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The Gilded Age

The Gilded Age. 1877-1900. Essential Question. What political problems did Americans face at the turn of the 20th century?. Gilded Age Politics. Forgettable presidents Stalemate/gridlock/divided gov’t WHY? Political ideology, campaign tactics, party patronage No 2 consecutive terms

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The Gilded Age

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  1. The Gilded Age 1877-1900

  2. Essential Question • What political problems did Americans face at the turn of the 20th century?

  3. Gilded Age Politics • Forgettable presidents • Stalemate/gridlock/divided gov’t • WHY? Political ideology, campaign tactics, party patronage • No 2 consecutive terms • Politicians ignore problems • Do little gov’t: laissez-faire • Game of gaining office and giving jobs

  4. Campaign Strategy • Close elections-D & R did not take positions on issues • Election Campaigns • Bands, flags, parades, buttons, picnics, free beer, speeches • Strength : Dem-cities, Rep-State • Rep: Upper/Middle white protestants, AA • Dem: Solid South, political machines, immigrants, states’ rights, limited gov’t

  5. Party Patronage/Spoil System • Patronage- giving jobs to ppl you know • Party loyalty • Roscoe Conkling (R)- NY Senator • Stalwart (spoil) • James Blaine • Halfbreeds (no spoil) • Mugwumps

  6. Election 1876

  7. Rutherford B. Hayes • Compromise of 1877 • Reestablish an honest gov’t • Temperance reformer • Lemonade Lucy (wife, no alcohol to White House) • Vetoed Chinese immigration

  8. Election of 1880

  9. James Garfield • Ohio • Halfbreed • VP: Chester Arthur, stalwart • Ppl flocked to DC for jobs (100,000 jobs) • Charles Guiteau, stalwart killed Garfield 1881

  10. Chester Arthur • Distanced from himself from Stalwarts • Supported Civil Service • Approved the development of modern US Navy • Questioned high protective tariffs

  11. Election of 1884

  12. Grover Cleveland • Honest, frugal • NY Gov • 1st Dem since 1856 • Limited gov’t • Interstate Commerce Act 1887 (ICC) • Fairs just and reasonable • Dawes Act 1887 • Money Issue • Also # 24th

  13. Money Supply Problems • Question: Whether or not to expand the money supply? • Created tension between the haves and have nots • Expansion of $$$$ • Debtors, farmers, start-up businesses • Help them get $ lower interest rates • Create inflation, easier to pay off loans faster • NO Expansion of $$$ • Bankers, creditors, investors, established businesses • Wanted dollars back by gold, would hold value against inflation • Having less in circulation would raise/keep value

  14. Monetary & Tariff Issues Monetary Tariff Issue in 1888 Rep: High Tariffs Allow industries to grow Dem: Low Tariffs Increase prices of goods • Civil War: Greenbacks • Post Civil War: Retired • Crime of 1873: stopped silver coinage • Bland-Allison Tariff (1878): allowed limited coinage of silver each month • Rep: less money circulating • Dem: more money circulating

  15. Election of 1888

  16. Benjamin Harrison • 5’6 “Little Ben” • Grandson of William Henry Harrison • High Tariff • Republican dominated Congress 1889-1891

  17. Republican Dominance • An active Congress (Billion-dollar Congress) • McKinley Tariff 1890 (high tax on imports) • Increase monthly pension to vets • Sherman Antitrust Act 1890 • outlawing monopolies (trusts) • Sherman Silver Purchase Act 1890 • Increased coinage of silver (small amounts)

  18. Farmers Face Problems • Price of cotton • Abundance caused prices to drop • Big business blamed (railroad) • High interest loans • Created farmer debt

  19. Populist Party (1892) • Why did they form? • Discontent farmers • Agrarian industry & wealth distribution • Political Platform • Unlimited silver • Public ownership of railroads, telegraph, telephone systems • 8 hour work days • Loans for farmers • Who are they? • National Farmers Alliance • 1 million supporters • What did they support/want? • Direct selection of Senators (17th Amendment) • Lower tariffs • Graduated income tax • New banking system

  20. Election of 1892 • James Weaver • (P)- 1 Million votes • Rematch • Cleveland won- McKinley Tariff was unpopular!

  21. Election of 1892

  22. Grover Cleveland • Democrat • Conservative w/ economy

  23. Panic of 1893… CAUSES • Over-speculation • Collapse of railroad industry • Silver Mines= Drop in value • Repeal of Sherman Silver Purchase Act • McKinley Tariff 1890

  24. still going ‘til 1897! EFFECTS • High unemployment (20%) • High foreclosures • Protests • Strikes • JP Morgan to the “rescue” with gold • Grover blamed

  25. During the Panic… • Wilson-Gorman Tariff (1894-1895) • Moderate reduction of tariff • 2% income tax on $2,000 • Average American < $1,000 • Coxey’s Army- The jobless on the march • 1894, Jacob Coxey (P) leads thousands to DC • Demands gov’t to spend money on public works to create jobs

  26. 1896: A Turning Point?!? • Cleveland’s handling of economy hindered party • 1894: Republican Congress • Populist on the rise

  27. Election of 1896 Democrats • Split b/w gold and silver • Convention dominated by pro-silver advocates • Unlimited coinage of silver (united Populists) Republicans • William McKinley (Ohio) • High tariff • Blamed Dems for Panic • Gold Standard

  28. Campaigning for 1896 Election Democrats • Bryan travelled • Gave +600 speeches • Young, energetic, positive attitude, good orator Republicans • Marcus Hanna • In charge of donations • Spent $ on propaganda • McKinley travelled less • Front-porch campaign

  29. Election of 1896

  30. William McKinley • Bryan lost b/c • Rise in wheat prices • N employers threatening employees • No state in NE • Took office as economy was recovering • 1897: Gold discoveries in Alaska (led to inflation) • Dingley Tariff 1897 • Gold Standard • Isolation-foreign relations • President during the Spanish-American War

  31. Significance of the 1896 Election Short Term • End of stalemate • Populist Party declined • sharp division in society between urban and rural interests Long Term • Republican dominance • Populist ideology-Progressive action • Urban dominance • Modern and world power

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