National Politics in the Gilded Age, 18771900
UNIT 6 CH. 19
Gilded Age
Limited Government
◦ Fit with laissez-faire economics and social Darwinism
Campaign strategies
◦ Parties avoided taking strong positions on issues
◦ Showmanship and free food and beer
Patronage
◦ Became the center of politics
◦ Stalwarts, Halfbreeds, Mugwumps
Presidential Politics
Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881)
◦ Ended reconstruction
◦ Attempted to reform patronage system
◦ Vetoed efforts to restrict Chinese immigration
James Garfield (1881)
◦ Gave reformers most patronage jobs
◦ Was shot and killed by a Stalwart
Chester A. Arthur (1881-1885)
◦ Stalwart turned reformer
◦ Pendleton Civil Service Act
Congressional Leaders
John Sherman
Thomas Reed
James Blaine
◦ Reshaped Republicans into a business oriented party
Election of 1884
Republican-James Blaine
Democrat-Grover Cleveland
Cleveland became the first Democratic
president in 28 years
Cleveland’s First Term
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Believed in limited government
Tried to lower tariff rates, but Congress refused
Interstate Commerce Act
Established the right of the federal government to supervise railroad activities
Interstate Commerce Commission
◦ Didn’t gain power to be effective until 1906
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Dawes Act
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Broke up reservations into individual farms
Gilded Issues
Civil Service
◦ Pendleton Civil Service Act
◦ authorized a bipartisan civil service commission to make appointments to federal jobs based on examination
performance
Money Supply
◦ Debtors, farmers, start-up businesses want an increase in supply provided by paper money and
unlimited minting of silver coins
◦ Bankers, creditors, investors want currency backed by gold only
Gilded Issues
Greenbacks
◦ Political party that supported paper money
◦ Congress passes Specie Resumption Act in 1875 and takes green backs out of circulation
Silver
◦ Bland-Allison Act resumed the coining of silver, but in limited amounts
Tariffs
◦ High tariffs- raised prices for consumers, caused retaliation
◦ Low tariffs- lowered prices for consumers, reduced government revenue
Harrison and the Billion-Dollar Congress
Election of 1888
◦ Cleveland (D)and low tariffs v. Benjamin Harrison (R) and high tariffs
◦ Harrison won as did Reps in both houses
McKinley Tariff Act raised tariff rates
Sherman Silver Purchase Act
◦ Increased coinage of silver
Election of 1892
◦ Cleveland v. Harrison
◦ Cleveland wins and lowers tariffs
Rise of Populists
Populist Party Platform
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unlimited coinage of silver (increase $ supply)
Graduated income tax
Federal loan program
Popular election of U.S. Senators
Restriction of president and VP to one term
Eight hour work day
Restrictions on immigration
State laws through initiative and referendum
Depression Politics
Panic of 1893
◦ Stock market crashed because of over speculation and over building by railroads
◦ Silver mines closed as people began trading paper money for gold, undermining the gov.
program of purchasing silver
Wilson-Gorman Tariff
◦ Moderately reduced tariff rates and created a 2% income tax on incomes of$2,000 or more
Coxey’s Army
◦ Thousands of unemployed march on Washington to demand federal works program
◦ Jacob Coxey and other leaders were arrested
Election of 1896
Democrats/Populists- William Jennings Bryan
◦ Cross of Gold Speech
◦ Speech for bimetallism telling the bankers and businessmen ,“…you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.”
◦ Unlimited coinage of silver
Republicans-William McKinley
◦ Supported by businessman Marcus Hanna
◦ Used money raised by wealthy supporters to sell McKinley through mass media
McKinley’s Presidency
Gold discovered in Alaska increased money supply
Farm prices rose, factory production increased, stock market climbed
Gold became the official standard of U.S. currency
Active leadership turned the U.S. into an emerging world power
Significance of 1896 election
Ended political stalemate
Ushered in an era of Republican dominance of the executive and legislative branches
End of Populism
Urban areas became dominant in deciding elections
McKinley became the first modern president