Gilded Age Politics Gilded Age Politics CC.. 1876—19001876—1900

Gilded Age PoliticsGilded Age Politics The Gilded AgeThe Gilded Age by Mark by Mark

Twain and Charles Warner Twain and Charles Warner (1873)(1873)

Political equilibriumPolitical equilibrium Civil service reform, Civil service reform,

currency, and the tariff currency, and the tariff

Gilded Age PoliticsGilded Age Politics Strict ConstructionistsStrict Constructionists Commander in ChiefCommander in Chief Enforcer of laws passed by Enforcer of laws passed by

CongressCongress Head of political partyHead of political party

Gilded Age PoliticsGilded Age Politics High Voter Participation— High Voter Participation—

Why?Why? (1) People believed that the (1) People believed that the

issues were importantissues were important (2) People believed that their (2) People believed that their

votes countedvotes counted (3) Politics = Entertainment(3) Politics = Entertainment

Gilded Age PoliticsGilded Age Politics Involved electorate, but what Involved electorate, but what

determined how it voted?determined how it voted? RepublicansRepublicans: Protestants of : Protestants of

English and German descent, English and German descent, Southern Blacks, and Union Civil Southern Blacks, and Union Civil War Veterans. Ohio River Valley, War Veterans. Ohio River Valley, the West, and New Englandthe West, and New England

Gilded Age PoliticsGilded Age Politics DemocratsDemocrats: Southern Whites, : Southern Whites,

Roman Catholics, Jewish Roman Catholics, Jewish people, immigrants under the people, immigrants under the influence of party bosses.influence of party bosses.

Campaigns—Campaigns—RepublicansRepublicans:: The Bloody ShirtThe Bloody Shirt Veterans’ PensionsVeterans’ Pensions

Gilded Age PoliticsGilded Age Politics NativismNativism Campaigns—Campaigns—DemocratsDemocrats:: Republicans will take your Republicans will take your

booze awaybooze away Played to Race in the SouthPlayed to Race in the South Maintained that Republicans Maintained that Republicans

were corruptwere corrupt

Gilded Age PoliticsGilded Age Politics Why the push Why the push

for for Civil Service Civil Service ReformReform??

President President Ulysses S. Grant Ulysses S. Grant (R) (1822-1885) (R) (1822-1885) (1869-1877)(1869-1877)

Gilded Age PoliticsGilded Age Politics PatronagePatronage Roscoe Roscoe

Conkling—Conkling— StalwartStalwart James James

Blaine—Blaine— Half-BreedHalf-Breed

Gilded Age PoliticsGilded Age Politics

President President Rutherford B. Rutherford B. Hayes (R) Hayes (R) (1822-1893) (1822-1893) (1877-1881)(1877-1881)

Gilded Age PoliticsGilded Age Politics President President

James A. Garfield James A. Garfield (R) (R) (1831-1881) (1831-1881) (1881)(1881)

Garfield was shot on 2 July 1881 and died on 19 September Garfield was shot on 2 July 1881 and died on 19 September

Gilded Age PoliticsGilded Age Politics

A disgruntled A disgruntled patronage seeker, patronage seeker, Charles J. Guiteau Charles J. Guiteau (1840?-1882), (1840?-1882), assassinated assassinated GarfieldGarfield

Gilded Age PoliticsGilded Age Politics President President

Chester A. Chester A. Arthur (R) Arthur (R) (1830-1886) (1830-1886) (1881-1885)(1881-1885)

Gilded Age PoliticsGilded Age Politics Pendleton Civil Service Act Pendleton Civil Service Act

(1883) “Merit-based system”(1883) “Merit-based system” Put approximately 14% of Put approximately 14% of

Federal Jobs under classified Federal Jobs under classified services; jobs were obtained services; jobs were obtained through competitive through competitive examinations. examinations.

Gilded Age PoliticsGilded Age Politics The TariffThe Tariff By 1888, over 4,000 items By 1888, over 4,000 items

imported into the US had imported into the US had duties of roughly 45%.duties of roughly 45%.

