1. Politics of the Gilded Age

2. Politics of the Gilded Age
inaction, corruption characterized politics
Political parties evenly divided, difficult to pass major reforms
No president won a majority of popular vote
Grover Cleveland only Democrat president of era, known for honesty and integrity

3. Corruption Plagues National Politics
Government officials routinely received bribes and kickbacks
Americans expected little support from federal government, came from state and local level
Strong relationship between big business and government

4. Republicans vs. Democrats
Protestant
African Americans
Supported nativitist causes
Supported prohibition
Northern Support
Southern whites
Immigrants
Catholics
Jews
Freethinkers

5. Political Cartoonist Raise the Alarm

6. Spoils System Dominates Government
Political parties provided services to poor- exchange for votes
Political parties provided jobs for party supporters- spoils system
Helped make parties powerful
Voter participation grew because of system (70-80% turnout common)
Congress most powerful branch during Gilded Age

7. Civil Service Reform
Civil Service= government jobs, jobs that stay the same regardless of political party in power
Assassination of President James Garfield by person that did not receive government job led to civil service reform
Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883)-
established Civil Service Commission
wrote civil service exam
passing exam not political connections got people government jobs
reduced power of spoils system

8. Economic Challenges Tariff , Monetary policy main economic issues
Monetary policy -based on gold standard, gold basis of nations currency
1873 issue of silver as money debated
International trade, big business thought silver as money would undermine economy
There was more silver than gold
Farmers wanted silver as money- create inflation, raise farm prices, create more money to pay debts

9. Economic Challenges
Tariff – created early 1800’s to protect manufacturing, agricultural products and prices
Republicans favored tariff promote industry, jobs
Democrats opposed said kept cost of goods high, harder for farmers to sell products abroad

10. Farmers and Populism

11. Farmers Face Many Problems
1880’s, early 1890’s low crop prices, increased costs, mounting debt for many farmers
Nature in the form of droughts, harsh winters, boll weevil infestation also hurt farmers
Cotton, corn, wheat prices fell
New machinery, seed, livestock prices went up
Many farmers mortgaged farms to pay for goods
Farmers had little influence on political system

12. Farmers Face Many Problems
Blamed big business, railroads, banks
Railroads charged high rates
Banks charged high interest
Grain elevators charged high rates for storage
Sharecroppers faced dishonest landlords, merchants

13. Farmers Organize Created network of organizations
Granger Movement (1867) founded in Minnesota
National political organization that fought for farmers rights
Goals
Government reform
Education new farming techniques
Regulate shipping, grain elevator rates

14. Farmers Organize
Mid 1870’s Midwestern states pass reform, “Grange Laws”
Limits on freight, grain storage rates
Grangers pressured the national government to establish Interstate Commerce Commission to regulate railroad rates

15. Farmers Organize
Grange declined late 1870’s
Replaced by Farmers Alliances
Grassroots movement
Goals
Collectively sell crops
Establish banks to provide low interest loans
Wanted to push costs down, bring prices up
Alliances remained segregated across the south, eventually kept them from gaining political power

16. Populist Party
Formed 1892
New political party put pressure on two major political parties with demands
Wanted to change unresponsive government, inadequate money supply, political corruption
Largest support came form farmers in the south, Midwest and West
Urban workers support- both fought industrial elite

17. Populist Party
Goals
Unlimited coinage of silver
Graduated income tax
Government ownership of telegraph, railroad companies
Bank regulation
Populist politicians pushed for cooperation between the races

18. Populist Party
Election 1892 –Populist governors, senators, congressmen elected across nation (concentrated in the west and Midwest)
1894 won more elections, popularity grew

19. Economic Crisis and Populism’s Decline
1893 four year depression began
Draw of Populism grew
Election 1896
Democrats nominate William Jennings Bryan because of his “Cross of Gold” speech at the Democratic Convention
Speech attacked the gold standard
Brought many to the populist cause
Bryan grew in popularity
Made him a national political figure

20. Bryan and the Election of 1896
Populist party backed Bryan
Democratic party supported free silver, many populist proposals, took on Bryan as their candidate
Bryan’s campaign was first to tour nation and directly speak to people
Lost election to William McKinley

21. Legacy of Populism
New era in American politics, ascendancy of urban, middle class voter, diminishing voter turnout, rise of new political issues- industrial regulation and welfare of labor
Message on monetary policy did not appeal to urban workers
Decision to endorse Bryan led to decline in Populist Party, many became Democrats
More flexible monetary policy adopted by government
Candidates campaigned directly to people
Many reforms Populists advocated were adopted by Progressives in early 20th century