1. THE GILDED AGE 1877-1900 1

2. Essential Question What political problems did Americans face at the turn of the 20th century? 2

3. Gilded Age Politics Forgettable presidents Stalemate/gridlock/divided gov’t WHY? Political ideology, campaign tactics, party patronage No 2 consecutive terms Politicians ignore problems Do little gov’t: laissez-faire Game of gaining office and giving jobs 3

4. Campaign Strategy Close elections-D & R did not take positions on issues Election Campaigns Bands, flags, parades, buttons, picnics, free beer, speeches Strength : Dem-cities, Rep-State Rep: Upper/Middle white protestants, AA Dem: Solid South, political machines, immigrants, states’ rights, limited gov’t 4

5. Party Patronage/Spoil System Patronage- giving jobs to ppl you know Party loyalty Roscoe Conkling (R)- NY Senator Stalwart (spoil) James Blaine Halfbreeds (no spoil) Mugwumps 5

6. Election 1876 6

7. Rutherford B. Hayes Compromise of 1877 Reestablish an honest gov’t Temperance reformer Lemonade Lucy (wife, no alcohol to White House) Vetoed Chinese immigration 7

8. Election of 1880 8

9. James Garfield Ohio Halfbreed VP: Chester Arthur, stalwart Ppl flocked to DC for jobs (100,000 jobs) Charles Guiteau, stalwart killed Garfield 1881 9

10. Chester Arthur Distanced from himself from Stalwarts Supported Civil Service Approved the development of modern US Navy Questioned high protective tariffs 10

11. Election of 1884 11

12. Grover Cleveland Honest, frugal NY Gov 1 st Dem since 1856 Limited gov’t Interstate Commerce Act 1887 (ICC) Fairs just and reasonable Dawes Act 1887 Money Issue Also # 24 th 12

13. Money Supply Problems Question: Whether or not to expand the money supply? Created tension between the haves and have nots Expansion of $$$$ Debtors, farmers, start-up businesses Help them get $ lower interest rates Create inflation, easier to pay off loans faster NO Expansion of $$$ Bankers, creditors, investors, established businesses Wanted dollars back by gold, would hold value against inflation Having less in circulation would raise/keep value 13

14. Monetary & Tariff Issues Monetary Civil War: Greenbacks Post Civil War: Retired Crime of 1873: stopped silver coinage Bland-Allison Tariff (1878): allowed limited coinage of silver each month Rep: less money circulating Dem: more money circulating Tariff Issue in 1888 Rep: High Tariffs Allow industries to grow Dem: Low Tariffs Increase prices of goods 14

15. Election of 1888 15

16. Benjamin Harrison 5’6 “Little Ben” Grandson of William Henry Harrison High Tariff Republican dominated Congress 1889-1891 16

17. Republican Dominance An active Congress (Billion-dollar Congress) McKinley Tariff 1890 (high tax on imports) Increase monthly pension to vets Sherman Antitrust Act 1890 outlawing monopolies (trusts) Sherman Silver Purchase Act 1890 Increased coinage of silver (small amounts) 17

18. Farmers Face Problems Price of cotton Abundance caused prices to drop Big business blamed (railroad) High interest loans Created farmer debt 18

19. Populist Party (1892) Who are they? National Farmers Alliance 1 million supporters What did they support/want? 1. Direct selection of Senators (17 th Amendment) 2. Lower tariffs 3. Graduated income tax 4. New banking system 19 Why did they form? –Discontent farmers –Agrarian industry & wealth distribution Political Platform Unlimited silver Public ownership of railroads, telegraph, telephone systems 8 hour work days Loans for farmers

20. Election of 1892 James Weaver (P)- 1 Million votes Rematch Cleveland won- McKinley Tariff was unpopular! 20

21. Election of 1892 21

22. Grover Cleveland Democrat Conservative w/ economy 22

23. Panic of 1893… CAUSES Over-speculation Collapse of railroad industry Silver Mines= Drop in value Repeal of Sherman Silver Purchase Act McKinley Tariff 1890 23

24. 24

25. still going ‘til 1897! EFFECTS High unemployment (20%) High foreclosures Protests Strikes JP Morgan to the “rescue” with gold Grover blamed 25

26. During the Panic… Wilson-Gorman Tariff (1894- 1895) Moderate reduction of tariff 2% income tax on $2,000 Average American < $1,000 Coxey’s Army- The jobless on the march 1894, Jacob Coxey (P) leads thousands to DC Demands gov’t to spend money on public works to create jobs 26

27. 1896: A Turning Point?!? Cleveland’s handling of economy hindered party 1894: Republican Congress Populist on the rise 27

28. Election of 1896 Democrats Split b/w gold and silver Convention dominated by pro-silver advocates Unlimited coinage of silver (united Populists) Republicans William McKinley (Ohio) High tariff Blamed Dems for Panic Gold Standard 28

29. Campaigning for 1896 Election Democrats Bryan travelled Gave +600 speeches Young, energetic, positive attitude, good orator Republicans Marcus Hanna In charge of donations Spent $ on propaganda McKinley travelled less Front-porch campaign 29

30. Election of 1896 30

31. William McKinley Bryan lost b/c Rise in wheat prices N employers threatening employees No state in NE Took office as economy was recovering 1897: Gold discoveries in Alaska (led to inflation) Dingley Tariff 1897 Gold Standard Isolation-foreign relations President during the Spanish-American War 31

32. Significance of the 1896 Election Short Term End of stalemate Populist Party declined sharp division in society between urban and rural interests Long Term Republican dominance Populist ideology- Progressive action Urban dominance Modern and world power 32