Gilded Age PoliticsGilded Age Politics

Hayes to ClevelandHayes to Cleveland

Issues and DebatesIssues and Debates

Alliance and People’s PartyAlliance and People’s Party

Party Politics in the Gilded Party Politics in the Gilded AgeAge

• High turn out, loyalty, enthusiasm, mostlyHigh turn out, loyalty, enthusiasm, mostly– white men votedwhite men voted

• GOP: national growth, high tariff, gold, civil GOP: national growth, high tariff, gold, civil rights, “bloody Shirt,” public morality, rights, “bloody Shirt,” public morality, internal improvementsinternal improvements

• Dems: South, West & urban, free trade, Dems: South, West & urban, free trade, silver, state’s rights, less governmentsilver, state’s rights, less government

• Convention system: party professionals Convention system: party professionals chose safe candidates they could trust. chose safe candidates they could trust.

Hayes to McKinley: Hayes to McKinley: modernization of the modernization of the presidencypresidency

• Hayes: Compromise of 1877, some Hayes: Compromise of 1877, some civil service reform, Presumptive act, civil service reform, Presumptive act, goldgold

• Garfield: stalwarts v half breeds, dark Garfield: stalwarts v half breeds, dark horse, a lot of promise, assassinationhorse, a lot of promise, assassination

• Arthur: fights Conkling of NY, Arthur: fights Conkling of NY, Pendelton Act, new steel navy, vetoed Pendelton Act, new steel navy, vetoed ExclusionExclusion

Rutherford B. Hayes: 1876-Rutherford B. Hayes: 1876-18801880

James A. Garfield: 1880James A. Garfield: 1880

Garfield’s AssassinationGarfield’s Assassination

Chester A. Arthur: 1880-Chester A. Arthur: 1880-18841884

Issue Debate: TariffIssue Debate: Tariff

• The tariff, a tax on imports, was one of The tariff, a tax on imports, was one of the major issues of the Gilded Agethe major issues of the Gilded Age

• Republicans argued: It protects infant Republicans argued: It protects infant industry and jobs, promotes growth, industry and jobs, promotes growth, adds revenue for internal improvementsadds revenue for internal improvements

• Democrats argued: It hurts farmers, Democrats argued: It hurts farmers, raises prices, favors northern industry, raises prices, favors northern industry, sparks a trade war, and increases sparks a trade war, and increases corruption. corruption.

Cleveland 84, 92: Harrison Cleveland 84, 92: Harrison 8888• Cleveland: first Democrat since Civil Cleveland: first Democrat since Civil

War, 1884 election, Interstate War, 1884 election, Interstate Commerce Act, cuts pension, vetoes Commerce Act, cuts pension, vetoes 2/3 of bills, tries to lower tariff, pro 2/3 of bills, tries to lower tariff, pro gold, won the popular vote three times.gold, won the popular vote three times.

• Harrison: Billion Dollar Congress, Harrison: Billion Dollar Congress, McKinley Tariff, Sherman Antitrust, McKinley Tariff, Sherman Antitrust, Sherman Silver Purchase.Sherman Silver Purchase.

Grover Cleveland:1884-1888Grover Cleveland:1884-1888 1892-1896 1892-1896

Benjamin Harrison: 1888-Benjamin Harrison: 1888-18921892

Issue Debate: Silver v. GoldIssue Debate: Silver v. Gold

• The monetary debate was the other major The monetary debate was the other major issue of the Gilded Ageissue of the Gilded Age

• Gold Bugs: GOP argued it creates more Gold Bugs: GOP argued it creates more confidence in the $, increases the value of the confidence in the $, increases the value of the $, more stable, and same as Europe. Low $, more stable, and same as Europe. Low inflation helped banks.inflation helped banks.

• Silver Bugs: Dems argued inflation helps Silver Bugs: Dems argued inflation helps indebted farmers, raises prices of crops, and indebted farmers, raises prices of crops, and raises wages. It helped western mine owners. raises wages. It helped western mine owners.

Major Gilded Age Major Gilded Age LegislatureLegislature• Pendelton Act (83): created civil servicePendelton Act (83): created civil service• Interstate Commerce Act (87): CongressInterstate Commerce Act (87): Congress

– Created Int Com Comm to regulate the railroads.Created Int Com Comm to regulate the railroads.– Outlawed pools and rebates. New role for gov. Outlawed pools and rebates. New role for gov.

• McKinley Tariff Act (90): raised tariffs 50%McKinley Tariff Act (90): raised tariffs 50%• Sherman Silver Purchase (90): Treasury Sherman Silver Purchase (90): Treasury

bought bought – $4.5 million silver a month, treasury notes pay $4.5 million silver a month, treasury notes pay – in silverin silver

• Sherman Antitrust Act (90) : 1Sherman Antitrust Act (90) : 1stst federal federal – Attempt to regulate monopolies. Attempt to regulate monopolies.

The Farmers Alliance, Peoples The Farmers Alliance, Peoples PartyParty

1890: GOP loses House and Senate1890: GOP loses House and Senate

Farmer’s Problems: 30 years of dropping Farmer’s Problems: 30 years of dropping prices, debt, railroad rates, some do wellprices, debt, railroad rates, some do well

Alliance: Grange, National & South, Macune, Alliance: Grange, National & South, Macune, sub treasury, Tom Watson, help farmerssub treasury, Tom Watson, help farmers

People’s Party: The Omaha Platform: subPeople’s Party: The Omaha Platform: sub

treasury, unions, silver, gov own railroadstreasury, unions, silver, gov own railroads

banks & telephone, income tax, banks & telephone, income tax,

1892: People’s best year, Cleveland returns1892: People’s best year, Cleveland returns