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Published byDerick Bridges Modified over 9 years ago
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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?
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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
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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
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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
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II. Major Issues Overview several main issues: – money – spoils system/civil service reform – tariffs – pensions – farmers
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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F2/1/13; T1/10/12; H1/15/09 Populist Movement & Election of 1896 Ch. 21.4; pp. 605-607
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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)
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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
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