Politics and Reform.

1. Politics and Reform. A. Congress emerges as the dominant force in US politics in 1870's - 1900 (weak presidents) 1. Both parties tend to avoid major issues and confrontations. Each continue to count on their traditional support base… a. Republicans: Northeast and upper Mid West. b. Democrats: “Solid South’ and the Cities.

2. 2. Political equilibrium hits Federal politics. Repubs in White House, Dems control Congress a. In cities, Party “Bosses” are in control…aided by leaders in the various ethnic enclaves

3. B. Three national issues do emerge in this “Gilded Age” of American history. 1. Tariff. Reps want high tariff to protect industry, Dems thought it too much gov't, hurts trade 2. Money. Hard Money VS Soft Money. This is one of the major issues of the era. a. Hard money advocates: all issued paper money backed up by gold. - Belief: would limit the supply of money and keep prices from getting too high.

4. b. Soft money advocates: paper money not necessarily backed up by gold…maybe silver? - Belief: this would allow for more money in circ, so easier and cheaper loans c. Hard money people have more power…so the nation stays on the gold standard, but new large discoveries of silver help push many to the soft money side.

5. 3. Civil Service. Both parties used patronage jobs (the Spoils System), so reform was difficult a. James Garfield was shot by Charles Guiteau …Guiteau was a Stalwart and Garfield was a Half-Breed. b. Stalwarts liked the Spoils System….Half-Breeds wanted reform The assassination results in the Pendleton Act

6. a. Pendleton Act is passed in 1883. It requires exams for some fed.jobs…it gradually takes patronage jobs out of the political arena. C. Reform Movements: More middle class Americans join social reform movements. 1. Temperance grows in power. WCTU led by Frances Willard. It is now a national movement

7. 2. The Settlement House Movement reflected the idealism of Middle Class reformers a. Started by Jane Addams. They were a series of homes where immigrant women could be educated (English, nutrition, health care), day-cares, etc. b. These places allowed for college-educated women to find meaningful work.

8. 3. Charles Darwin’s ideas will spawn several social movements. a. Social Darwinism: Those most fit by nature are best suited to handle wealth and power. - “The Gospel of Wealth” was coupled with this. God supports wealth accumulation. Wealth is a sign of "Godliness" and money can do a lot of good. -. Social Darwinism was also used to justify imperialism, racism, etc. b. Reform Darwinism. Those most fit by nature have obligation to help those who are not. This fuels interest in Socialist ideals.(Bellamy's “Looking Backward” is a bestseller)

9. 4. The Social Gospel Movement tied Christianity to social consciousness. As more churches get involved, more Middle class citizens drawn into reform movements.

10. 5. Women's Suffrage. “NAWSA” unifies various groups of the women's right's movement into one political organization. They concentrate on one issue…The Vote. a. NAWSA uses a variety of arguments to push for suffrage. If women voted, they… - Encourage laws protecting women from various things and help other social reforms - Native-born American women would cancel out immigrant slum male votes! b. The Women’s Suffrage movement is beginning to gain a large national following.

11. II. The 1890's: This pivotal decade see key events shape the nation as we leave the 1800’s A. Republicans in Congress will have an aggressive legislative agenda. Key bills include…

12. 1. Civil War Pensions bill for Union vets and dependents (now getting up there!) 2. Sherman Anti-Trust Act: aimed at breaking up trusts. Not enough teeth to it. a. U.S. v. E.C. Knight – Sugar company not in violation of Sherman even though it controlled 90% of refining

13. 3. The McKinley tariff is passed. Repubs & Big Business happy, farmers not (not protected) – high tariff 48% - contributes to Panic of 1893 4. The Sherman Silver Purchase is a partial compromise on the hard soft money issue….but the nation is still firmly on the gold standard….strains gold reserves (repealed eventually)

14. 5. Black Rights. For the 1st time since Reconstruction, Congress tires to reform black voting rights. - Repubs try to break the Democratic "Solid South:” no Jim Crow laws means blacks can vote! - Repubs dump in a deal to protect the McKinley tariff bill. This will be the last attempt of pro-black federal legislation for next 60 years.

15. B. In 1893, a massive Depression hits the US. It is the worst since the Panic of 1837 1. 1000's of factories close down, millions lose jobs. Most wealthy actually benefit! a. There are few support services. A lost job could mean starvation for a family.

16. b. President Cleveland (Democrat) does little to help the needy. This is typical of the era. But this is our nation’s worst depression to date, and social unrest begins to mount - “Coxey's Army”, a public march on Washington DC symbolizes America’s discontent Coxey is arrested, but the sheer size of the movement startles the nation.

17. c. Eventually Cleveland acts. He has the Sherman Silver purchase repealed , a and also blames the McKinley tariff. It does little to help…the popularity of the Democratic Party drops.

18. C. Election of 1896: This contest reflects the major issues facing the nation as we leave the 1800’s 1. The Populist Party. Forms in 1890’s in the Midwest from Grange and SFA organization a. In 1892, they entered their 1st national election. They run Union vet and Confed vet on the same ticket (DWTBS!). Their platform is pulled from the Ocala (SFA) platform

19. 1. Direct democracy (elections), Free coinage of silver (soft $), Gov't ownership of rail 2. They did well. 1 million+ votes in 1892 (4 states, 22 elect votes). Almost all Midwest. 3. The Populist message failed in South (too-pro-Black), urban (you want higher food prices?) But their success gets the attention of the Republicans and Democrats. b. In 1896, The Populist Party are hoping for even more power. They hold the ‘soft money” issue which has become popular among rural America.

20. 2. Republicans nominate William McKinley. They stick to Gold as only way to prosperity a. They are well supported by Big Business, who contributes heavily to the campaign. 3. Democrats, in a wild convention, nominate William Jennings Bryan of Nebraska. a. His "Cross of Gold" speech electrifies the Democrats, and seize the Soft money issue!

21. 4. The campaign features characteristics that will become common in elections in the 1900’s a. Bryan campaigns by train, a modern "meet the people" approach. His approach allows him to speak to enormous numbers of people. This will become a standard campaign approach. - Populists, feeling their “Soft Money” platform stolen, do not support Bryan much.

22. c. McKinley’s “Front Porch” campaign. Thousands of supporters are taken by train to his home in Ohio. The campaign paints him as the common man. It is bankrolled by Big Business (who also purchase media support). 5.. McKinley wins big. Bryan loses city vote: ”soft money/free silver” is no big deal to them. a. The election breaks up the stalemate of the last 30 years in Fed politics. The Republican party is firmly in control. They are seen as the party of national greatness and prosperity. - The Democrats: are reduced, for the time, to a sectional status. Stuck with Bryan until '12 - The Populists: and their message drop out of national prominence for now