Chapter 19 APUSH Mrs. Price A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. – Herm Albright

The Paradox 2 parties enjoyed strength & stability 2 parties enjoyed strength & stability But, federal govt did little of importance But, federal govt did little of importance

The Party System Electoral Stability Electoral Stability 1. Electoral was evenly divided - 16 States: Republican; 14 States: Democratic; only 5 were in doubt Democratic; only 5 were in doubt 2. Loyalties were stable

The Party System High Turnout High Turnout - voter turnout averaged over 78% for presidential elections ( ) % for congressional & local elections

Party Identification Region most important Region most important - White Southerners: Democrats - Northerners: Republican Religion & ethnicity important Religion & ethnicity important One major issue divided parties: immigration One major issue divided parties: immigration

Well-Defined Voting Blocs Well-Defined Voting Blocs Democratic Bloc Republican Bloc  White southerners (preservation of white supremacy)  Catholics  Recent immigrants (esp. Jews)  Urban working poor (pro-labor)  Most farmers  Northern whites (pro-business)  African Americans  Northern Protestants  Old WASPs (support for anti-immigrant laws)  Most of the middle class

National Govt in Late 19 th Century Did little of importance Did little of importance Did aid & support economic development Did aid & support economic development - subsidies to railroads - sided with business over unions

Exceptions Pendleton Act (1883): 1 st national civil service law Pendleton Act (1883): 1 st national civil service law Interstate Commerce Act (1887): banned discrimination in rates between long & short hauls; required railroads publish rates; created ICC Interstate Commerce Act (1887): banned discrimination in rates between long & short hauls; required railroads publish rates; created ICC

Exceptions cont. McKinley Tariff (1890): highest protective tariff ever passed McKinley Tariff (1890): highest protective tariff ever passed Sherman Antitrust Act (1890): declared trusts illegal if they interfered with free trade – very weak law; often used against unions

Unimpressive Presidents Garfield (Arthur) Garfield (Arthur) Cleveland Cleveland B. Harrison B. Harrison Cleveland (again) Cleveland (again)

James Garfield Elected in 1880 Elected in 1880 Republican Republican Republicans also took control of both houses of Congress Republicans also took control of both houses of Congress Supported civil service reform Supported civil service reform Half-Breeds vs. Stalwarts Half-Breeds vs. Stalwarts Assassinated July 2, 1881-died 3 months later – weird but true! Assassinated July 2, 1881-died 3 months later – weird but true!

Chester Arthur Garfield’s VP Garfield’s VP Kept most of Garfield’s appointees Kept most of Garfield’s appointees Supported civil service reform Supported civil service reform Lost his bid for re- election because of opposition of the Mugwumps Lost his bid for re- election because of opposition of the Mugwumps

Grover Cleveland Elected in 1884 Elected in 1884 Democrat Democrat Reputation as enemy of corruption Reputation as enemy of corruption

Benjamin Harrison Elected in 1888 Elected in 1888 Won electoral vote but not popular Won electoral vote but not popular Corrupt election Corrupt election Republican Republican

Grover Cleveland (Again!) Elected 1892 Elected 1892 Democrats won control of Congress Democrats won control of Congress Blamed for 1893 Panic Blamed for 1893 Panic Used Federal troops in 1894 Pullman Strike Used Federal troops in 1894 Pullman Strike Defended the gold standard Defended the gold standard

Tough Times for Farmers

The Grange Founded in 1860s Founded in 1860s Social, economic & political activities Social, economic & political activities Created cooperative stores, creameries, elevators, warehouses, insurance co.s Created cooperative stores, creameries, elevators, warehouses, insurance co.s Cooperative political action to stop practices of railroads Cooperative political action to stop practices of railroads Worked to elect state legislators Worked to elect state legislators Gained control of legislatures in most midwestern states Gained control of legislatures in most midwestern states

