1. Political Paralysis in the Gilded Age 1869-1896 Chapter 23

2. The “Bloody Shirt” Elects Grant Democrats nominate Horatio Seymour – former NY Governor Democrats nominate Horatio Seymour – former NY Governor They denounced military reconstruction And won 80 Electoral votes to Grant’s 214 –the popular vote was close (300,000) Republicans nominate Ulysses S. Grant Republicans nominate Ulysses S. Grant He had no political experience – main job was to hand out patronage “Let us have Peace” “vote as you Shoot” and “Waving the Bloody Shirt”

3. The Era of good Stealings Railroad scandals – stock market manipulation Railroad scandals – stock market manipulation Jim Fisk and Jay Gould – corner the gold market – bribed Grant’s brother- in-law not to release any gold: Black Friday (24 Sept. 1869) almost bought all the gold on the market – finally federal gold is released Jim Fisk and Jay Gould – corner the gold market – bribed Grant’s brother- in-law not to release any gold: Black Friday (24 Sept. 1869) almost bought all the gold on the market – finally federal gold is released Tweed Ring: “Boss” (William M.) Tweed NY City embezzled $200 million – NY Times publishes the evidence and cartoonist Thomas Nast continually draws him. Samuel J. Tilden (later presidential candidate) will lead the prosecution. Others are implicated. Tweed Ring: “Boss” (William M.) Tweed NY City embezzled $200 million – NY Times publishes the evidence and cartoonist Thomas Nast continually draws him. Samuel J. Tilden (later presidential candidate) will lead the prosecution. Others are implicated.

4. A Carnival of Corruption Credit Mobilier Scandal 1872 Union Pacific RR leaders created the company & hired themselves 348% profit, distributed stock to key congressmen & the VP of US. Credit Mobilier Scandal 1872 Union Pacific RR leaders created the company & hired themselves 348% profit, distributed stock to key congressmen & the VP of US. Whiskey Ring: robbed the government of millions in whiskey tax revenue – Grant’s own private secretary (who he protected) Whiskey Ring: robbed the government of millions in whiskey tax revenue – Grant’s own private secretary (who he protected) William Belknap (Sec. of War) had accepted bribes from Indian agents who supplied the reservations William Belknap (Sec. of War) had accepted bribes from Indian agents who supplied the reservations

5. The Liberal Republican Revolt of 1872 Reform-minded Republicans urged purification of the Party & an end to military Reconstruction Reform-minded Republicans urged purification of the Party & an end to military Reconstruction They nominated Horace Greeley (editor of NY Tribune) for president Democrats will also endorse Greeley (he had blasted the Democrats as traitors, slavers, saloon keepers, horse thieves and idiots) Democrats will also endorse Greeley (he had blasted the Democrats as traitors, slavers, saloon keepers, horse thieves and idiots) Republicans will nominate Grant (for a 2 nd term) who is elected easily 286 to 66 electoral votes Republicans will nominate Grant (for a 2 nd term) who is elected easily 286 to 66 electoral votes They will pass and amnesty act (southerners) vote to lower tariffs and promote mild civil-service reform.

6. Depression, Deflation and Inflation Panic of 1873 1. Over-building of Railroads, mines, factories & farms 2. Bad loans – no profits and no payments, led to foreclosures Hard vs. Cheap money (agrarian & debtor groups want greenbacks (Civil War $) to be re-issued Hard money advocates (creditors) wanted to be paid back with gold and silver coins Grant vetoed a bill to make more greenbacks Congress passed the Resumption Act of 1875 (buy back greenbacks in gold at face value by 1879)

