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POLITICS OF THE GILDED AGE

POLITICS OF THE GILDED AGE. POPULIST MOVEMENT . FARMING DOMINATED THE LIVES OF MOST AMERICANS IN THE SOUTH AND WEST DURING TIMES OF DEPRESSION (1873 & 1893) FARMERS SUFFERED A GREAT DEAL FAILURE OF RAILROADS – CONSOLIDATION BY WEALTHY BUSINESS OWNERS COMPETITION OF OTHER FARMERS LOWER

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POLITICS OF THE GILDED AGE

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  1. POLITICS OF THE GILDED AGE

  2. POPULIST MOVEMENT FARMING DOMINATED THE LIVES OF MOST AMERICANS IN THE SOUTH AND WEST DURING TIMES OF DEPRESSION (1873 & 1893) FARMERS SUFFERED A GREAT DEAL • FAILURE OF RAILROADS – CONSOLIDATION • BY WEALTHY BUSINESS OWNERS • COMPETITION OF OTHER FARMERS LOWER • PRICES • BANKS FAILED – RECALLED LOANS

  3. FARMERS CALL FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO STABILIZE THE ECONOMY • REDUCE TARIFFS • PRICES OF FARM GOODS WAS HIGH • WORLD MARKET FOR AMERICAN GOODS • WAS LOW

  4. MONETARY POLICY (MONEY SUPPLY) • INCREASED MONEY SUPPLY = INFLATION • DECREASED MONEY SUPPLY = DEFLATION • FARMERS CALLED FOR INFLATION OF THE • ECONOMY • CHEAPER LOANS • HIGH PRICES FOR THEIR GOODS

  5. MONETARY POLICY GOLD STANDARD (GOLD BUGS) • REDUCED AMOUNT OF MONEY IN • CIRCULATION SILVER STANDARD (SILVERITES) • INCREASED MONEY IN CIRCULATION • BLAND-ALLISON ACT 1878 • CREATE MORE SILVER MONEY • SHERMAN SILVER PURCHASE ACT (1890) • INCREASED LEVEL OF SILVER • PURCHASED BY GOVERNMENT

  6. FARMERS PROTEST GROUPS THE GRANGE • FORMING OF COOPERATIVES • PRESSURED STATE LEGISLATURES TO REGULATE • BUSINESS

  7. FARMERS’ ALLIANCES • UNITING OF FARMERS IN DIFFERENT AREAS • OF UNITED STATES • CALLED FOR: • FEDERAL REGULATION OF RAILROADS • INFLATION • ANTITRUST LAWS • INCREASED FARM CREDIT

  8. GOVERNMENT ACTION INTERSTATE COMMERCE ACT • - GOVERNMENT COULD REGULATE • RAILROADS (SET PRICE LIMITS) • SHERMAN ANTITRUST ACT - ENABLED GOVERNMENT TO BREAK UP CERTAIN TRUSTS - PROVED VERY INEFFECTIVE - USED AT TIMES TO BREAK UP LABOR UNIONS

  9. FORMATION OF POPULISTS (PEOPLE’S PARTY) GROUP FORMED OUT OF THE CONSOLIDATION OF MANY FARMERS’ ALLIANCES GOALS: • INCREASING CIRCULATION OF MONEY • UNLIMITED MINTING OF SILVER • PROGRESSIVE INCOME TAX • GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP OF • COMMUNICATIONS AND RAILROADS • EIGHT –HOUR WORK DAY

  10. WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN • STRONG SUPPORTER • OF SILVER • GAVE FAMOUS • “CROSS OF GOLD” • SPEECH • NOMINATED FOR • PRESIDENT BY THE • DEMOCRATIC PARTY • THREE TIMES

  11. NATIONAL POLITICS POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE OF GILDED AGE • ERA OF LITTLE SUBSTANCE • ERA OF “FORGETTABLE” PRESIDENTS • TIME OF BOTH URBAN AND RURAL • PROBLEMS

