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TH1/31-F2/1/13; M1/9/12 ; F1/7/11; M1/11/10; W 1/14/09

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 ?. I. Political Trends. A. Democrats Dem support

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TH1/31-F2/1/13; M1/9/12 ; F1/7/11; M1/11/10; W 1/14/09

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  1. TH1/31-F2/1/13; M1/9/12; F1/7/11; M1/11/10; W 1/14/09 Politics in Late 19th Century (Ch. 21.1-21.3; pp. 585-605) Q: What were the most important political issues of the late 19th 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 • HofRsplit 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) • Mugwumpssupported 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 • overspeculationof 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 3rd 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

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