7. Depression, Deflation and Inflation “Cheap” money advocates now promote silver attacking the 16-1 (16oz of silver = 1 oz of gold $$) “Cheap” money advocates now promote silver attacking the 16-1 (16oz of silver = 1 oz of gold $$) 1870 a 7 member supreme court declares the Civil War Legal Tender (greenbacks) Act as unconstitutional 1870 a 7 member supreme court declares the Civil War Legal Tender (greenbacks) Act as unconstitutional With congressional approval Grant adds 2 members to reverse the decision – 1871 they do so (now 9 members of Supreme Court) With congressional approval Grant adds 2 members to reverse the decision – 1871 they do so (now 9 members of Supreme Court) Coinage Act 1873 – no more silver coins – “crime of “73” Coinage Act 1873 – no more silver coins – “crime of “73” “contraction” of money supply (less $ available) “contraction” of money supply (less $ available) Resumption Act 1875 – few people turned in their bills Resumption Act 1875 – few people turned in their bills Spawns the Greenback Labor Party 1878 1 million votes and 14 members of Congress Spawns the Greenback Labor Party 1878 1 million votes and 14 members of Congress

8. Pallid Politics in the Gilded Age “Gilded Age” sarcastic name given by Mark Twain in 1873 “Gilded Age” sarcastic name given by Mark Twain in 1873 Fight over “Patronage” Fight over “Patronage” Every presidential election was close and very little separated the Parties Every presidential election was close and very little separated the Parties Democrats: Lutherans and Roman Catholics White South, and northern cities – political machine Democrats: Lutherans and Roman Catholics White South, and northern cities – political machine Republicans: Protestants and strict codes of morality believed Government should regulate economy and morals – support from small town NE and Midwest and: Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Civil War veterans Republicans: Protestants and strict codes of morality believed Government should regulate economy and morals – support from small town NE and Midwest and: Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Civil War veterans Split: “Stalwart” (Roscoe Conkling) “Half Breeds” (James G. Blaine) Split: “Stalwart” (Roscoe Conkling) “Half Breeds” (James G. Blaine)

9. Hayes – Tilden Standoff 1876 Rutherford B. Hayes: 3-time Governor of Ohio Rutherford B. Hayes: 3-time Governor of Ohio 20 disputed votes (Louisiana, S. Carolina & Florida) – Both Parties had sent delegates to the Electoral College 20 disputed votes (Louisiana, S. Carolina & Florida) – Both Parties had sent delegates to the Electoral College Samuel J. Tilden “bagged Boss Tweed” led the prosecution Samuel J. Tilden “bagged Boss Tweed” led the prosecution 1 vote short (184 needs 185) led in the popular vote The deadlock was to be settled by an electoral commission (8 Republicans and 7 Democrats)

10. Compromise of 1877 & the End of Reconstruction The electoral commission will vote down political lines electing Hayes The electoral commission will vote down political lines electing Hayes Almost a second Civil War – Compromise Almost a second Civil War – Compromise 1. Troops leave south (now only 2 states) 2. Democrats will gain some patronage (help toward Southern transcontinental RR) and have 2 members of the new Cabinet 3. Black equality is abandoned in the South Civil Rights Act 1875 should have equal public accommodations & equality in jury selection Not enforced: Civil Rights Cases 1883, 14 th Amendment only meant Government violations of Civil Rights

11. The Birth of Jim Crow in the Post Reconstruction South Democratic South – suppression of the blacks “Redeemer” governments – freedmen face unemployment, eviction & physical harm Democratic South – suppression of the blacks “Redeemer” governments – freedmen face unemployment, eviction & physical harm Sharecropping and tenant farming = “Crop lien” system Sharecropping and tenant farming = “Crop lien” system Jim Crow Laws – State-level segregation laws Jim Crow Laws – State-level segregation laws Plessy v. Ferguson 1896 “Separate but Equal” facilities Plessy v. Ferguson 1896 “Separate but Equal” facilities Lynching: blacks lynched for the “crime” of asserting themselves as equals Lynching: blacks lynched for the “crime” of asserting themselves as equals

