficit which would get worse after more veterans received more money for the more veterans received more money for the pension planpension plan


Republicans did respond to popular Republicans did respond to popular pressure to do something about trusts and pressure to do something about trusts and corporations that dominated certain corporations that dominated certain marketsmarkets The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 made The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 made

declared illegal any “combination in the form declared illegal any “combination in the form of trust…or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or of trust…or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or commerce among the several States.”commerce among the several States.”

This vaguely worded law did little to change This vaguely worded law did little to change businesses until years later under T. businesses until years later under T. RooseveltRoosevelt

PopulismPopulism

Populism was the movement to increase Populism was the movement to increase farmers’ political power and to work for farmers’ political power and to work for legislation in their interestlegislation in their interest

The problem for farmers was that they The problem for farmers was that they were producing more goods, which tends were producing more goods, which tends to drop price, however, at the same time, to drop price, however, at the same time, high tariffs increase the cost of high tariffs increase the cost of manufactured goods needed to run the manufactured goods needed to run the farmsfarms

PopulismPopulism

Money problems also plagued farmers with Money problems also plagued farmers with regards to inflation and deflationregards to inflation and deflation The US had issued “greenbacks” as a form of money The US had issued “greenbacks” as a form of money

during the Civil Warduring the Civil War Because there was more money on the market, the Because there was more money on the market, the

value of money went down which means the price of value of money went down which means the price of goods soaredgoods soared

After the Civil War however, the government decided After the Civil War however, the government decided to stop printing greenbacks which lead to deflation or to stop printing greenbacks which lead to deflation or the increase in the value of money causing the price the increase in the value of money causing the price of goods to drop againof goods to drop again

The deflation hurt farmers because the banks began The deflation hurt farmers because the banks began to raise interest rates on loans while they were having to raise interest rates on loans while they were having to sell their goods at a cheaper priceto sell their goods at a cheaper price

PopulismPopulism

Farmers realized that they needed to organize Farmers realized that they needed to organize in order to get the government’s attentionin order to get the government’s attention They created cooperatives—marketing They created cooperatives—marketing

organizations that worked for the benefit of their organizations that worked for the benefit of their membersmembers

Farmers from Lampasas County, TX created the Farmers from Lampasas County, TX created the Farmers’ Alliance which quickly expanded beyond Farmers’ Alliance which quickly expanded beyond TXTX

Farmers’ Alliance turned into the People’s Party, Farmers’ Alliance turned into the People’s Party, also known as Populists, in KAalso known as Populists, in KA• They would run for legislative positions and eventually They would run for legislative positions and eventually

presidentpresident

PopulismPopulism

In 1890 the members of the Farmers’ In 1890 the members of the Farmers’ Alliance met in Ocala, FL and issued the Alliance met in Ocala, FL and issued the Ocala DemandsOcala Demands Called for development of the sub treasury Called for development of the sub treasury

plan (government set up warehouses and low plan (government set up warehouses and low interest loans)interest loans)

Free coinage of silverFree coinage of silver End to protective tariffs and national banksEnd to protective tariffs and national banks Tighter regulations of RRsTighter regulations of RRs Direct election of senatorsDirect election of senators

PopulismPopulism

Republicans in Congress pushed through Republicans in Congress pushed through the Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890, the Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890, which allowed the US to purchase 4.5M which allowed the US to purchase 4.5M ounces of silver/monthounces of silver/month They did this to keep people from voting for They did this to keep people from voting for

PopulistsPopulists The Democrats adopted several pro-The Democrats adopted several pro-

Alliance policies, which they would later Alliance policies, which they would later decline to follow through withdecline to follow through with

PopulismPopulism

Due to the failure of the Democrat-pro-Due to the failure of the Democrat-pro-Alliance measures, many Southern Alliance measures, many Southern Democrats turned to the Peoples’ PartyDemocrats turned to the Peoples’ Party In the 1892 election, the Peoples’ Party In the 1892 election, the Peoples’ Party

nominated James Weaver who ran on the nominated James Weaver who ran on the platform of increasing money supply and a platform of increasing money supply and a graduated income taxgraduated income tax

While Weaver did well for a small party While Weaver did well for a small party candidate, Cleveland still won the election candidate, Cleveland still won the election (note: Cleveland was president 4 years (note: Cleveland was president 4 years earlier)earlier)

PopulismPopulism

The Panic of 1893 began due to RRs going The Panic of 1893 began due to RRs going bankrupt, bank’s closing and a stock market bankrupt, bank’s closing and a stock market crashcrash Cleveland had to summon Congress into a special Cleveland had to summon Congress into a special

session to repeal the Sherman Silver Purchase Act so session to repeal the Sherman Silver Purchase Act so the country’s gold supply would not be depletedthe country’s gold supply would not be depleted

Some Democrats, including Cleveland, felt the Some Democrats, including Cleveland, felt the economy should be based on gold (they were called economy should be based on gold (they were called “goldbugs”)“goldbugs”)

Others believed it should be based on an unlimited Others believed it should be based on an unlimited quantity of silver (they were called “silverites”)quantity of silver (they were called “silverites”)

PopulismPopulism

The election of 1896 was the beginning of The election of 1896 was the beginning of the end for the Populist movement:the end for the Populist movement: The Populists felt they could get most The Populists felt they could get most

Democrats votes if they slammed Cleveland Democrats votes if they slammed Cleveland during the campaignduring the campaign

Their plan failed when the Democrats put up Their plan failed when the Democrats put up William Jennings Bryan (a strong supporter of William Jennings Bryan (a strong supporter of silver, the Populists’ main platform)silver, the Populists’ main platform)

The Populists decided to support Bryan rather The Populists decided to support Bryan rather than split the silveritesthan split the silverites

PopulismPopulism

The Republicans put up William McKinley The Republicans put up William McKinley who launched the “front porch campaign” who launched the “front porch campaign” where he stayed in Ohio and met with where he stayed in Ohio and met with people while the Republicans did people while the Republicans did campaigning elsewhere for himcampaigning elsewhere for him His slogan was a “full dinner pail” which His slogan was a “full dinner pail” which

meant more to urban workers than the meant more to urban workers than the argument over silver or goldargument over silver or gold

In the end, McKinley won a decisive In the end, McKinley won a decisive victory over Bryanvictory over Bryan

PopulismPopulism

After McKinley took office and the Gold After McKinley took office and the Gold Standard Act was passed which made the Standard Act was passed which made the US officially adopt a gold-based currency, US officially adopt a gold-based currency, the Populist movement lost momentumthe Populist movement lost momentum

It would take another century for some of It would take another century for some of their reforms to be adopted including the their reforms to be adopted including the graduated income tax and governmental graduated income tax and governmental regulations of the economyregulations of the economy

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