Reminders Vowell due tonight by midnight!

Back to you by Tuesday

Exam #1 – 2/27 – study group @ 415 Notes and study guide on website

Begin reading Riis (Due 3/5) Writing activity out on Wednesday

NATIONAL POLITICS IN THE GILDED AGE, 1877-

1900

Politics in the Gilded Age “Gilded Age” –

Mark Twain Corruption and

patronage Weak presidents –

“Do-Littles” or “Do Nothings”

Turned blind eye towards cities

Belief in Limited Government

Roots in: Social Darwinism Laissez-faire economics Loose interpretation of govt. regulations Weak laws passed by the govt.

Campaign Strategies Democrats:

Began to attract Jewish and Catholic immigrants

Many believed in states rights

“Maintain the status quo”

Republicans – “waving the bloody shirt” “Lincoln was shot by

a Democrat” Brass bands, free

beer, picnics Pro-business

attitude The North likes this

Party Patronage Main objectives:

Gain office Hold office Provide jobs to party

faithful Get reelected as

much as possible

Mugwumps

Stalwarts

Presidential Politics Rutherford B.

Hayes Won disputed

election of 1876 Withdrew troops

from South Honest government “Lemonade Lucy” Vetoed certain

immigration bills

Presidential Politics James A. Garfield

Republican Won Election of

1880 Running mate –

Chester A. Arthur Patronage – 100,000

jobs 1881 – Assassinated

Arthur becomes president

Presidential Politics Chester A. Arthur

Better than expected

Developed modern Navy

Questioned tariffs Republicans went

crazy!

Not reelected in 1884

Major Issues Civil Service

Reform Pendleton Act of

1881 Federal applicants Tested and competed

for jobs Tried to eliminate

patronage Applied to 10% of all

federal employees

Major Issues Money Question:

Should we expand the money supply? Increased tension

“Haves” – rich, industrialists Cash backed by gold

“Have nots” – farmers, workers Lower interest rates Pay off loans with inflated money

Major Issues Farmers

The Grange (1868) Oliver H. Kelley

Social outlet for farmers

1873 – Grange in every state

Set up farmer cooperatives

Made it illegal for RRs to fix prices

Major Issues Farmers (cont.)

Interstate Commerce Act (1886) Rates must be

“reasonable and just” Set up the Interstate

Commerce Commission

Actually helped RRs, not farmers Made rates stable in

favor of RRs

Major Issues Farmers (cont.)

National Alliance Direct election of

Senators Lowered tariffs Graduated income tax New banking system Increase money

supply

Gave rise to the Populist Party

Money, Money, Money Greenbacks

Issued during Civil War for emergency funds

1875 – Specie Resumption Act Withdrew greenbacks

from circulation Greenback Party

James B. Weaver – Iowa Election of 1878 – 1

million votes

Growth of Discontent Election of 1888

Grover Cleveland (D) Protested high tariffs Wanted lower interest

rates Appealed to farmers

and workers Benjamin Harrison

(R) High tariff Pro-business

Accomplishments Under Harrison McKinley Tariff

(1890) – Raised taxes on imports to 48%

Increased pension to CW veterans

Wanted to protect black voting rights

Election of 1892 James Weaver –

Populist

Grover Cleveland – Democrat

Benjamin Harrison - Republican

Panic of 1893 Railroad

overbuilding – AGAIN!!!

Money not backed by strong currency

Worst depression in U.S. History

Coxey’s Army 1894 – Jacob Coxey

Led thousands of unemployed to DC

Demanded jobs $500 million for

public utilities jobs Trespassing and

arrested