Please grab your Clicker and have a seat! Good Morning!

Please grab your Clicker and have a seat!

Good Morning!

A Two-A Two-Party Party

StalematStalematee

A Two-A Two-Party Party

StalematStalematee

CONGRESS

TRUSTS

The Presidency as a The Presidency as a Symbolic OfficeSymbolic Office

The Presidency as a The Presidency as a Symbolic OfficeSymbolic Office

Party bosses ruled.

Presidents should avoid offending any factions within their own party. The President just doled out federal jobs. Senator Roscoe Conkling

1865 53,000 people worked for the federal govt.

1890 166,000 “ “ “ “ “ “

PRESIDENCY:NOMINATED BY PARTY BOSSES FOR PURELY POLITICAL REASONS (swing states) these men let Congress be in charge

After the “excesses” of federal power during the Civil War, America was ready to curb its growth again.

During periods of economic growth Americans prefer “hands off” presidents.

The Rogues GalleryJohnson Rep???Grant RepHayes RepGarfield RepArthur RepCleveland DemHarrison RepCleveland AgainDem

ECONOMIC GROWTH EXCEPT 1873-76 AND 1893-1897.HUGE FEDERAL SURPLUSES--SO MAKE UP JOBS AND BUY VOTES. $20.00 PER VOTE, G.A.R. PENSIONS, 80% VOTER TURNOUT, ETHNIC DIVISIONS, ETC.

WEALTHYMIDDLE CLASSBLACKS (when they

could vote)HIGH TARIFFSSome LARGE CITIESHARD $ MENGARSold “morality” & and

the gov’t should control BOTH economic and moral affairs of society

Northern ProtestantsOld WASPs

IMMIGRANTSNYC, and many other

cities (urban poor)MW FARMERSLOW TARRIFFGREENBACKS. “Ohio

Idea” caused a split in the party, but SLOWLY moved toward softer money

White SOUTHERNERS especially CSA vets.

More diverse ethnically and more tolerant of “alternate” lifestyles

Catholics

REPUBLICANS DEMOCRATS

SWING STATES•NEW YORK******•ILLINOIS•INDIANA•OHIO90% of ALL presidential and vice-presidential candidates came from these four states.

THE REPUBLICAN ELEPHANT SLEEPS WHILE THE DEMOCRAT DONKEY LEAPS OVER THE CLIFF OF ECONOMIC CHAOS

ITS ALWAYS ABOUT $$$$

GRANT’S ADMIN:Decide Not to annex Dom. Rep.15th amendment ratifiedLast of “seceded” states admitted 1870

Amnesty for CSA officers 1872Old Civil War Morrill Tariff reduced

Coinage Act of 1873 removes silver as a form of specie.

Panic of 1873 hits. Hard-money policies don’t cause—but exacerbate the Panic

Vetoes Bill to issue more Greenbacks (would have caused inflation—helping debtors and poor).

Specie Resumption Act. By stockpiling gold to buy back Greenbacks “Contraction” occurred. Deflation increased ($19.42 per capita to $19.37—by 1890 its ONLY up to $22.67),

But because of this—on Greenback Redemption Day most people just kept their now sound (but scarce) Greenbacks

GRANT CONTINUEDHard-money men are

happy, but at the polls in 1874 there is a backlash. Democrats came to control the House--& in 1878 the Greenback Labor Party was formed to fight FOR inflation.

Custer defeated at Little Big Horn

Centennial Expo @ Philly (1876)

Whiskey ring exposed (1874)

Known as “His Fraudulancy” as he had to cheat in order to beat Tilden. Known for his Dry Admin. Said he was much prouder to be a Union General than President

Electoral Count Act 1877 creates a bi-partisan commission of 8 Rep’s and 7 Dem’s to count the votes in contested states. Hayes “wins”.

Civil Service reform begun“Water flowed like champagne” Reconstruction ENDS 1877RR Strikes ended by Fed.

TroopsMolly McGuires arrested.

Infiltrated by Pinkertons

KKK and Jim Crow Laws throughout the South. Reconstruction ends in utter failure.

Right of States to regulate RR’s upheld

Greenback Party @ its height (1878)

Bland-Allison Act passed over his veto(1878). Puts silver back on specie list—gov’t must buy b/w 2 and 4 million dollars of silver per month (GNP was about $1 billion). Too little to cause the desired (by debtors) inflation needed.

Specie repayments resumed 1879

1880 1880 Presidential Presidential

ElectionElection


ElectionElection

1880 Presidential 1880 Presidential Election: RepublicansElection: Republicans

1880 Presidential 1880 Presidential Election: RepublicansElection: Republicans

Half BreedsHalf Breeds StalwartsStalwarts

Sen. James G. Blaine Sen. Roscoe Conkling (Maine) (New York)

James A. Garfield Chester A. Arthur (VP)

compromise

1881: Garfield 1881: Garfield Assassinated!Assassinated!1881: Garfield 1881: Garfield Assassinated!Assassinated!

Charles Guiteau:I Am a Stalwart, and Arthur is President now!

Although A Stalwart Republican (Conkling) he fought against the Spoils System.

Assassinated for his troubles (Guiteau—refused gov’t job)

Calls for reform led to Congressional action

VP Arthur takes over.

Chester A. Arthur:Chester A. Arthur:The Fox in the Chicken Coup?The Fox in the Chicken Coup?

Chester A. Arthur:Chester A. Arthur:The Fox in the Chicken Coup?The Fox in the Chicken Coup?

Arthur’s Term ’81’-’85’ :Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)

Immigration Act (1882) No paupers, criminals, etc.

1st US Steel warships

**Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883)

The “Magna Carta” of civil service reform.

