POLITICS IN THE GILDED AGE

Status Quo Politics in the Gilded Age“the government that governs best governs

least”

• Five Presidents between 1877-1893“The Forgotten Presidents”

• Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881) - Republican• James Garfield (1881) – Republican -assassinated• Chester A. Arthur (1881-1885) -Republican• Grover Cleveland (1885-1889) -Democrat• Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893) –Republican

• Government lacked direction & an agenda• Lines between parties blurred• Leadership of the country essentially lied in the hands of Congress• “Ship without a captain” syndrome

Biggest Issues of the Time

• Patronage & Spoils System Reform• 1883 Pendleton Act: established the non-partisan Civil Service

Commission.• Established a list of jobs that were to be filled on the basis of

exams administered by the commission in an attempt to find the best person possible for the job . . . but it only applied to 10% of gov’t jobs.

• Currency – who prints currency, and how much?

• Regulation of Railroads & Strikes – see previous unit!

• Tariffs – rates varied as parties fought over this issue

increasingly, the “common man” felt isolated/abused by government & big business

• Economics of the 1890’s– Farm foreclosures– Railroad bankruptcies– Stock market drop– Unemployment up– Farmers suffering in profits

• Country and government seemed to be looking out for the “big business” in the East

• Farmers especially felt the need for organization & representation

Complaints of the Rural “Common Man”

Roots of the PopulistMovement

• Originally Farmers needed to organize for a variety of reasons:• a) isolationism b) provide economic services

• The Grange Movement & Farmer’s Alliances:• Farmer’s Alliance of the Northwest• National Farmers’ Alliance

• Alliances were designed to:• Unite farmers who had common problems• Remind farmers they are in this together• Stand against the abuses of the big business (RR) & the corruption of the wealth

and power • Eventually grew stronger and more impatient.

• The agrarian protest challenged the traditional 2 party system

Populist Ideology“Us vs.Them”

“There are but two sides, on the one side are the allied hosts of monopolies, the money power, great trusts, and railroad corporations…On the other are the farmers laborers, merchants, and all the people who produce wealth… Between these two there is no middle ground.”

“[there is an] irrepressible conflict between capital & labor”

“We believe that the power of government - in other words, of the people – should be expanded as rapidly and as far as the good sense of an intelligent people and the teachings of experience shall justify, to end oppression, injustice and poverty . . . in the land”

Price Indexes for Price Indexes for Consumer & Farm Consumer & Farm Products: 1865-Products: 1865-

19131913

Price Indexes for Price Indexes for Consumer & Farm Consumer & Farm Products: 1865-Products: 1865-

19131913

United United We We

Stand, Stand, Divided Divided We FallWe Fall

United United We We

Stand, Stand, Divided Divided We FallWe Fall

In 1889 both In 1889 both the Northern andthe Northern andSouthern AlliancesSouthern Alliancesmerged into one—merged into one—the the Farmers’ Farmers’ AllianceAlliance..

The Populist The Populist (Peoples’) Party(Peoples’) Party

The Populist The Populist (Peoples’) Party(Peoples’) Party

Founded by James B. WeaverFounded by James B. Weaverand Tom Watson.and Tom Watson.

Omaha, NE Convention in Omaha, NE Convention in July,July,1892.1892.

Got almost 1 million popularGot almost 1 million popularvotes in 1892 elections.votes in 1892 elections.

Several Congressional seatsSeveral Congressional seatswon.won. James B. Weaver, James B. Weaver,

Presidential Presidential CandidateCandidate

&&James G. Field, VPJames G. Field, VP

1892 Election1892 Election1892 Election1892 Election

ELECTION

OF

1892

Omaha Platform Omaha Platform of 1892of 1892

Omaha Platform Omaha Platform of 1892of 18921.1. Direct election of Senators.Direct election of Senators.

