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?

I. Political TrendsA. 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

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

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– HofR split by parties

II. Major Issues• Overview• several main issues: – money– spoils system/civil service reform– tariffs– pensions– farmers

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

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

II. Major Issues (cont.)

B. Spoils System/Civil Service Reform• Republican split– Stalwarts (Roscoe Conkling, Grant, Arthur) vs. – Half Breeds (Garfield, James G. Blaine)

• Mugwumps supported Cleveland in 1884• Civil Service Reform League - 1881• culminated in Pendleton Civil Service Act

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

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

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

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

III. Panic of 1893

• overspeculation of 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

F2/1/13; T1/10/12; H1/15/09

Populist Movement & Election of 1896

Ch. 21.4; pp. 605-607

I. Rise of Populists

Intro/Overview– agrarian discontent– RR’s, tariffs, currency (silver, paper)

A. Earlier Movements1. Grange - 1867• social as well as political & economic• informal, regional• state level success, not nat’l

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

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.

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

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)

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