1. TH1/31-F2/1/13; M1/9/12; F1/7/11; M1/11/10; W 1/14/09 Politics in Late 19 th Century (Ch. 21.1-21.3; pp. 585-605) Q: What were the most important political issues of the late 19 th Century? Q: How were the issues dealt with?

2. I.Political Trends A. Democrats Dem support – “solid South” – urban areas political machines (Jim Pendergast, KC; Boss Tweed NYC) some exceptions - George Cox - Cin (Rep.) B. Republicans Rep. support – rural, small-town NE, MW – Nativists, businessmen, C.W. veterans (GAR) – “waving the bloody shirt” - C.W. reminder

3. I.Political Trends (cont.) C. General Trends often focused on swing states - CT, NJ, NY, IN, IL high voter turnout – why? – often 80% (compare to today) focused on local issues rather than national little national legislation - Why? – laissez-faire people looked local, state rather than national

4. I.Political Trends (cont.) D. National Elections close Presidential elections many Rep. Presidents, but most were close – only Dem was Cleveland - 1884, 1892 Congress split – Reps usually controlled Senate – HofR split by parties

5. II. Major Issues Overview several main issues: – money – spoils system/civil service reform – tariffs – pensions – farmers

6. II. Major Issues (cont.) A. Money (cont.) paper vs. specie Greenback Party mostly popular among farmers – wanted more money to lessen debt (despite inflation) silver as secondary gold standard - bimetallism – Bland-Allison Act (1878) – Sherman Silver Purchase Act (1890) increased money supply but not as much as hoped

7. II. Major Issues (cont.) A. Money (cont.) gold standard supported by corporate interests and wealthy – wanted to ensure money values Gold Standard Act of 1900 – confirms gold as basis of currency – $150M in gold reserves – worried about future panics

8. II. Major Issues (cont.) B. Spoils System/Civil Service Reform Republican split – Stalwarts (Roscoe Conkling, Grant, Arthur) vs. – Half Breeds (Garfield, James G. Blaine) Mugwumps supported Cleveland in 1884 Civil Service Reform League - 1881 culminated in Pendleton Civil Service Act

9. II. Major Issues (cont.) C. Tariffs generally high protective tariff source of federal income (pre-income tax) favored by corporations many farmers wanted lower tariffs support generally depended on district

10. II. Major Issues (cont.) D. Pensions GAR pensions many were not legitimate few wanted to tackle veteran support (esp. Reps) Cleveland tried to reform – vetoed bill for all disabilities – restricted to disabilities due to war injuries Pension Act of 1890 – liberal pension plan passed under Harrison

11. II. Major Issues (cont.) E. Farmers Grange Movement – informal began in MW – 1867 – social as well as political – fueled by Panic of 1873 Farmer’s Alliance - 1873 – major concerns? – RR, silver, money, tariff culminated in Populist Party earlier supported Greenback Party

12. II. Major Issues (cont.) F. Segregation/Jim Crow Dem Redemption gov’t confirmed by Plessy v. Ferguson – “separate but equal” – de jure segregation voting restrictions – poll tax – literacy tests – grandfather clause

13. III. Panic of 1893 overspeculation of RR – collapse of Phi. & Reading RR lack of credit, not enough money available – currency under $100M devastating depression set in, 1893-97 unemployment hits 20% (highest to date) Close: How would people respond to issues & concerns? – Rise of Populists to act on agrarian discontent

14. F2/1/13; T1/10/12; H1/15/09 Populist Movement & Election of 1896 Ch. 21.4; pp. 605-607

15. I. Rise of Populists Intro/Overview – agrarian discontent – RR’s, tariffs, currency (silver, paper) A.Earlier Movements 1. Grange - 1867 social as well as political & economic informal, regional state level success, not nat’l

16. A. Earlier Movements (cont.) 2. Farmer’s Alliance - 1873 MW to S. S. was segregated: White (Farmers All.); Black (Colored Farmers All.) 3. Populists Tom Watson (GA) briefly integrated

17. B. Farmer’s Concerns more silver coinage income tax gov’t ownership of telephone, telegraph, RR 8-hour work day direct election of U.S. Senators 1-term limit for Pres. initiative & referendum (more democratic) limits on immigration little action taken at time, but most would happen under Prog.

18. C.Coxey’s Army Jacob Coxey - OH businessman & Populist wants gov’t to fund public works threatens march on DC Coxey’s Army grew (several 1000 men) arrested on Capitol grounds many programs used under New Deal

19. D.Election of 1892 Cleveland (Dem.) defeats Benjamin Harrison (Rep.) Significant 3 rd party James B. Weaver - Populist candidate Over 1M votes (8.5%) and 22 electoral votes - mostly in MW (KN)

20. II. Election of 1896 William McKinley (“Front Porch” campaign) (Rep.) Mark Hanna – campaign manager William Jennings Bryan “Gold Tongued Orator of the Platte” (Dem – Neb.) “Cross of Gold” Speech nominated by Dems & Populists McKinley wins 271-176 electoral (51-48 pop.) WJB: 3-time loser (1896, 1900, 1908) Wizard of Oz comparison & discussion