2. Machine Politics

3. SECTION 3: POLITICS IN THE GILDED AGE As cities grew in the late 19 th century, so did political machines Political machines controlled the activities of a political party in a city Ward bosses, precinct captains, and the city boss worked to ensure their candidate was elected

4. ROLE OF THE POLITICAL BOSS The “Boss” (typically the mayor) controlled jobs, business licenses, and influenced the court system Precinct captains and ward bosses were often 1 st or 2 nd generation immigrants so they helped immigrants with naturalization, jobs, and housing in exchange for votes Boss Tweed ran NYC

5. MUNICIPAL GRAFT AND SCANDAL Some political bosses were corrupt Some political machines used fake names and voted multiple times to ensure victory (“Vote early and often”) – called Election fraud Graft (bribes) was common among political bosses Construction contracts often resulted in “kick- backs” The fact that police forces were hired by the boss prevented close scrutiny

6. THE TWEED RING SCANDAL William M. Tweed, known as Boss Tweed, became head of Tammany Hall, NYC’s powerful Democratic political machines Between 1869-1871, Tweed led the Tweed Ring, a group of corrupt politicians, in defrauding the city Tweed was indicted on 120 counts of fraud and extortion Tweed was sentenced to 12 years in jail – released after one, arrested again, and escaped to Spain Boss Tweed

7. Political Machines & Social Welfare No social “safety net” existed –No welfare, no food stamps, no workers’ compensation, no unemployment insurance, no employment agencies Political machines filled a real need –Christmas turkey basket –Patronage –Social network –Career ladder –Ease transition of immigrants into American life (see The Reckless Decade, pg 105-6) –Plunkitt of Tammany Hall – Ch 23 Handout

9. An Era of Stalemate “forgettable” presidents –No two consecutive terms for anyone Politicians who largely ignored problems arising from the growth of industries & cities Two major parties avoided taking stands on controversial issues

10. An Era of Stalemate Why? Belief in limited government –Laissez-faire economics –Social Darwinism –Federal courts narrowly interpreted the government’s powers to regulate business

11. An Era of Stalemate Why? Campaign strategy –Close elections between 1876-1896 –Divided government in Washington One party controls presidency; the other party controls one or both houses of Congress –See handout –Objective was to get out the vote and not alienate voters on the issues Issue-free campaigns

12. An Era of Stalemate Why? Party Patronage –Politics was chiefly a game of gaining office, holding office, and providing government jobs to the party faithful –Who got the patronage jobs within the party was the most important issue Led to President Garfield’s assassination

13. 1. A Two-Party Stalemate

14. Pallid Politics In The Gilded Age Balance of two political parties during the Gilded Age from 1869-99. Majority in Congress flipped back and forth six times in the 11 terms between 1869-91 Few controversial stands Few dramatic policy differences between parties. Voter turnout /voter loyalty. Political machines and patronage

15. The 3 rd Party System: Republicans Rout Democrats in Presidential Elections Republican Dominance: PresidentPartyHome State Years HayesRepOhio1876-1880 GarfieldRepOhio1881 ArthurRepNew York1881-1884 ClevelandDemNew York1884-1888 HarrisonRepIndiana1888-1892 ClevelandDemNew York1892-1896 McKinleyRepOhio1896-1900

17. 2. Intense Voter Loyalty to the Two Major Political Parties

18. 3. Well-Defined Voting Blocs Democratic Bloc Republican Bloc  White southerners (preservation of white supremacy)  Catholics  Recent immigrants (esp. Jews)  Urban working poor (pro-labor)  Most farmers  Northern whites (pro-business)  African Americans  Northern Protestants  Old WASPs (support for anti-immigrant laws)  Most of the middle class

19. Republicans v. Democrats Republicans: –Embodied the old Puritanical ideals. –Strict moral codes and belief that government should be an instrument in regulating economic and moral affairs of the community. –Strong in Midwest and in rural and small-town New England. –Got most of votes from Freedman and from Union Civil War Vets.

20. Republicans v. Democrats Democrats –More Roman Catholic and Lutheran. –South and northern industrial cities –Large immigrant base and strong Dem. machines. –Supported states’ rights and limited powers for the federal government

21. WhereWho RepublicansMidwest, rural Northeast “native” Americans, Union veterans, African-Americans DemocratsSouth, Northeastern cities Immigrants, white south

22. Gilded Age Political Campaigns Brass bands, parades, flags, campaign buttons, picnics, free beer, and crowd- pleasing oratory

23. II. Why Republicans Win A. Waving the Bloody Shirt: The Grand Army of the Republic and Voting as you Shot Dems caused CW & murdered Lincoln

24. B. Rewarding Your Supporters: Patronage and the Spoils System

25. C. Warning of the Immigrant Menace: Ethnicity, Religion, and Nativism

26. 4. Very Laissez Faire Federal Govt.  From 1870-1900  Govt. did very little domestically.  Main duties of the federal govt.:  Deliver the mail.  Maintain a national military.  Collect taxes & tariffs.  Conduct a foreign policy.  Exception  administer the annual Civil War veterans’ pension.

