Politi

cs o

f the

Gilded

Age1877-1900

Politics of the Gilded Age

O 1877-1900 inaction, corruption characterized politics

O Political parties evenly divided, difficult to pass major reforms

O No president 1872-1896 won a majority of popular vote

O Grover Cleveland only Democrat president of era, known for honesty and integrity

Corruption Plagues National Politics

O Government officials routinely received bribes and kickbacks

O Americans expected little support from federal government, came from state and local level

O Strong relationship between big business and government

Republicans vs. Democrats

OProtestantOAfrican AmericansOSupported nativitist causesOSupported prohibitionO Northern Support

OSouthern whitesOImmigrantsOCatholicsOJewsOFreethinkers

Political Cartoonist Raise the Alarm

Spoils System Dominates Government

OPolitical parties provided services to poor- exchange for votesOPolitical parties provided jobs for party supporters- spoils systemO Helped make parties powerfulO Voter participation grew because of system (70-80% turnout common)OCongress most powerful branch during Gilded Age

Civil Service ReformO Civil Service= government

jobs, jobs that stay the same regardless of political party in power

O Assassination of President James Garfield by person that did not receive government job led to civil service reform

O Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883)-O established Civil Service

Commission O wrote civil service examO passing exam not political

connections got people government jobs

O reduced power of spoils system

Economic Challenges Tariff , Monetary policy main economic issues Monetary policy -based on gold standard, gold basis of

nations currency 1873 issue of silver as money debated International trade, big business thought silver as money

would undermine economy There was more silver than gold Farmers wanted silver as money- create inflation, raise

farm prices, create more money to pay debts

Economic ChallengesO Tariff – created early 1800’s to

protect manufacturing, agricultural products and prices

O Republicans favored tariff promote industry, jobs

O Democrats opposed said kept cost of goods high, harder for farmers to sell products abroad

Farmers and Populism

Farmers Face Many Problems

O 1880’s, early 1890’s low crop prices, increased costs, mounting debt for many farmers

O Nature in the form of droughts, harsh winters, boll weevil infestation also hurt farmers

O Cotton, corn, wheat prices fellO New machinery, seed, livestock prices

went up O Many farmers mortgaged farms to pay

for goodsO Farmers had little influence on political

system

Farmers Face Many ProblemsO Blamed big business, railroads, banksO Railroads charged high ratesO Banks charged high interestO Grain elevators charged high rates for

storageO Sharecroppers faced dishonest landlords,

merchants

Farmers OrganizeCreated network of

organizations Granger Movement (1867)

founded in Minnesota National political organization

that fought for farmers rightsGoals Government reform Education new farming techniques Regulate shipping, grain elevator

rates

Farmers Organize

OMid 1870’s Midwestern states pass reform, “Grange Laws”O Limits on freight, grain storage ratesOGrangers pressured the national government to establish Interstate Commerce Commission to regulate railroad rates

Farmers Organize

O Grange declined late 1870’sO Replaced by Farmers Alliances O Grassroots movementO GoalsO Collectively sell cropsO Establish banks to provide low interest loansO Wanted to push costs down, bring prices up

OAlliances remained segregated across the south, eventually kept them from gaining political power

Populist PartyOFormed 1892ONew political party put

pressure on two major political parties with demands

OWanted to change unresponsive government, inadequate money supply, political corruption

OLargest support came form farmers in the south, Midwest and West

O Urban workers support- both fought industrial elite

Populist Party

Goals Unlimited coinage of silver Graduated income tax Government ownership of telegraph, railroad

companies Bank regulation

Populist politicians pushed for cooperation between the races

Populist PartyO Election 1892 –Populist governors, senators,

congressmen elected across nation (concentrated in the west and Midwest)

O 1894 won more elections, popularity grew

Economic Crisis and Populism’s Decline

O1893 four year depression beganO Draw of Populism grewOElection 1896ODemocrats nominate William Jennings Bryan because of his “Cross of Gold” speech at the Democratic ConventionO Speech attacked the gold standardOBrought many to the populist causeOBryan grew in popularityOMade him a national political figure

Bryan and the Election of 1896

OPopulist party backed BryanODemocratic party supported free silver, many populist proposals, took on Bryan as their candidateOBryan’s campaign was first to tour nation and directly speak to peopleOLost election to William McKinley

Legacy of PopulismI. New era in American politics, ascendancy of

urban, middle class voter, diminishing voter turnout, rise of new political issues- industrial regulation and welfare of labor

Message on monetary policy did not appeal to urban workers

Decision to endorse Bryan led to decline in Populist Party, many became Democrats

II. More flexible monetary policy adopted by government

III. Candidates campaigned directly to peopleMany reforms Populists advocated were adopted

by Progressives in early 20th century