2.2. Govt. ownership of RRs, telephone Govt. ownership of RRs, telephone & telegraph companies.& telegraph companies.

3.3. Restriction of undesirable Restriction of undesirable immigration.immigration.

4.4. 8-hour work day for government 8-hour work day for government employees.employees.

5.5. Abolition of the Pinkerton detective Abolition of the Pinkerton detective agency.agency.

6.6. Australian secret ballot.Australian secret ballot.

7.7. A single term for President & Vice A single term for President & Vice President.President.

8.8. Re-monitization of silver . . .Re-monitization of silver . . .

The Populist Platform in 1892Omaha, Nebraska

FINANCES“We demand a national currency that is safe, sound, and

flexible issued by the general government “

Proposals:• A graduated income tax- more you make the more you pay• More money in circulation & that the money should be kept more in

the hands of the people.

“That the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few”

• Free & unlimited coinage of silver– bimetallism

Bi-Metallism Bi-Metallism IssueIssue

Bi-Metallism Bi-Metallism IssueIssue

Money & Politics:Brief History

• US had traditionally used a bimetal system.• Pre-Civil War nations money supply came from free-wheeling state

banksvalue of money issued was unstable – amount in circulation/supply & demand

• 1863 US Banking Act attempted to create more economic stability by only allowing and accepting money that was backed by the US Gov.

• Meanwhile Civil War broke out, Lincoln issued and paid with greenbacks – federal money backed by nothing more than good faith . . . With the war over, what should we do about the money supply?

• 1873 – Silver supply tightened and thus it became more valuable as a metal than as money and so silver was dropped as specie (backing for currency)—switched to gold standard.

• Populist believe THIS is the problem, and must be fixed . . .

Causes of the Causes of the 1893 Panic1893 Panic

Causes of the Causes of the 1893 Panic1893 Panic

1.1. Several major corps. went bankrupt.Several major corps. went bankrupt.

Over 16,000 businesses Over 16,000 businesses disappeared.disappeared.

Triggered a stock market crash.Triggered a stock market crash.

Over-extended investments.Over-extended investments.

2.2. Bank failures followed causing a Bank failures followed causing a contractioncontractionof credit [nearly 500 banks closed].of credit [nearly 500 banks closed].

3.3. By 1895, unemployment reached 3 By 1895, unemployment reached 3 million.million.

Americans cried out for relief, but the Americans cried out for relief, but the Govt.Govt.continued its laissez faire policies!!continued its laissez faire policies!!

Panic of 1893 & the “Silver Solution”

• Result of panic was “deflation” – a reduction in available money and credit.– A) Prices fall – B) less money in circulation

• At the same time, westward expansion and mining brought a flood of silver and thus the price of silver fell hard and fast.

• Soon Silverites wanted to put more money in circulation—use silver to back our currency again!

• Country now became divided on the monetary issue of specie.

Here Lies Here Lies ProsperityProsperityHere Lies Here Lies ProsperityProsperity

Pick a Side

GOLDBUGS bankers and businessmen

Supported “tight money” -gold only standard thus less $$$ in circulation

----------------------------------------Effects: deflation

a) falling pricesb) value of money increasesc) fewer people have money

SILVERITESFarmers and laborers

Supported “cheap money” – bimetallism – more money in circulation

-----------------------------------------Effects: Inflation

a) prices riseb) value of money decreasesc) more people have more

money

Result of 1894 Mid-Result of 1894 Mid-term Electionsterm Elections

Result of 1894 Mid-Result of 1894 Mid-term Electionsterm Elections

Populist voteincreased by40% in the bi-election year,1894.

Democratic party losses in

the West werecatastrophic—all W votes went to populists!