ProtectionismProtectionism Created tensions between Created tensions between

industry and agricultureindustry and agriculture

Gilded Age PoliticsGilded Age Politics Arthur appointed a special Arthur appointed a special

Tariff Commission (1882)Tariff Commission (1882) Recommended lowering the Recommended lowering the

tariff 20-25%tariff 20-25% ““Riders”Riders” Mongrel Tariff (1883)Mongrel Tariff (1883)

Gilded Age PoliticsGilded Age Politics The Underwood Tariff (1913)The Underwood Tariff (1913) Income Taxes (XVI Amendment Income Taxes (XVI Amendment

1913)1913) CurrencyCurrency debtors vs. creditorsdebtors vs. creditors

Legal TenderLegal Tender—US can —US can require require creditors to creditors to accept paper accept paper money as money as payment for payment for debt. Thedebt. The

Fed printed Fed printed $450,000,000$450,000,000GreenbacksGreenbacks

Gilded Age PoliticsGilded Age Politics Hepburn v. Hepburn v.

GriswoldGriswold (1870) (1870) Chief Justice Chief Justice

Salmon P. Chase Salmon P. Chase (1808-1873)(1808-1873)

Specie Specie Resumption Act Resumption Act (1874)(1874)

Coinage Act Coinage Act (1873)(1873)Sherman Silver Sherman Silver Purchase Act Purchase Act (1890)—required (1890)—required Federal Federal Government to Government to buy 4.5 million buy 4.5 million ounces of silver ounces of silver each month with each month with Federal Bank Federal Bank NotesNotes

The Agrarian RevoltThe Agrarian Revolt (1) High railroad rates in farming (1) High railroad rates in farming

regionsregions (2) Overcharged and ripped off by (2) Overcharged and ripped off by

middlemenmiddlemen (3) Hurt by high tariff (3) Hurt by high tariff (4) Victimized by eastern bankers(4) Victimized by eastern bankers (5) Not enough money(5) Not enough money

The Agrarian RevoltThe Agrarian Revolt The GrangeThe Grange The Farmers’ The Farmers’

AllianceAlliance CooperativesCooperatives Crop Sub-Crop Sub-

TreasuriesTreasuries The PopulistsThe Populists

The Agrarian RevoltThe Agrarian Revolt

Mary E. Mary E. Lease Lease (1850-1933)(1850-1933)

The Agrarian RevoltThe Agrarian Revolt Populist Platform endorsed at Populist Platform endorsed at

the Party Convention, Omaha, the Party Convention, Omaha, Nebraska 4 July 1892Nebraska 4 July 1892::

(1) Crop sub-treasury(1) Crop sub-treasury (2) Free and unlimited coinage (2) Free and unlimited coinage

of silver at 16 to 1of silver at 16 to 1 (3) Graduated income tax(3) Graduated income tax

The Agrarian RevoltThe Agrarian Revolt (4) Nationalization of (4) Nationalization of

railroads, telegraphs, and railroads, telegraphs, and telephonestelephones

(5) Eight-hour workday(5) Eight-hour workday (6) Immigration restrictions(6) Immigration restrictions (7) Initiative, Referendum, (7) Initiative, Referendum,

and Recalland Recall

The Agrarian RevoltThe Agrarian Revolt (8) Australian Ballot(8) Australian Ballot (9) Direct election of United (9) Direct election of United

States SenatorsStates Senators (10) At least $50.00 in (10) At least $50.00 in

circulation circulation per capitaper capita

The Agrarian RevoltThe Agrarian Revolt Presidential Presidential

Election of 1892Election of 1892 James B. James B.

Weaver Weaver (1833-1912) (P)(1833-1912) (P)

Carried Carried Colorado, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Idaho, Kansas, and Nevadaand Nevada

The Agrarian RevoltThe Agrarian Revolt Presidential Presidential

Election of Election of 18961896

William William Jennings Bryan Jennings Bryan (D) (D) (1860-1924)(1860-1924)

The Agrarian RevoltThe Agrarian Revolt

William William McKinley (R) McKinley (R) (1843-1901) (1843-1901) (1897-1901)(1897-1901)

Bryan lost the election. Why?Bryan lost the election. Why?