Won new state regulations of the railroads - “Granger Laws” Won new state regulations of the railroads - “Granger Laws” Most regulations were destroyed by courts Most regulations were destroyed by courts Power declined in late 1870s Power declined in late 1870s

Farmers’ Alliances Began in South in 1875 Began in South in 1875 By 1880: 4 million members By 1880: 4 million members Formed cooperatives, established stores, banks, processing plants Formed cooperatives, established stores, banks, processing plants Women played a prominent role (Mary Lease) Women played a prominent role (Mary Lease) Began to be politically active in late 1880s Began to be politically active in late 1880s Won control of state legislatures in 12 states Won control of state legislatures in 12 states

The People’s Party (Populists) Created in 1892 Created in 1892 Appealed primarily to small farmers, sharecroppers Appealed primarily to small farmers, sharecroppers Efforts to attract workers failed Efforts to attract workers failed Did attract miners Did attract miners Leaders were members of rural middle class Leaders were members of rural middle class

Populist Platform Proposed a system of subtreasuries which would replace cooperatives Proposed a system of subtreasuries which would replace cooperatives Govt would establish a network of warehouses; farmers could use crops as collateral to borrow $ from govt at low rates & wait for the price of goods to go up before selling Govt would establish a network of warehouses; farmers could use crops as collateral to borrow $ from govt at low rates & wait for the price of goods to go up before selling Wanted to abolish national banks Wanted to abolish national banks

Populist Platform End the absentee ownership of land End the absentee ownership of land Direct election of US senators Direct election of US senators Regulation & govt ownership of railroads, telephones, & telegraphs Regulation & govt ownership of railroads, telephones, & telegraphs Demanded a graduated income tax & inflation of currency Demanded a graduated income tax & inflation of currency Demanded free silver Demanded free silver Single term for President & VP Single term for President & VP

Populist Candidates James Weaver James Weaver Election of 1892 Election of 1892 Received over 1 million votes & 22 electoral votes Received over 1 million votes & 22 electoral votes

Election of 1892

Crisis of 1890s Panic of 1893 Panic of Depression, business & bank failures, high unemployment 2. Showed how dependent US economy was on the railroads 3. Lasted until 1901 Labor Unrest & Violence (Strikes of 1894) Labor Unrest & Violence (Strikes of 1894)

The Silver Question What would form the basis of the dollar? What would form the basis of the dollar? Historically, gold & silver had been used (16 to 1) Historically, gold & silver had been used (16 to 1) 1870: Value of silver increased 1870: Value of silver increased 1. Worth more to use silver in other ways 2. Law discontinued coinage of silver

Soon market value of silver fell Soon market value of silver fell 1. It was available for coinage again 2. Law still prevented it from being used Push to change law – farmers & silver miners Push to change law – farmers & silver miners

William McKinley Elected in 1896 Elected in 1896 Republican Republican Vs. William Jennings Bryan: “Cross of Gold Speech” Vs. William Jennings Bryan: “Cross of Gold Speech” Big issue: silver question Big issue: silver question

Gold Triumphs Over Silver  1900  Gold Standard Act  confirmed the nation’s commitment to the gold standard.  A victory for the forces of conservatism.

Wizard of Oz & Populism Dorothy: good people of midwest Dorothy: good people of midwest Emerald City: Washington, DC Emerald City: Washington, DC Yellow brick road: gold Yellow brick road: gold Tin Man: industrial worker Tin Man: industrial worker Scarecrow: farmer Scarecrow: farmer Cowardly lion: W.J. Bryan Cowardly lion: W.J. Bryan

Why Did Populism Decline? The economy experienced rapid change The economy experienced rapid change Era of small producers and farmers was disappearing Era of small producers and farmers was disappearing Race divided the party, esp. in South Race divided the party, esp. in South Populists were not able to break existing party loyalties Populists were not able to break existing party loyalties Most of their agenda was co-opted by the Democratic Party Most of their agenda was co-opted by the Democratic Party