1883 14,000 out of 117,000 federal govt. jobs became civil service exam positions.

1900 100,000 out of 200,000 civil service federal govt. jobs.

Tariff Act 1883 (huge fed surplus $$$ but the tariffs kept going up)

Republican Republican “Mugwumps”“Mugwumps”

Republican Republican “Mugwumps”“Mugwumps” Reformers who wouldn’t re-

nominate Chester A. Arthur.

Reform to them create a disinterested, impartial govt. run by an educated elite like themselves.

Social Darwinists.

Laissez faire government to them:

Favoritism & the spoils system seen as govt. intervention in society.

Their target was ending political corruption, not social or economic reform!

TheTheMugwumpMugwump

ss

TheTheMugwumpMugwump

ssMen may come and men may go, but the work of reform shall go on forever. Will support Cleveland in the 1884 election.

1884 Presidential 1884 Presidential ElectionElection


Grover Cleveland James Blaine * (DEM) (REP)


ElectionElection


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A Dirty A Dirty CampaignCampaign

A Dirty A Dirty CampaignCampaign

Ma, Ma…where’s my pa?He’s going to the White House, ha… ha… ha…!

Little Lost Little Lost MugwumpMugwumpLittle Lost Little Lost MugwumpMugwump

Blaine in 1884 tried to play the role of reformer, and bring the Republican sheep to the ballot box, but…

UGLY HONEST“Public Office is Public Trust”

Heated and nasty election on the part of James G. Blaine’s Half Breed Republicans.

“Ma, Ma, where’s Pa? Gone to Washington, Ha Ha Ha!!”

Blaine Loses when he does not denounce the “Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion” speech. Enough NYC Irish vote democrat in response

Also hurt by the “Burn this letter” scandal.

Cleveland is elected by the Republican Mugwump reformers who vote Dem rather than corrupt Blaine.

BUT NO REAL ISSUES

Cleveland’s Events 1884-1888

Pres. Succession Act 1886Interstate Commerce Act 1887Anti-Polygamy Law (Utah)Vetoed 413 “Pork Bills” in 4 years.“A Public office is a public TRUST”His laissez-faire presidency:

Opposed bills to assist the poor as well as the rich.

Vetoed over 200 special pension bills for Civil War

veterans!

Bravo, Señor Bravo, Señor Clevelando!Clevelando!Bravo, Señor Bravo, Señor Clevelando!Clevelando!

The Tariff IssueThe Tariff IssueThe Tariff IssueThe Tariff Issue After the Civil War, Congress raised tariffs to protect new US industries.

Big business wanted to continue this; consumers did not.

1885 tariffs earned the US $100 mil. In surplus!

Mugwumps opposed it WHY???

President Cleveland’s view on tariffs????

Tariffs became a major issue in the 1888 presidential election.

Filing the Rough Filing the Rough EdgesEdges

Filing the Rough Filing the Rough EdgesEdges

Tariff of 1888



Grover Cleveland Benjamin Harrison (DEM) * (REP)

Coming Out for Coming Out for HarrisonHarrison

Coming Out for Coming Out for HarrisonHarrison

The Smallest The Smallest Specimen YetSpecimen YetThe Smallest The Smallest Specimen YetSpecimen Yet


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Changing Public Changing Public OpinionOpinion

Changing Public Changing Public OpinionOpinion Americans wanted the federal govt. to

deal with growing soc. & eco. problems & to curb the power of the trusts:

Interstate Commerce Act – 1887

Sherman Antitrust Act – 1890

McKinley Tariff – 1890

o Based on the theory that prosperity flowed directly from protectionism.

o Increased already high rates another 4%!

Rep. Party suffered big losses in 1890 (even McKinley lost his House seat!).

BIGGEST PROBLEM

HE CAME UP WITH THREEANSWERS

12.3.

IT IS HARRISON’S ADMINISTRATION THATCREATES THE PANIC OF 1893

Mckinley Tariff Act 48.4% (1890). He had defeated Cleveland on the tariff issue—so he felt compelled to raise it to ridiculous heights.

Backlash in 1890 puts Dem’s in charge of Congress again.

1892 sees the rise of the Populist PartySherman Silver Purchase ActSherman Anti-Trust Act (1890)Dependent Pension Act (1890)Boomer Sooner

Populist PlatformUnlimited coinage of silver at 16:1to create

inflation (to help western and southern debtors)Socialized RR’s, telegraph, and telephone (to

help the West)A graduated income taxDirect election of Senators1 term limit on the PresidencyInitiative, Referendum and Recall10 hour work-day (trying to win labor vote)Immigration restrictions (trying to win labor

vote)Use of strikes to attack unfair business

practices.Southern alliance of poor black and white

farmers (to win the South)

Despite major gains in 1892…See map on p. 523South returns to racism and hatred—last

black voters were disenfranchised by Poll Taxes, Literacy Tests, etc.

Homestead (Carnegie’s Steel factory) strike turns into a “riot” that has to broken by FEDERAL troops.

Panic of 1893-1897 guts American business. No patience for reform is left.


ElectionElection


ElectionElection

HE INHERITS FROM HARRISON the Panic of 1893 with:

High Inflation (partly due to silver)High unemploymentHigh Misery

BY THE END OF HIS 2nd TERM HE IS THE MOST DISLIKED PRESIDENT OF ALL TIMES.

Cleveland Loses Support Cleveland Loses Support Fast!Fast!

Cleveland Loses Support Cleveland Loses Support Fast!Fast! The only President to serve two

non- consecutive terms.

Blamed for the 1893 Panic.

Defended the gold standard.

Used federal troops in the 1894 Pullman strike.

Repealed the Sherman Silver Purchase Act.

Please grab your Clicker and have a seat! Good Morning!

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