27. 5. The Presidency as a Symbolic Office  Party bosses ruled.  Presidents should avoid offending any factions within their own party.  The President just doled out federal jobs.  1865  53,000 people worked for the federal govt.  1890  166,000 “ “ “ “ “ “ Senator Roscoe Conkling

28. The Political System Weak presidents –President’s job was to administer, not lead Inefficient Congress –Most important branch, but –Noisy and chaotic; little effective action Only 5 major bills through Congress from 1875-1896 Federal Bureaucracy –Small & limited –1870: 50k federal employees ¾ were postmasters throughout the country Only 6k in Washington, D.C.

29. Major issues of the day Civil Service reform –Pendleton Act of 1881 set up Civil Service Commission Competitive exams for certain jobs Business & financial regulation –Interstate Commerce Act –Sherman Antitrust Act Tariffs

30. The 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!  Tariffs became a major issue in the 1888 presidential election.

31. Arguments in the Tariff Debates Area AffectedHigh Tariffs (Big Business)Low Tariff (farmers, labor, small business) IndustryPromote industrial growthInflates corporate profits EmploymentStimulates job growthRestricts competition Wages & PricesPermit higher wagesIncreases consumer prices GovernmentProvide government revenueViolates laissez-faire & produces revenue that tempts gov’t to activism TradeProtects the domestic market Restricts foreign trade because other countries retaliate; hurt farmers who couldn’t sell surplus

32. Major issues of the day The “Money Question” Whether or not to expand the money supply (create inflation) –Reflected the tension between the “haves” and “have-nots” –Debtors, farmers, and start-up businesses wanted more $ in circulation Could borrow @ lower interest rates Could pay off loans more easily with inflated $

33. Major issues of the day The “Money Question” Inflate the currency by printing paper money (greenbacks) or minting more silver coins (“free silver”) The other side: bankers, creditors, investors, and established businesses stood firm for hard money – currency backed by gold stored in government vaults (“sound money”) –$ backed by gold would more likely hold its value against inflation The issue boiled down to: The Gold Standard vs. Bi-metallism

34. SILVER OR GOLD? The central issue of the 1896 Presidential campaign was which metal would be the basis of the nation’s monetary system Bimetallism (those who favored using both) vs. those that favored the Gold Standard alone

35. 1881: Garfield Assassinated! Charles Guiteau: I Am a Stalwart, and Arthur is President now!

36. CHESTER ARTHUR TAKES COMMAND Not many expected much from Arthur. Why? Displayed surprising integrity, intelligence and independence. Arthur threw his support behind reform of spoils system. Pendleton Act of 1883 –Details –Unintended consequences?

37. CIVIL SERVICE REPLACES PATRONAGE Nationally, some politicians pushed for reform in the hiring system The system had been based on Patronage; giving jobs and favors to those who helped a candidate get elected Reformers pushed for an adoption of a merit system of hiring the most qualified for jobs The Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883 authorized a bipartisan commission to make appointments for federal jobs based on performance Applicants for federal jobs are required to take a Civil Service Exam

38. Pendleton Act (1883)  Civil Service Act.  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.

39. A Dirty Campaign Ma, Ma…where’s my pa? He’s going to the White House, ha… ha… ha…!

40. Rum, Romanism & Rebellion!  Led a delegation of ministers to Blaine in NYC.  Reference to the Democratic Party.  Blaine was slow to repudiate the remark.  Narrow victory for Cleveland [he wins NY by only 1149 votes!]. Dr. Samuel Burchard

41. Cleveland’s First Term  The “Veto Governor” from New York.  First Democratic elected since 1856.  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!

42. Cleveland and History Cleveland the first sitting president to be voted out of office since Van Buren in 1840. (Others: J. Adams, J.Q. Adams, Harrison, Hoover, Carter, Bush) Cleveland last to win popular vote and lose electoral college until Gore. Cleveland only president to have two non-consecutive terms.

43. 1888 Presidential Election

44. Political Gravy For All Billion Dollar Congress Pension Act of 1890 Sherman Anti-Trust Act Tariffs and Silver –Easterners wanted a higher tariff –Westerners and farmers wanted more silver minted

45. Changing Public Opinion  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  Based on the theory that prosperity flowed directly from protectionism.  Increased already high rates another 4%!  Rep. Party suffered big losses in 1890 (even McKinley lost his House seat!).

46. III. What Do Republicans Do Once in Office? 1.Support Higher Tariffs -- Ex. McKinley tariff = ~48%

47. Tariff Ire Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890 McKinley Tariff Bill –raised tariff rates to their highest peace- time level—48% Farmers hated the new tariff. Why? Republicans punished in 1890 congressional election. –Lose nearly 60 seats and Dems have a huge majority in Congress

48. OLD GROVER CLEVELAND AGAIN Depression of 1893 Causes: –Over-building and over-speculation –labor unrest –agricultural depression from low commodity prices –reduction of US credit abroad because of Silver Purchase Act –Problems with overseas banks, which were forced to call in US loans. Cleveland does next to nothing— laissez faire