12. Class conflicts and Ethnic Clashes Since the Panic of 1873 RR workers hard times – Cut wages by 10% Since the Panic of 1873 RR workers hard times – Cut wages by 10% Great Railroad Strike of 1877: general strike effecting 10 states over 100 killed Federal troop sent in to stop the strike “impeding the federal mail” Racial and Ethnic conflicts: Irish and Chinese in California Denis Kearny “Kearneyites” violence and cutting off of pig-tails led to Racial and Ethnic conflicts: Irish and Chinese in California Denis Kearny “Kearneyites” violence and cutting off of pig-tails led to Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 US v. Wong Kim Ark 1898 guaranteed citizenship to all persons born in the US US v. Wong Kim Ark 1898 guaranteed citizenship to all persons born in the US

13. Garfield and Arthur – 1880 Election Democrats nominate Winfield Scott Hancock Democrats nominate Winfield Scott Hancock Garfield “Dark Horse” Republican Garfield “Dark Horse” Republican VP Chester A. Arthur of NY a Stalwart win election 214-155 Garfield assassinated by Charles J. Guiteau over spoils (disappointed because he was not rewarded with a public job) Arthur (a stalwart) promotes reform and gets congress to pass the Pendleton Act of 1883 magna carta of civil- service reform: jobs based upon a competitive exam and placed the Civil Service Commission in charge of appointments

14. Election of 1884 Blaine-Cleveland Mudslingers Republicans nominate James G. Blaine Republicans nominate James G. Blaine “Burn this letter” end of a letter linking politics with corruption “Rum, Romanism, Rebellion” = loses NY Mugwumps left Republican Party to support reform Democrats nominate Democrats nominate Grover Cleveland Reformer, very honest “a public office is a public trust” Wins narrow election Election over personalities NOT policy

15. “Old Grover” takes over Vetoed a bill that would have provided seed for drought-ravaged Texas farmers “Though the people must support the government, the government should not support the people”. He will name 2 former Confederates to his cabinet- helps sooth relations North and South Will “cave-in” to spoils system Military pensions: widespread $ given to Civil War Veterans Cleveland reads each and vetoes 100’s

16. Cleveland Battles for a Lower Tariff Tariff had been high since the Civil War Tariff had been high since the Civil War The Treasury had a surplus of $145 million The Treasury had a surplus of $145 million “Pork-barrel” spending was common “Pork-barrel” spending was common Cleveland felt a lower tariff meant lower prices for consumers & less protection for monopolies Cleveland felt a lower tariff meant lower prices for consumers & less protection for monopolies The Tariff issue becomes the main issue of the election of 1888 The Tariff issue becomes the main issue of the election of 1888 Cleveland runs for the Democrats Cleveland runs for the Democrats Republicans nominate Benjamin Harrison (grandson of William Henry) Republicans nominate Benjamin Harrison (grandson of William Henry) Harrison will win the electoral college 233-168 but lose the popular Harrison will win the electoral college 233-168 but lose the popular

17. The Billion-Dollar Congress Republicans have a thin lead in the House Republicans have a thin lead in the House Thomas “Czar” Reed becomes Speaker of the House and pushes legislation through Thomas “Czar” Reed becomes Speaker of the House and pushes legislation through Pensions to Civil War Veterans Pensions to Civil War Veterans Government purchases of silver (Sherman Silver Purchase Act 1890) Government purchases of silver (Sherman Silver Purchase Act 1890) McKinley Tariff = 48.4 % highest peacetime level McKinley Tariff = 48.4 % highest peacetime level In the mid-term elections, Republicans lost dropping to 88 seats vs 235 Democrats also 9 members of the Farmers Alliance, a militant organization In the mid-term elections, Republicans lost dropping to 88 seats vs 235 Democrats also 9 members of the Farmers Alliance, a militant organization

18. The Drumbeat of Discontent PEOPLE’S PARTY OR “POPULISTS” PEOPLE’S PARTY OR “POPULISTS” They met in Omaha (Omaha Platform) Demanding: 1. Free & unlimited coinage of silver 2. Graduated income tax 3. Government ownership of railroads, telegraph & telephone 4. The direct election of US Senators 5. One-term limit on the presidency 6. Adoption of initiative & referendum 7. A shorter workday 8. Immigration restriction Nominated Gen. James B. Weaver

