The Politics of the Gilded Age

1. The Politics of the Gilded Age Libertyville High School

2. Political Overview, 1876-1892 • Responsibilities of Gov’t • Deliver the mail • Collect taxes (taxes on businesses, tariff – no income tax) • Provide for a national defense • Carry out foreign policy • Administer Civil War pensions • Why not do more? • Little / no bureaucracy to do more • No political will to do more

3. Political Overview • GOP, Dem. parties very similar • Both supported: • growth of industry • Stable currency (specie) • Hostile to social, political extremism • How did people identify to party? • Who can get me a job? • Who can provide services? • Major difference: immigration • GOP: Feared, distrusted immigrants • Dems: saw immigrants as potential voters

4. Political Overview: Political Parties Democratic Bloc Republican Bloc • White southerners(preservation ofwhite supremacy) • Catholics • Recent immigrants(esp. Jews) • Urban working poor (pro-labor) • Most farmers • Northern whites(pro-business) • African Americans • Northern Protestants • Old WASPs (supportfor anti-immigrant laws) • Most of the middleclass

5. Political Overview: Voter Turnout • Intense voter loyalty, turnout during this era • Two party “balance” existed during this time

6. Rutherford B. Hayes • Promised to serve only one term • Domestic policy • Civil Service Reform, as a result of corruption of Grant presidency • Sent in the troops in response to RR strike and riots of 1877 • Angered workers (feared gov’t oppression) • Angered owners (feared revolution)

7. Election of 1880 • GOP considered former President US Grant for third term, before nominating Garfield, instead • Dems considered dozens of candidates, before picking former Union general Hancock • Minor parties • Greenback Party • American Party General Election ResultsGarfield (R): 214 ECV / 4.45 million Hancock (D): 155 ECV / 4.44 million Garfield won popular vote by less than 2000 votes, out of 9.2 million cast!!

8. James A. Garfield • Born in Ohio • Attorney, until CW • Rose to rank of Major General, fighting in West • Post CW, congressman • Involved in Credit Mobiler scandal • Part of Commission that gave 22 ECV to Hayes in 1876 • Assassinated July 2, 1881 (4 months after inauguration) by frustrated job-seeker

9. Chester A. Arthur • Attorney before becoming VP • Got start in politics through NY machine • Ironically, became “Father of Civil Service” upon becoming President • Felt he should continue Garfield’s work • Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act • Established US Civil Service Commission, exam • (Eventually) Ended spoils system for federal government • 1883: 14k out of 117k became civil service jobs • 1900: 100k out of 200k became civil service jobs

10. Election of 1884 • Campaign of personal scandal and mudslinging • GOP Blaine was corrupt congressman • D Cleveland had child out of wedlock • In last week of campaign, GOP (protestant) preacher insulted Catholics (“rum, Romanism, and rebellion”) • Cost Blaine NY (and election) Results Cleveland (D) 219 ECV / 4,874,621 Blaine (R) 182 ECV / 4,848,936 NY’s 36 ECV went to Cleveland by 1,047 of 1.1 million cast

11. Grover Cleveland • Born in NJ, became attorney in NY • Elected governor of NY • First Democrat elected President since 1856 • Married Frances Folsom; first president to be married in White House • Reforms • As president, kept R gov’tees that were good workers • Signed Interstate Commerce Act into law • Forced RR companies to return 81 million acres of federal land

12. Grover Cleveland’s Reforms • Silver Standard • Q: US currency made w/ gold or gold & silver? • Problem: citizens paid w/ silver, foreign creditors demanded gold • Reduced US gold supply • Tariffs • Cleveland wanted lower tariff • Tariff at 47%! • $100 million gov’t surplus • Became issue in 1888 election

13. Election of 1888 • Candidates • Cleveland (D) • Benjamin Harrison (R) • Main issue: tariff • Protectionists (R) argued for high tariff to protect industry • Free traders (D) wanted open markets • Tariff issue took on ethnic tone (pro-British) • Lowlights of campaign • Widespread corruption (IN, NY) • British ambassador story Results Cleveland (D): 168 ECV / 5,534,488 Harrison (R): 223 ECV / 5,443,892 NY again the swing state (Irish vote)

14. Benjamin Harrison • Born in OH, moved to IN • Fought in Civil War (Union) • Elected to US Senate • Economic issues dominated presidency • Sherman Antitrust Act (1890) • First attempt to take on trusts, monopolies • McKinley Tariff (1890) • Raised tariff higher, to average of 48%! • Hurt farmers, consumers • Helped big business • Sherman Silver Purchase Act • Gov’t required to purchase 4.5 million oz. per month • Silver bought with notes that could be redeemed for silver or gold • Caused Panic of 1893 (people turned in silver treasury notes for gold) • GOP lost big in 1890 congressional elections

15. Election of 1892 • Cleveland (D) nominated, again! • Harrison (R) nominated • Weaver nominated by Populist Party • Main issues: tariffs and the gold standard • Populists championed silver standard (helped debtors in West) • Cleveland kept S, picked up NE as staunch gold guy • Clean, quiet election Results Cleveland 277 ECV / 5,556,918 Harrison 145 ECV / 5,176,108 Weaver 22 ECV / 1,041,028

16. Cleveland’s Second Term • Economic Panic of 1893 • Stock market crashed, gold reserves low due to free coinage of silver • Congress repealed free coinage of silver • Silver as basis of US currency ended • Tariff reform • Cleveland reduced tariff; to make up shortfall, 2% income tax on $4k + passed • Labor unrest • Coxey’s Army, demanding government aid (New Deal) • Pullman strike: Cleveland ordered strikers to return to work; sent in troops when they refused