BryanAltgeld

The Agrarian RevoltThe Agrarian Revolt Exuded Protestant evangelismExuded Protestant evangelism Republicans would not join the Republicans would not join the

Populist/Democrat fusionPopulist/Democrat fusion Many believed he was Many believed he was

communistic or anarchistic; communistic or anarchistic; American labor did not join the American labor did not join the American farmer American farmer

Legacies of the 1896 Legacies of the 1896 ElectionElection

A new campaigning styleA new campaigning style Ascendancy of the industrial over Ascendancy of the industrial over

the agriculturalthe agricultural Beginning of the end of American Beginning of the end of American

mass political participationmass political participation Decline of Party and the rise of Decline of Party and the rise of

Special Interest GroupsSpecial Interest Groups

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era The desire to use government The desire to use government

as an agency of human welfareas an agency of human welfare Antecedents of ProgressivismAntecedents of Progressivism:: (1) Movement owed a great (1) Movement owed a great

deal to Populismdeal to Populism (2) Social Critics and Writers—(2) Social Critics and Writers—

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era Individuals described by Individuals described by

Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt as the as the “lunatic fringe of muckrakers”“lunatic fringe of muckrakers”

aa. . Henry Demarest LloydHenry Demarest Lloyd used used articles to attack monopoly articles to attack monopoly including, “Story of a Great including, “Story of a Great Monopoly” in Monopoly” in Atlantic MonthlyAtlantic Monthly (1881)(1881)

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era b. b. Ida M. TarbellIda M. Tarbell

also targeted John also targeted John D. Rockefeller with D. Rockefeller with her her History of the History of the Standard Oil Co.Standard Oil Co.

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era

c. c. Lincoln SteffensLincoln Steffens wrote about wrote about municipal corruption in municipal corruption in Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis for Pittsburgh, and St. Louis for McClure’sMcClure’s, , Everybody’sEverybody’s, and , and Cosmopolitan Cosmopolitan

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era Four features of Progressivism:Four features of Progressivism: DemocraticDemocratic Direct primariesDirect primaries Initiative, referendum, and Initiative, referendum, and

recallrecall Income Taxes (XVI Amendment Income Taxes (XVI Amendment

1913)1913)

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era Direct election of US Senators Direct election of US Senators

(XVII Amendment 1913) (XVII Amendment 1913) Government efficiencyGovernment efficiency City ManagerCity Manager Staunton, Virginia (1908)Staunton, Virginia (1908) National Association of City National Association of City

ManagersManagers

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era Governor Robert Governor Robert

M. “Fighting Bob” M. “Fighting Bob” La Follette La Follette (R) (1855-1925)(R) (1855-1925)

Legislative Legislative Reference BureauReference Bureau

““Wisconsin idea”Wisconsin idea”

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era RegulationRegulation Increased tendency to direct Increased tendency to direct

some business activities some business activities through federal regulationsthrough federal regulations

Social JusticeSocial Justice Settlement House movementSettlement House movement

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era

Jane Jane Addams Addams (1860-1935)(1860-1935)

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era

Ellen G. Ellen G. Starr (1860-Starr (1860-1940)1940)

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era Hull House Hull House

Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (1889)Illinois (1889)

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era The National Child Labor The National Child Labor

Committee (1904)Committee (1904) By 1914, 35 state legislatures By 1914, 35 state legislatures

had passed laws prohibiting had passed laws prohibiting children under age fourteen children under age fourteen from workingfrom working

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era Florence Kelly Florence Kelly

(1859-1932)(1859-1932) National National

Consumers’ Consumers’ LeagueLeague

Sociologist Louis Sociologist Louis D. BrandeisD. Brandeis

Triangle Shirt Waist Company fire , New Triangle Shirt Waist Company fire , New York (25 March 1911)York (25 March 1911)

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era Liquor Liquor

ProhibitionProhibition—”manufactur—”manufacture, sale, or e, sale, or transportation transportation of intoxicating of intoxicating liquors . . . liquors . . . prohibited.” prohibited.” (XVIII (XVIII Amendment Amendment 1919) 1919)

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era Presidential Presidential

Election of Election of 19001900

William William Jennings Bryan Jennings Bryan (D) (D) (1860-1924)(1860-1924)

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era Leon F. Czolgosz Leon F. Czolgosz

(1873-1901) (1873-1901) assassinated assassinated William McKinley William McKinley (1901)(1901)

McKinleyMcKinleyJames B. ParkerJames B. Parker

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era

President President Theodore Theodore Roosevelt Roosevelt (R) (1858-(R) (1858-1919) 1919) (1901-1909)(1901-1909)

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era Roosevelt wished to avoid Roosevelt wished to avoid

socialism and a return to socialism and a return to laissez fairelaissez faire

Used the “carrot and the Used the “carrot and the stick” approachstick” approach

Anthracite Coal Strike Anthracite Coal Strike (May-October 1902)(May-October 1902)

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era John Mitchell John Mitchell

(1870-1913)(1870-1913) United Mine United Mine

Workers’ UnionWorkers’ Union

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era

20% wage increase20% wage increase Eight-hour workdayEight-hour workday Union recognitionUnion recognition

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era George F. George F.