19. The Drumbeat of Discontent Homestead Strike 1892: a Carnegie Mill 1. Steelworkers angry over pay cuts 2. James Frick (working for Carnegie) hires Pinkertons to break up the strike 3. 10 killed and 60 wounded 4. Federal Troops stop the strike and break the union Federal troops also brutally put down a strike in Coeur d’Alene Idaho Populists made a remarkable showing in the 1892 Presidential election gaining a million votes and 22 electoral- 4 states Kansas, Colorado, Idaho and Nevada Populists made a remarkable showing in the 1892 Presidential election gaining a million votes and 22 electoral- 4 states Kansas, Colorado, Idaho and Nevada South divided along racial lines South divided along racial lines Colored Farmer’s Alliance Colored Farmer’s Alliance Tom Watson, Georgia appeals to their votes Tom Watson, Georgia appeals to their votes But “Bourbon” elitism prevailed But “Bourbon” elitism prevailed 1. Grandfather Clause 2. Jim Crow Laws – segregation in public places

20. Cleveland and the Depression Only president elected after his defeat Only president elected after his defeat Depression of 1893 (may have been worse than Great Depression) Depression of 1893 (may have been worse than Great Depression) Railroad over-building & over-speculation, labor disorders, agricultural depression – free-silver hurt the international market & European banking houses demanded repayments in gold lowering the gold reserve Railroad over-building & over-speculation, labor disorders, agricultural depression – free-silver hurt the international market & European banking houses demanded repayments in gold lowering the gold reserve 8,000 business collapsed in 6 months, railroads went under (Philadelphia and Reading RR) 8,000 business collapsed in 6 months, railroads went under (Philadelphia and Reading RR) Soup kitchens and hoboes common, local charities hard-pressed Soup kitchens and hoboes common, local charities hard-pressed Federal Government “let nature take its course” philosophy Federal Government “let nature take its course” philosophy Legal tender notes had to be issued for silver purchased (paper $) could be traded for gold & this also drops the gold supply Legal tender notes had to be issued for silver purchased (paper $) could be traded for gold & this also drops the gold supply Since silver was one obvious problem, Cleveland calls Congress into special session to repeal it Since silver was one obvious problem, Cleveland calls Congress into special session to repeal it William Jennings Bryan makes a plea for silver-Cleveland breaks the filibuster and alienates “free silver” faction of the Democrat party William Jennings Bryan makes a plea for silver-Cleveland breaks the filibuster and alienates “free silver” faction of the Democrat party Cleveland finally has to go to JP Morgan for $65 million in gold Cleveland finally has to go to JP Morgan for $65 million in gold

21. Cleveland Breeds a Backlash Cleveland is blamed for “selling” out to JP Morgan and business interests (Morgan had made $7million on the gold loan to the government) Cleveland is blamed for “selling” out to JP Morgan and business interests (Morgan had made $7million on the gold loan to the government) Wilson-Gorman Tariff 1894 (not much % drop over McKinley Tariff) 2% tax on incomes over $4,000) Cleveland allows the bill to become law without his signature Wilson-Gorman Tariff 1894 (not much % drop over McKinley Tariff) 2% tax on incomes over $4,000) Cleveland allows the bill to become law without his signature Mid-term elections, Republicans won back lost majority in congress Mid-term elections, Republicans won back lost majority in congress Cleveland blamed for their rebound Cleveland blamed for their rebound

22. “Forgettable” Presidents The word lilliputian has come into common usage, meaning "very small sized". (textbook p. 562) The word lilliputian has come into common usage, meaning "very small sized". (textbook p. 562)lilliputian Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, Harrison and Cleveland are all considered “forgettable” presidents largely because they did so little and they were controlled by Congress Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, Harrison and Cleveland are all considered “forgettable” presidents largely because they did so little and they were controlled by Congress