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Reminders. Vowell due tonight by midnight! Back to you by Tuesday Exam #1 – 2/27 – study group @ 415 Notes and study guide on website Begin reading Riis (Due 3/5) Writing activity out on Wednesday. National Politics in the Gilded age, 1877-1900. Politics in the Gilded Age.
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Reminders • Vowell due tonight by midnight! • Back to you by Tuesday • Exam #1 – 2/27 – study group @ 415 • Notes and study guide on website • Begin reading Riis (Due 3/5) • Writing activity out on Wednesday
Politics in the Gilded Age • “Gilded Age” – Mark Twain • Corruption and patronage • Weak presidents – “Do-Littles” or “Do Nothings” • Turned blind eye towards cities
Belief in Limited Government • Roots in: • Social Darwinism • Laissez-faire economics • Loose interpretation of govt. regulations • Weak laws passed by the govt.
Campaign Strategies • Democrats: • Began to attract Jewish and Catholic immigrants • Many believed in states rights • “Maintain the status quo” • Republicans – “waving the bloody shirt” • “Lincoln was shot by a Democrat” • Brass bands, free beer, picnics • Pro-business attitude • The North likes this
Party Patronage • Main objectives: • Gain office • Hold office • Provide jobs to party faithful • Get reelected as much as possible
Presidential Politics • Rutherford B. Hayes • Won disputed election of 1876 • Withdrew troops from South • Honest government • “Lemonade Lucy” • Vetoed certain immigration bills
Presidential Politics • James A. Garfield • Republican • Won Election of 1880 • Running mate – Chester A. Arthur • Patronage – 100,000 jobs • 1881 – Assassinated • Arthur becomes president
Presidential Politics • Chester A. Arthur • Better than expected • Developed modern Navy • Questioned tariffs • Republicans went crazy! • Not reelected in 1884
Major Issues • Civil Service Reform • Pendleton Act of 1881 • Federal applicants • Tested and competed for jobs • Tried to eliminate patronage • Applied to 10% of all federal employees
Major Issues • Money Question: • Should we expand the money supply? • Increased tension • “Haves” – rich, industrialists • Cash backed by gold • “Have nots” – farmers, workers • Lower interest rates • Pay off loans with inflated money
Major Issues • Farmers • The Grange (1868) • Oliver H. Kelley • Social outlet for farmers • 1873 – Grange in every state • Set up farmer cooperatives • Made it illegal for RRs to fix prices
Major Issues • Farmers (cont.) • Interstate Commerce Act (1886) • Rates must be “reasonable and just” • Set up the Interstate Commerce Commission • Actually helped RRs, not farmers • Made rates stable in favor of RRs
Major Issues • Farmers (cont.) • National Alliance • Direct election of Senators • Lowered tariffs • Graduated income tax • New banking system • Increase money supply • Gave rise to the Populist Party
Money, Money, Money • Greenbacks • Issued during Civil War for emergency funds • 1875 – Specie Resumption Act • Withdrew greenbacks from circulation • Greenback Party • James B. Weaver – Iowa • Election of 1878 – 1 million votes
Growth of Discontent • Election of 1888 • Grover Cleveland (D) • Protested high tariffs • Wanted lower interest rates • Appealed to farmers and workers • Benjamin Harrison (R) • High tariff • Pro-business
Accomplishments Under Harrison • McKinley Tariff (1890) – Raised taxes on imports to 48% • Increased pension to CW veterans • Wanted to protect black voting rights
Election of 1892 • James Weaver – Populist • Grover Cleveland – Democrat • Benjamin Harrison - Republican
Panic of 1893 • Railroad overbuilding – AGAIN!!! • Money not backed by strong currency • Worst depression in U.S. History
Coxey’s Army • 1894 – Jacob Coxey • Led thousands of unemployed to DC • Demanded jobs • $500 million for public utilities jobs • Trespassing and arrested