National Politics in the Gilded Age, UNIT 6 CH. 19

Gilded Age Limited Government ◦Fit with laissez-faire economics and social Darwinism Campaign strategies ◦Parties avoided taking strong positions on issues ◦Showmanship and free food and beer Patronage ◦Became the center of politics ◦Stalwarts, Halfbreeds, Mugwumps

Presidential Politics Rutherford B. Hayes ( ) ◦Ended reconstruction ◦Attempted to reform patronage system ◦Vetoed efforts to restrict Chinese immigration James Garfield (1881) ◦Gave reformers most patronage jobs ◦Was shot and killed by a Stalwart Chester A. Arthur ( ) ◦Stalwart turned reformer ◦Pendleton Civil Service Act

Congressional Leaders John Sherman Thomas Reed James Blaine ◦Reshaped Republicans into a business oriented party

Election of 1884 Republican-James Blaine Democrat-Grover Cleveland Cleveland became the first Democratic president in 28 years

Cleveland’s First Term  Believed in limited government  Tried to lower tariff rates, but Congress refused  Interstate Commerce Act ◦Established the right of the federal government to supervise railroad activities ◦Interstate Commerce Commission ◦Didn’t gain power to be effective until 1906  Dawes Act  Broke up reservations into individual farms

Gilded Issues Civil Service ◦Pendleton Civil Service Act ◦authorized a bipartisan civil service commission to make appointments to federal jobs based on examination performance Money Supply ◦Debtors, farmers, start-up businesses want an increase in supply provided by paper money and unlimited minting of silver coins ◦Bankers, creditors, investors want currency backed by gold only

Gilded Issues Greenbacks ◦Political party that supported paper money ◦Congress passes Specie Resumption Act in 1875 and takes green backs out of circulation Silver ◦Bland-Allison Act resumed the coining of silver, but in limited amounts Tariffs ◦High tariffs- raised prices for consumers, caused retaliation ◦Low tariffs- lowered prices for consumers, reduced government revenue

Harrison and the Billion-Dollar Congress Election of 1888 ◦Cleveland (D)and low tariffs v. Benjamin Harrison (R) and high tariffs ◦Harrison won as did Reps in both houses McKinley Tariff Act raised tariff rates Sherman Silver Purchase Act ◦Increased coinage of silver Election of 1892 ◦Cleveland v. Harrison ◦Cleveland wins and lowers tariffs

Rise of Populists Populist Party Platform ◦unlimited coinage of silver (increase $ supply) ◦Graduated income tax ◦Federal loan program ◦Popular election of U.S. Senators ◦Restriction of president and VP to one term ◦Eight hour work day ◦Restrictions on immigration ◦State laws through initiative and referendum

Depression Politics Panic of 1893 ◦Stock market crashed because of over speculation and over building by railroads ◦Silver mines closed as people began trading paper money for gold, undermining the gov. program of purchasing silver Wilson-Gorman Tariff ◦Moderately reduced tariff rates and created a 2% income tax on incomes of$2,000 or more Coxey’s Army ◦Thousands of unemployed march on Washington to demand federal works program ◦Jacob Coxey and other leaders were arrested

Election of 1896 Democrats/Populists- William Jennings Bryan ◦Cross of Gold Speech ◦Speech for bimetallism telling the bankers and businessmen,“…you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.” ◦Unlimited coinage of silver Republicans-William McKinley ◦Supported by businessman Marcus Hanna ◦Used money raised by wealthy supporters to sell McKinley through mass media

McKinley’s Presidency Gold discovered in Alaska increased money supply Farm prices rose, factory production increased, stock market climbed Gold became the official standard of U.S. currency Active leadership turned the U.S. into an emerging world power

Significance of 1896 election Ended political stalemate Ushered in an era of Republican dominance of the executive and legislative branches End of Populism Urban areas became dominant in deciding elections McKinley became the first modern president