National Politics in the Gilded Age

Shift in National Focus Prior to Civil War/Reconstruction – Divisive issues such as slavery and reconstruction policies consumed nation Post Reconstruction – Away from national politics to the economy, industrialization, and labor

Gilded Age Gilded: to cover in a THIN layer of gold Expression coined by Mark Twain in a novel by the same name Mostly show, little substance

Gilded Age Era of forgettable presidents None of whom served consecutive terms Did not take stance on controversial issues Largely ignored problems of industrialization and urbanization

Why a Stalemate? Prevailing political ideology of the time Campaign tactics Party patronage

Political Ideology Supported laissez faire economics Regulatory laws (Interstate Commerce and Sherman Antitrust) not strictly enforced by government do little government

Campaigns Close contests between two major parties Neither party generally dominated both Presidency and Congress (Harrison did ) Stayed away from controversial issues Stuck to their main bases

Political Bases Republicans – Reformers and African Americans (Past) – Bloody Shirt Support(Civil War) – Business – Middle Class – Anglo-Saxon Protestants Democrats – The Solid South – Big city political machines – Catholics – Lutherans – Jews

Party Patronage Politics meant giving and receiving of government jobs Republican Factions formed around patronage – Stalwarts vs. Half-Breeds

Republican Factions Stalwarts Leader: Senator Roscoe Conkling of NY Supporters of patronage and machine politics Half-Breeds Leader: James G. Blaine Attempted to obtain civil service reform More moderate group

And then there was the……Mugwumps Bolted the Republican party in the election of 1884 to support Democratic candidate Grover Cleveland

Key Issues of Gilded Age Civil Service Reform Currency Tariffs

Civil Service Reform Pendleton Act of 1881 established Civil Service Commission – Created system for job application process for government jobs Politicians depended more upon wealthy donors rather than machines to fund campaigns

Currency Hard Money (Gold) Favored by business leaders and bankers More stability Gold standard increased value of U.S. money But there was less money in circulation Coinage Act of 1873 Soft Money (Gold, Silver, and Greenbacks) Favored by farmers and poor laborers Less Stable Soft money would increase money supply to allow farmers to pay costs and debts But value of money would decrease

Tariffs Protective Tariffs meant to protect American businesses Republicans during Gilded Age continued tradition of high tariffs – McKinley Tariff: Highest Tariff in American History

Harrisons Billion Dollar Congress The Nations first billion dollar budget – McKinley Tariff – Increase in Civil War pensions – Sherman Antitrust Act – Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890 – Public Morality (bans on alcohol) Democrat Grover Cleveland wins in 1892

Now You Must….Create You must take a stand on one of the issues that divided politicians during the Gilded Age You need to have three main talking points Create an outline for a speech that you would make in support of or against the…. – Coinage Act of 1873 – Pendleton Act of 1881 – McKinley Tariff of 1890