1. Gilded Age Politics (1869 – 1900)

2. Corruption of the Grant Administration Gould – Fisk gold scheme Gould – Fisk gold scheme Credit Mobilier scandal Credit Mobilier scandal –Union Pacific RR used construction company in which several congressmen were major stockholders

3. Civil Service Reform President Garfield assassinated in 1881 by disappointed office seeker President Garfield assassinated in 1881 by disappointed office seeker Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883 exams for some govt. jobs Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883 exams for some govt. jobs President Cleveland adds 12,000 jobs to list President Cleveland adds 12,000 jobs to list

4. Growth of Populism Populist party started 1892 Populist party started 1892 Farmers angry over: falling prices, scarce money for loans, high debt Farmers angry over: falling prices, scarce money for loans, high debt Farmers demand: Farmers demand: –Tariff reduction –Graduated income tax –Public ownership of railroads –Popular election of senators –Currency reform

5. Currency Reform contd. 1873 paper money replaces silver 1873 paper money replaces silver 1890 Sherman silver purchase act = more $$ in circulation (inflation) means more purchasing power 1890 Sherman silver purchase act = more $$ in circulation (inflation) means more purchasing power 1893 panic severely reduced farmers purchasing power 1893 panic severely reduced farmers purchasing power

6. Protest – Coxey’s Army Thousands of protesters march on Washington DC Thousands of protesters march on Washington DC Demand government create new jobs and pay with paper money Demand government create new jobs and pay with paper money

7. Election of 1896 Democratic party and the Populist Party (3 rd party) join in support of Wm. Jennings Bryan Democratic party and the Populist Party (3 rd party) join in support of Wm. Jennings Bryan Republicans support Wm. McKinley Republicans support Wm. McKinley

8. Bryan v. Darrow “The Monkey Trial” Tennessee Tennessee Trial of the Century Trial of the Century Bible v. Science Bible v. Science God v. Man God v. Man Creation Theory v. Evolution of the Species Creation Theory v. Evolution of the Species

9. William McKinley Very conservative supported business and high protective tariffs Very conservative supported business and high protective tariffs 1896 -1901 1896 -1901 Elected as a Republican Elected as a Republican Industry v. Agriculture Industry v. Agriculture Killed in Buffalo NY at Pan American Exposition Killed in Buffalo NY at Pan American Exposition