POLITICS OF THE GILDED AGE

POPULIST MOVEMENT FARMING DOMINATED THE LIVES OF MOST AMERICANS IN THE SOUTH AND WEST

DURING TIMES OF DEPRESSION (1873 & 1893) FARMERS SUFFERED A GREAT DEAL• FAILURE OF RAILROADS – CONSOLIDATION

BY WEALTHY BUSINESS OWNERS• COMPETITION OF OTHER FARMERS LOWER

PRICES• BANKS FAILED – RECALLED LOANS

FARMERS CALL FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO STABILIZE THE ECONOMY •REDUCE TARIFFS

-PRICES OF FARM GOODS WAS HIGH-WORLD MARKET FOR AMERICAN GOODS WAS LOW

•MONETARY POLICY (MONEY SUPPLY)-INCREASED MONEY SUPPLY = INFLATION-DECREASED MONEY SUPPLY = DEFLATION-FARMERS CALLED FOR INFLATION OF THE ECONOMYoCHEAPER LOANSoHIGH PRICES FOR THEIR GOODS

MONETARY POLICYGOLD STANDARD (GOLD BUGS) • REDUCED AMOUNT OF MONEY IN

CIRCULATIONSILVER STANDARD (SILVERITES)• INCREASED MONEY IN CIRCULATION

- BLAND-ALLISON ACT 1878o CREATE MORE SILVER MONEY

- SHERMAN SILVER PURCHASE ACT (1890)o INCREASED LEVEL OF SILVER

PURCHASED BY GOVERNMENT

FARMERS PROTEST GROUPS

THE GRANGE •FORMING OF COOPERATIVES•PRESSURED STATE LEGISLATURES TO REGULATE BUSINESS

FARMERS’ ALLIANCES• UNITING OF FARMERS IN DIFFERENT AREAS

OF UNITED STATES - CALLED FOR:oFEDERAL REGULATION OF RAILROADSoINFLATIONoANTITRUST LAWSoINCREASED FARM CREDIT

GOVERNMENT ACTION

INTERSTATE COMMERCE ACT- GOVERNMENT COULD REGULATE

RAILROADS (SET PRICE LIMITS)SHERMAN ANTITRUST ACT

- ENABLED GOVERNMENT TO BREAK UP

CERTAIN TRUSTS- PROVED VERY INEFFECTIVE- USED AT TIMES TO BREAK UP LABOR

UNIONS

FORMATION OF POPULISTS (PEOPLE’S PARTY)GROUP FORMED OUT OF THE CONSOLIDATION OF MANY FARMERS’ ALLIANCESGOALS:• INCREASING CIRCULATION OF MONEY• UNLIMITED MINTING OF SILVER• PROGRESSIVE INCOME TAX• GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP OF

COMMUNICATIONS AND RAILROADS• EIGHT –HOUR WORK DAY

WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYANo STRONG SUPPORTER OF SILVERo GAVE FAMOUS “CROSS OF GOLD” SPEECHo NOMINATED FOR PRESIDENT BY THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY THREE TIMES

NATIONAL POLITICS

POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE OF GILDED AGE• ERA OF LITTLE SUBSTANCE• ERA OF “FORGETTABLE” PRESIDENTS• TIME OF BOTH URBAN AND RURAL

PROBLEMS

CLOSE ELECTIONS BETWEEN 1876-1892• REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS

UNWILLING TO TAKE STRONG STANCES ON MAJOR ISSUES

• CONGRESS VERY DIVIDED (FEW LEGISLATIONS PASSED)

CORRUPTION IN THE GOVERNMENT * CREDIT MOBILIER SCANDAL

- OUTSIDE CONTRACTOR – CHARGED LARGE SUMS FOR WORK DONE

- GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TOOK

BRIBES

REPUBLICANS -CIVIL WAR VETERANS/AFRICAN AMERICANS/BIG BUSINESS/ MIDDLE CLASS/PROTESTANTDEMOCRATS-SOLID SOUTH/POLITICAL MACHINES/IMMIGRANTS/ URBAN WORKERS

PRESIDENTS OF THE GILDED AGE

RUTHERFORD B. HAYES- ENDED RECONSTRUCTION (REMOVAL OF TROOPS)- SOME CALL HIS ELECTION A “CORRUPT BARGAIN”

JAMES GARFIELD• SUPPORTED USE OF SPOILS SYSTEM• REPUBLICAN PARTY DIVIDED INTO FACTIONS STALWARTS AND HALF-BREEDS

•ASSASSINATED (JULY 2, 1881) BY CHARLES GUITEAU (STALWART)

- GUITEAU UPSET OVER NOT RECEIVING GOVERNMENT JOB - SHOWED PROBLEM WITH PARTY

PATRONAGE - ASSASSINATION LEADS TO PUBLIC

CRITICISM OF SPOILS SYSTEM

CHESTER A. ARTHUR• VICE-PRESIDENT UNDER GARFIELD• PASSAGE OF PENDLETON CIVIL SERVICE ACT

- TESTED ALL GOVERNMENT APPLICANTS- SET STANDARDS FOR GOVERNMENT JOBS- PRESIDENTS COULD NOT FIRE OFFICIALS FOR POLITICAL REASONS

GROVER CLEVELAND• FIRST DEMOCRAT TO WIN ELECTION SINCE 1856 (JAMES BUCHANAN)• FIRST AND ONLY PRESIDENT TO BE ELECTED TO TWO NON-CONSECUTIVE TERMS

•SUPPORTED THE LOWERING OF TARIFFS AND GOVERNMENT REGULATION OF RAILROADS

- PASSAGE OF INTERSTATE COMMERCE ACT 1887 (LIMITED SUCCESS)

• PASSAGE OF DAWES SERVILITY ACT

• SERVED SECOND TERM DURING PANIC OF 1893

- FAILED TO WIN SUPPORT OF WORKING CLASS AND FARMERS

- UNEMPLOYED MARCHED ON WASHINGTON TO PROTEST (COXEY’S ARMY)

- REPEALED SHERMAN SILVER PURCHASE

ACT- SENT TROOPS TO CHICAGO TO END PULLMAN STRIKE

BENJAMIN HARRISON•WINS ELECTION OF 1888 WITH HELP FROM BIG BUSINESS•FIRST “BILLION DOLLAR” CONGRESS•ACTS PASSED:

-MCKINLEY TARIFF OF 1890-CIVIL WAR VETERANS PENSIONS ACT-SHERMAN ANTI-TRUST ACT-SHERMAN SILVER PURCHASE ACT

WILLIAM MCKINLEY•DEMOCRATS DIVIDED IN WHO TO NOMINATE FOR ELECTION OF 1896

-PRO-GOLD – GROVER CLEVELAND-PRO-SILVER – WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN

•BRYAN NOMINATED AND RUNS AGAINST MCKINLEY

-MCKINLEY TAKES ADVANTAGE OF BIG BUSINESS MONEY TO CAMPAIGN