Chapter 20

1. Chapter 20 The Political Realignment of the 1890’s

2. Politics of Stalemate Politics still restricted to white males. Democratic Party recovered quickly after the Civil War. Washington becomes less important and state governments become more important. States set up to investigate and regulate railroads and factories. Supreme Court cases lead to the setting up of the Interstate Commerce Commission. The office of the president reaches it lowest point under Johnson. Hayes ends Reconstruction, Garfield brought power back to the leadership, Arthur pushed for strong navy and civil service reform, and Cleveland would bring back hands off government.

3. Republicans in Power: The Billion Dollar Congress 1888- Republicans get control of the White House and Capitol Hill. The High Tariff Party: The Union army are paid their pensions. The Sherman Anti-Trust Act would regulate big business, and the Sherman Silver Purchase would limit the amount of silver the government could buy each month. Paper money was issued based on the gold or the silver. The 1890 Elections: Republicans pass strong policies such as Sunday closing laws, Prohibition, and mandatory use of English in Public Schools. The programs would make it into law, but the party was crushed in the elections of 1890.

4. The Rise of the Populist Movement The Populist Movement: The National Farmers’ Alliance and Industrial Union had been pulling in unhappy farmers from the South and West. Farmers unhappy about low crop prices, high railroad rates, and bad mortgages. In reality many farmers were doing well, even able to mechanize to improve income. The general tone was one of depression, depending on the region. Many were just tired of those in the city and having their kids leave for the metropolis. The movement began with the Grange and other farmer’s movements. The Alliance would demand many things, low tariffs, federal income tax, direct elections of senators, and regulation of the railroad. The Southern Alliance would soon give up on the Democrats and form the Populist Party.

5. The Crisis of the Depression The Panic of 1893: The failure of a major railroad company caused many to dump their stock. The government feared bankruptcy over the issue and the stock market hit an all time low. Conditions would be worse in 1894 due to drought. 2 million were left without jobs. Coxey’s Army: Jacob Coxey led an army of unemployed into Washington to demand relief from the depression. Pullman Strike: Eugene Debs and the American Railway Union close down railroads in the West to protest wage cuts and lay offs. Federal troops were brought in and the strike came to a violent end. United Mine Workers lead a strike pitting “old” miners vs. “new” miners. The strike would end violently. President Cleveland would blame the silver for the depression because all of the gold had left the treasury. He would make it a political issue, but would not have much luck. Cleveland’s failure with the depression would lead the country to break the deadlock and get solely behind the Republicans.

6. Changing Attitudes A depression went on more and more factories would hire women and children because the worked for less. Even after the depression. Literature would lead a charge in showing the true struggles of the people at that time. Writers such as Mark Twain would write about people and the daily struggle while using the true voice of the nation.

7. The Election of 1896 Americans in the South and West would push for the free coinage of silver and believed it would end the depression. It was the symbol of America. Republicans nominate William McKinley who promises to bring back the gold standard. The Democrats would split over the issue and nominate William Jennings Bryan who was a crowd pleaser with his “Cross of Gold” speech. The populist party would stand behind Bryan who promised a return to older values, rural values. McKinley would stand behind the strong urban movement and the industrial society. McKinley would win easily and the Populist Party would disappear.