Protest and Reform

1. Protest and Reform Growing agricultural problems for the nation’s farmers created the conditions for discontent and political turmoil.

2. I. Hard Times Down on the Farm • Last 30 years of the 19th century were not good ones for farmers • American farmer was losing economic, political and social power • Major shifts occurring in the way Americans made money

3. II. Reasons for these Agricultural Troubles • Drop in Farm Prices • Increasing Costs • High Tariffs • Inadequate Currency --The “Crime of ’73” • Gradual erosion of political power and leadership

4. II. Reasons for Agricultural Troubles (cont.) • Gradual erosion of social power and leadership • New Business practices • National recessions • Problems with “middlemen” • Unforgiving environment • Ingrained tradition of rugged individualism and physical isolation

5. III. Agricultural Organization to Deal with Discontent • The Grange (1867) -- “cost-side” solutions • The Greenback Party (1877) -- “price-side” solutions • The Alliance Movement (1880’s) --Mary Elizabeth Lease • The national Populist Party (1892)

6. IV. The Omaha Platform (1892) • Government ownership of railroads • Graduated income tax • Direct Election of Senators • The Secret Ballot • Sub-treasury to secure cheap loans • Expansion of currency • Shorter industrial work week

7. IV. Omaha Platform (cont.) • Free and Unlimited Coinage of Silver • William Harvey’s Coin’s Financial School (1894) • Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900)

8. V. The Politics of “The Gilded Age” • “Gilded Age” politics • Major campaign issues • Even division of power between the parties • Ideal presidential candidate • Alliances between government and businessmen were common

9. V. “Gilded Age” Politics (cont.) • High voter turnout during the late 19th century • The typical late 19th century Republican • The typical late 19th century Democrat

10. VI. Reform and Presidential Politics

11. A. The Election of 1880 • Garfield (R-Ohio) vs. Winfield Scott Hancock (D-Pa) • Garfield’s assassination • Arthur = better than expected • Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883)

12. B. The Election of 1884 • Republicans nominated James G. Blaine (Maine) • The rise of the “Mugwumps” • Democrats nominated Grover Cleveland (NY) • The 1884 Campaign • Cleveland’s First Term in Office • Called for Tariff Reform

13. C. The Election of 1888 • Cleveland (D-NY) vs. Benjamin Harrison (R-IN) • The Campaign and the Results of the Election • Harrison’s Presidency • “Billion Dollar” Congress of 1890 • McKinley Tariff

14. D. The Election of 1892 • Cleveland vs. Harrison again • Strong Populist showing by James Weaver (Iowa) • Problems for Populists • Cleveland’s Second Administration • The Panic of 1893 • Coxey’s Army

15. E. The Election of 1896 • Currency = major issue of the campaign • Democrats nominated William Jennings Bryan of Nebraska -- “Cross of Gold” Speech at Chicago convention • The Populist Dilemma

16. E. The Election of 1896 (cont.) • Republicans nominated William McKinley (Ohio) • Reasons for Election Results • Political Significance of this election • McKinley’s Presidency • The Currency Act of 1900 • Currency and Tariff reform swallowed up by calls for war