1. Gilded Age Politics and the Populist Movement

4. The Gilded Age Why is it called the Gilded Age?
Characteristics of the Gilded Age
Corruption
Spoils system
Weak political leaders
Lousy presidents
high voter turnout

5. Rutherford B. Hayes
Civil Service Reform?

6. James Garfield/Chester Arthur
Assassination
Charles Guiteau
Chester A. Arthur
Pendleton Act
Garfield
Arthur

7. Problems of Farmers Difficulty of farmers Decline in commodity prices
International competition
Railroads
High tariffs
Debt
Inadequate currency

8. Organizations for Farmers
The Grange
1867 Oliver Kelley
Educating farmers
Regulation of railroads & grain elevator rates (Grange Laws)
Interstate Commerce Commission
The Farmer’s Alliance
Goals
Mary Elizabeth Lease

9. The Populist Movement Goals William Jennings Bryan
Free coinage of silver
One term for Pres
Popular election of senators
Secret ballot
An 8 hour workday
Nationalization of railroads
Immigration restriction
Income tax
William Jennings Bryan

10. “Cross of Gold”
If they dare to come out in the open field and defend the gold standard as a good thing, we shall fight them to the uttermost, having behind us the producing masses of the nation and the world. Having behind us the commercial interests and the laboring interests and all the toiling masses, we shall answer their demands for a gold standard by saying to them, you shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.

11. Election of 1896 Republicans Democrats Populists Outcome
William McKinley
Democrats
William Jennings Bryan
Cross of Gold
Populists
Outcome
McKinley