  12. CLOSE ELECTIONS BETWEEN 1876-1892 • REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS • UNWILLING TO TAKE STRONG STANCES ON • MAJOR ISSUES • CONGRESS VERY DIVIDED (FEW • LEGISLATIONS PASSED)

  13. CORRUPTION IN THE GOVERNMENT * CREDIT MOBILIER SCANDAL - OUTSIDE CONTRACTOR – CHARGED LARGE SUMS FOR WORK DONE - GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TOOK BRIBES

  14. REPUBLICANS • CIVIL WAR VETERANS/AFRICAN AMERICANS/BIG BUSINESS/ MIDDLE CLASS/PROTESTANT DEMOCRATS • SOLID SOUTH/POLITICAL MACHINES/IMMIGRANTS/ URBAN WORKERS

  15. PRESIDENTS OF THE GILDED AGE

  16. RUTHERFORD B. HAYES - ENDED RECONSTRUCTION (REMOVAL OF TROOPS) - SOME CALL HIS ELECTION A “CORRUPT BARGAIN”

  17. JAMES GARFIELD • SUPPORTED USE OF SPOILS SYSTEM • REPUBLICAN PARTY DIVIDED INTO FACTIONS • STALWARTS AND HALF-BREEDS

  18. ASSASSINATED (JULY 2, 1881) BY CHARLES • GUITEAU (STALWART) • - GUITEAU UPSET OVER NOT RECEIVING • GOVERNMENT JOB • - SHOWED PROBLEM WITH PARTY • PATRONAGE • - ASSASSINATION LEADS TO PUBLIC • CRITICISM OF SPOILS SYSTEM

  19. CHESTER A. ARTHUR • VICE-PRESIDENT UNDER GARFIELD • PASSAGE OF PENDLETON CIVIL SERVICE ACT • TESTED ALL GOVERNMENT APPLICANTS • SET STANDARDS FOR GOVERNMENT JOBS • PRESIDENTS COULD NOT FIRE OFFICIALS FOR • POLITICAL REASONS

  20. GROVER CLEVELAND • FIRST DEMOCRAT TO WIN ELECTION SINCE • 1856 (JAMES BUCHANAN) • FIRST AND ONLY PRESIDENT TO BE ELECTED TO • TWO NON-CONSECUTIVE TERMS

  21. SUPPORTED THE LOWERING OF TARIFFS AND • GOVERNMENT REGULATION OF RAILROADS - PASSAGE OF INTERSTATE COMMERCE ACT 1887 (LIMITED SUCCESS) • PASSAGE OF DAWES SERVILITY ACT

  22. SERVED SECOND TERM DURING PANIC OF • 1893 - FAILED TO WIN SUPPORT OF WORKING CLASS AND FARMERS - UNEMPLOYED MARCHED ON WASHINGTON TO PROTEST (COXEY’S ARMY) - REPEALED SHERMAN SILVER PURCHASE ACT - SENT TROOPS TO CHICAGO TO END PULLMAN STRIKE

  23. BENJAMIN HARRISON • WINS ELECTION OF 1888 WITH HELP FROM BIG BUSINESS • FIRST “BILLION DOLLAR” CONGRESS • ACTS PASSED: • MCKINLEY TARIFF OF 1890 • CIVIL WAR VETERANS PENSIONS ACT • SHERMAN ANTI-TRUST ACT • SHERMAN SILVER PURCHASE ACT

  24. WILLIAM MCKINLEY • DEMOCRATS DIVIDED IN WHO TO NOMINATE • FOR ELECTION OF 1896 • PRO-GOLD – GROVER CLEVELAND • PRO-SILVER – WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN • BRYAN NOMINATED AND RUNS AGAINST • MCKINLEY • MCKINLEY TAKES ADVANTAGE OF BIG • BUSINESS MONEY TO CAMPAIGN

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