Baer (1842-Baer (1842-1914) led the 1914) led the mine mine operatorsoperators

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era

General John General John Schofield Schofield (1831-1906)(1831-1906)

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era Binding arbitrationBinding arbitration Everybody got somethingEverybody got something:: 10% pay increase10% pay increase Nine-hour workday Nine-hour workday Operators not required to Operators not required to

recognize the United Mine recognize the United Mine Workers’ Union Workers’ Union

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era

Roosevelt the “Trust Roosevelt the “Trust Buster”Buster”

Northern Securities Northern Securities CompanyCompany

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era

US Attorney US Attorney General General Philander C. Knox Philander C. Knox (1853-1921) (1853-1921)

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era Northern Securities Company v. Northern Securities Company v.

United StatesUnited States (1904) (1904) US Supreme Court ruled that US Supreme Court ruled that

the NSC was an “unreasonable the NSC was an “unreasonable restraint of trade” and ordered restraint of trade” and ordered it dissolvedit dissolved

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era Bureau of Corporations within Bureau of Corporations within

the newly created Department the newly created Department of Commerce and Labor (1903) of Commerce and Labor (1903) to collect statistics and to collect statistics and investigate the activities of investigate the activities of corporations.corporations.

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era Presidential Presidential

Election of Election of 19041904

Alton B. Alton B. Parker (D) Parker (D) (1852-1926)(1852-1926)

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era

President President Roosevelt Roosevelt speaking in speaking in Hannibal, Hannibal, MissouriMissouri

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era Upton Sinclair’s Upton Sinclair’s

The Jungle The Jungle (1906)(1906)

LTC Roosevelt and the 1st US Volunteer LTC Roosevelt and the 1st US Volunteer Cavalry Regiment (Rough Riders), San Juan Cavalry Regiment (Rough Riders), San Juan

Hill, Cuba 1898Hill, Cuba 1898

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era In the In the

Spanish-Spanish-American War American War (1898), 5,462 (1898), 5,462 Americans Americans died, but only died, but only 379 in combat379 in combat

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era

Meat Inspection Act (1906)Meat Inspection Act (1906) Pure Food and Drug Act Pure Food and Drug Act

(1906)(1906)

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era In 1905, by the In 1905, by the

authority of the authority of the Forest Reserve Forest Reserve Act (1891), TR Act (1891), TR placed 172 placed 172 million acres million acres under Federal under Federal protection protection

Hepburn Railroad Regulation Hepburn Railroad Regulation Act (1906)Act (1906)

As Roosevelt’s Administration As Roosevelt’s Administration progressed, he favored:progressed, he favored:

Income taxIncome tax Inheritance taxInheritance tax Greater regulation of BusinessGreater regulation of Business Industrial Safety RegulationsIndustrial Safety Regulations

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era Presidential Presidential

Election of 1908Election of 1908 William Jennings William Jennings

Bryan (D) Bryan (D) (1860-1924)(1860-1924)

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era William Howard William Howard

Taft (R) Taft (R) (1857-1930) (1857-1930) (1909-1913)(1909-1913)

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era Taft never Taft never

wished to run wished to run for president, for president, but he could but he could not say “NO” not say “NO” to Teddy to Teddy RooseveltRoosevelt

Major Archibald Butt, Aid to TR and TaftMajor Archibald Butt, Aid to TR and Taft

Taft’s specially designed White House Taft’s specially designed White House bathtub bathtub

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era

Roosevelt assumed that Taft Roosevelt assumed that Taft would continue his activist would continue his activist progressive policies, but he progressive policies, but he was badly disappointed was badly disappointed

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era Presidential Presidential

Election of 1912Election of 1912 Theodore Theodore

Roosevelt Roosevelt formed the formed the Progressive or Progressive or “Bull Moose” “Bull Moose” PartyParty

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era Woodrow Wilson Woodrow Wilson

(D) (1856-1924) (D) (1856-1924) (1913-1921)(1913-1921)

The Federal Reserve SystemThe Federal Reserve System