From Stalemate to Crisis Chapter 19 From Stalemate to Crisis

Party Loyalty 16 states solidly Republican 14 states solidly Democratic 5 swing states

267 Gore 271 Bush

Republicans win most of the Presidential elections But margin of victory in popular vote rarely more than 1.5%

House mainly Democratic Why? Solid South and Northern cities

Senate mainly Republican Why? More States

Religion/ Catholic Protestant Ethnic Immigrants Democrats Republicans Region South North North cities Religion/ Catholic Protestant Ethnic Immigrants Class Working Middle/Upper

Problem for Republicans Split in Party

Leader - Roscoe Conklin Stalwarts Leader - Roscoe Conklin For traditional politics and political machines

Pretend to be in favor of reform Half Breeds Leader-James G. Blaine Pretend to be in favor of reform

His Fraudulency

Lemonade Lucy

Election of 1880 Republicans agree on Candidate James Garfield-Half Breed VP Chester A. Arthur-Stalwart

Garfield Wins!!!

“I am a Stalwart, and Arthur is now President”

Chester A. Arthur Signs Pendleton Act

Election of 1884 Republicans dump Arthur- too independent

Select: James G. Blaine The Plumed Knight

Reform minded Republican say they will support honest Democrat Mugwumps

Democrats select: Grover Cleveland Reform Governor of New York

Ma, Ma, where is Pa? Off to the White House Ha Ha Ha

Blaine, Blaine, James G. Blaine, Continental liar from the state of Maine!

Dr. Samuel Burchard Protestant Minister calls Democrats: “Party of Rum, Romanism and Rebellion”

Cleveland wins First Democrat since 1856

Legislation

Civil Service Reform *Patronage had become a problem *No long term employees with experience *Politicians force to do party business instead of government business

Federal Employees 1865 53,000 1884 131,000 1891 166,000

Pendleton Act 1883 *Removes some jobs from patronage – based on merit 1883 15,000 jobs 1897 86,000 jobs

Sets up Civil Service Commission to oversee

Anti-Trust Legislation *15 states passed laws against combinations threat restrict competition

New Jersey & Delaware pass laws to give corporations special privileges

Sherman Anti-Trust Act *passed to quiet popular demand on Congress *don’t expect it to stop monopolies *by 1901 only 14 suits filed by government

Senator John Sherman of Ohio

U.S. v. E. C. Knight Co. *Trust controlled 98% of refined sugar *Court declared government has only power to regulate trade, not business itself

Railroads *some states attempt to regulate railroads *Wabash v. Illinois States taking Federal power

Interstate Commerce Act – 1887 *bans discrimination in rates *publish rate schedules *File rates with government *All rates reasonable & just

Interstate Commerce Commission *required courts to enforce its rulings *Courts not cooperative

1888 Election Grover Benjamin Cleveland Harrison

Key Issue Tariff

Cleveland wins popular vote by 100,000 votes Loses electoral vote 233 to 168

Cleveland wins 1892 rematch 277 145

Panic of 1893 *Corporate bankruptcies cause Stock Market collapse *Banks invested in Market fail *Tightens credit *Low farm prices

8000 Businesses 156 Railroads 400 Banks 20% of workers lose jobs FAIL

1894 Jacob Coxey Ohio Populist Calls for public works programs to create jobs and help people

Coxey’s Army

THE SILVER ISSUE

*US recognized both Silver & Gold *by 1870 reduced value of Silver *1873 discontinue Silver

Who wants law changed? *Silver mine owners *farmers

Sherman Silver Purchase Act Buys silver with gold Won’t coin it

Cleveland feels it helps cause Panic Gets it repealed Splits Democratic Party

Election of 1896 Vs.

Speaker of the House Thomas Reed of Maine

Marcus Hanna William McKinley wants

Democrats East vs. West & South

West & South want: *tariff reduction *income Tax *control of Trusts *FREE SILVER

Cross of Gold Speech

William Jennings Bryan

McKinley runs Front Porch Campaign $7 million

Bryan travels country Spends: $300,000

McKinley wins 271 to 176

National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry

The Grange 1867 *originally a social organization *shifts to economic issues during recession of 1870’s *organizes stores, warehouses and insurance

Grange has limited success economically and politically As prosperity returns, membership declines

Dance at Pittsfield Grange Hall

Farmer’s Alliance

Mary E. Lease “Raise less corn and more Hell”

The Colored Farmers' Alliance Excluded on the basis of race from membership in the Southern Farmers' Alliance, blacks formed a separate organization in Texas in 1886, comprised of both black farmers and farm workers.

In 1891, a strike of cotton pickers was called, but coordination was poor and the strike failed. Colored Alliance also lost support when the Populist Party arose.

Farmer’s Alliance and Knights of Labor People’s Party or Populist Party July 1892 Farmer’s Alliance and Knights of Labor

Election of 1892 James Weaver-wins electoral votes in 6 states 3 Governors 5 Senators 10 Congressmen

Populist main support is farmers Can’t get larger coalition *no common interest with labor *South-include Blacks?

Populist Platform *Low interest loans *Gov. warehouses for crops *Abolition of National banks *Direct election of Senators *Regulation of RR *Income Tax *Silver