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The Paradox of 19th Century Party System

Explore the strength and stability of the two-party system in the late 19th century, where the federal government did little of importance. Discover the electoral divisions, party loyalties, and well-defined voting blocs that shaped the political landscape of the time.

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The Paradox of 19th Century Party System

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  1. Chapter 19APUSHMrs. Price A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. – Herm Albright

  2. The Paradox 2 parties enjoyed strength & stability But, federal govt did little of importance

  3. The Party System Electoral Stability 1. Electoral was evenly divided - 16 States: Republican; 14 States: Democratic; only 5 were in doubt 2. Loyalties were stable

  4. The Party System High Turnout - voter turnout averaged over 78% for presidential elections (1860-1900) -60-80% for congressional & local elections

  5. Party Identification Region most important - White Southerners: Democrats - Northerners: Republican Religion & ethnicity important One major issue divided parties: immigration

  6. Well-Defined Voting Blocs DemocraticBloc RepublicanBloc • White southerners(preservation ofwhite supremacy) • Catholics • Recent immigrants(esp. Jews) • Urban working poor (pro-labor) • Most farmers • Northern whites(pro-business) • African Americans • Northern Protestants • Old WASPs (supportfor anti-immigrant laws) • Most of the middleclass

  7. National Govt in Late 19th Century Did little of importance Did aid & support economic development - subsidies to railroads - sided with business over unions

  8. Exceptions Pendleton Act (1883): 1st national civil service law Interstate Commerce Act (1887): banned discrimination in rates between long & short hauls; required railroads publish rates; created ICC

  9. Exceptions cont. • Sherman Antitrust Act (1890): declared • trusts illegal if they interfered with free • trade – very weak law; often used against • unions McKinley Tariff (1890): highest protective tariff ever passed

  10. Unimpressive Presidents Garfield (Arthur) Cleveland B. Harrison Cleveland (again)

  11. James Garfield Elected in 1880 Republican Republicans also took control of both houses of Congress Supported civil service reform Half-Breeds vs. Stalwarts Assassinated July 2, 1881-died 3 months later – weird but true!

  12. Chester Arthur Garfield’s VP Kept most of Garfield’s appointees Supported civil service reform Lost his bid for re-election because of opposition of the Mugwumps

  13. Grover Cleveland Elected in 1884 Democrat Reputation as enemy of corruption

  14. Benjamin Harrison Elected in 1888 Won electoral vote but not popular Corrupt election Republican

  15. Grover Cleveland (Again!) Elected 1892 Democrats won control of Congress Blamed for 1893 Panic Used Federal troops in 1894 Pullman Strike Defended the gold standard

  16. Tough Times for Farmers

  17. The Grange Founded in 1860s Social, economic & political activities Created cooperative stores, creameries, elevators, warehouses, insurance co.s Cooperative political action to stop practices of railroads Worked to elect state legislators Gained control of legislatures in most midwestern states

  18. Won new state regulations of the railroads -“Granger Laws” Most regulations were destroyed by courts Power declined in late 1870s

  19. Farmers’ Alliances Began in South in 1875 By 1880: 4 million members Formed cooperatives, established stores, banks, processing plants Women played a prominent role (Mary Lease) Began to be politically active in late 1880s Won control of state legislatures in 12 states

  20. The People’s Party (Populists) Created in 1892 Appealed primarily to small farmers, sharecroppers Efforts to attract workers failed Did attract miners Leaders were members of rural middle class

  21. Populist Platform Proposed a system of subtreasuries which would replace cooperatives Govt would establish a network of warehouses; farmers could use crops as collateral to borrow $ from govt at low rates & wait for the price of goods to go up before selling Wanted to abolish national banks

  22. Populist Platform End the absentee ownership of land Direct election of US senators Regulation & govt ownership of railroads, telephones, & telegraphs Demanded a graduated income tax & inflation of currency Demanded free silver Single term for President & VP

  23. Populist Candidates James Weaver Election of 1892 Received over 1 million votes & 22 electoral votes

  24. Election of 1892

  25. Crisis of 1890s Panic of 1893 1. Depression, business & bank failures, high unemployment 2. Showed how dependent US economy was on the railroads 3. Lasted until 1901 Labor Unrest & Violence (Strikes of 1894)

  26. The Silver Question What would form the basis of the dollar? Historically, gold & silver had been used (16 to 1) 1870: Value of silver increased 1. Worth more to use silver in other ways 2. Law discontinued coinage of silver

  27. Soon market value of silver fell 1. It was available for coinage again 2. Law still prevented it from being used Push to change law – farmers & silver miners

  28. William McKinley Elected in 1896 Republican Vs. William Jennings Bryan: “Cross of Gold Speech” Big issue: silver question

  29. Gold Triumphs Over Silver • 1900  GoldStandard Act • confirmed thenation’s commitment tothe gold standard. • A victory for the forces ofconservatism.

  30. Wizard of Oz & Populism Dorothy: good people of midwest Emerald City: Washington, DC Yellow brick road: gold Tin Man: industrial worker Scarecrow: farmer Cowardly lion: W.J. Bryan

  31. Why Did Populism Decline? • The economy experienced rapid change • Era of small producers and farmers was disappearing • Race divided the party, esp. in South • Populists were not able to break existing party loyalties • Most of their agenda was co-opted by the Democratic Party

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