Gold / Silver Bug Gold / Silver Bug Campaign PinsCampaign Pins

Gold / Silver Bug Gold / Silver Bug Campaign PinsCampaign Pins

Election of 1896

William Jennings Bryan (D)• supported bimetallism• Was supported by Populists• Delivered “cross of gold

speech”• Rep. called him radical,

revolutionary, and anarchistic

William McKinley (R)

Bryant’sBryant’s“Cross of Gold” Speech“Cross of Gold” Speech

Bryant’sBryant’s“Cross of Gold” Speech“Cross of Gold” Speech

Bryan: The Bryan: The Farmers FriendFarmers Friend(The Mint Ratio)(The Mint Ratio)

Bryan: The Bryan: The Farmers FriendFarmers Friend(The Mint Ratio)(The Mint Ratio)

18,000 miles of campaign “whistle 18,000 miles of campaign “whistle stops.”stops.”

Election of 1896

William Jennings Bryan (D)• supported bimetallism• Was supported by Populists• Delivered “cross of gold

speech”• Rep. called him radical,

revolutionary, and anarchistic

William McKinley (R)- “Gold bug”- Front-porch campaign & Mark

Hanna- Called upon big business and

raised a lot of money- Won election, but the door was

open for reform . . .

Why Did Bryan Why Did Bryan Lose?Lose?

Why Did Bryan Why Did Bryan Lose?Lose?

His focus on silver His focus on silver underminedunderminedefforts to build bridges to efforts to build bridges to urbanurbanvoters.voters.

McKinley’s campaign was McKinley’s campaign was well-well-organized and highly funded.organized and highly funded.

Gold Triumphs Gold Triumphs Over SilverOver Silver

Gold Triumphs Gold Triumphs Over SilverOver Silver 1900 1900 GoldGold

Standard Act:Standard Act:

confirmed theconfirmed thenation’s nation’s commitment tocommitment tothe gold the gold standard.standard.

A victory for the A victory for the

forces offorces ofconservatism.conservatism.

Republican Republican Party becomes Party becomes the party of the party of prosperity.prosperity.

The The Wizard Wizard of Ozof Oz by L. by L. Frank Frank BaumBaum

The The Wizard Wizard of Ozof Oz by L. by L. Frank Frank BaumBaum

Populism and The Wizard of Oz

Background Information

• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was not intended to be an innocent fairy tale. Author, Frank Baum, a reform-minded Democrat who supported William Jennings Bryan's pro-silver candidacy, wrote the book as a parable of the Populists, an allegory of their failed efforts to reform the nation in 1896. However, Frank Baum never allowed the consistency of the allegory to take precedence over the theme of youthful entertainment.

““Parable of the Parable of the Populists”?Populists”?

““Parable of the Parable of the Populists”?Populists”? Uncle Henry & Auntie Uncle Henry & Auntie

EmEm??

Wicked Witch of theWicked Witch of theEast East ??

Tin Woodsman Tin Woodsman ??

Scarecrow Scarecrow ??

Cowardly Lion Cowardly Lion ??

Yellow Brick Road Yellow Brick Road ??

Silver Slippers Silver Slippers ??

Emerald City Emerald City ??

The Wizard The Wizard ??

Munchkins Munchkins ??

Wicked Witch of the Wicked Witch of the West West ??

Flying Monkeys Flying Monkeys ??

Uncle Henry & Auntie Em – •Lonely independent Homesteaders•Hard working, little reward, everything is grey

• The Wicked Witch of the East:

• represented eastern industrialists and bankers who controlled the people (the Munchkins).

• The Tin Woodman

represented the dehumanized industrial worker.

• Wants a heart – lost it when the factories took away their independence and love or their

craft/trade

– The Scarecrow

represented the wise but naive western farmer.

• Wants a brain from the wizard - represents the “image” of simple minded folks, but as the story goes on we realize the scarecrow always had a brain to think and decide things for himself

• The Cowardly Lion

was William Jennings Bryan, Populist presidential candidate in 1896.

• The Yellow Brick Road, with all its dangers,

represented the gold standard.

• Dorothy's silver slippers (Judy Garland's were ruby red, but Baum originally made them silver) represented the Populists' solution to the nation's economic woes ("the free and unlimited coinage of silver")

• Emerald City

represents Washington DC, where leaders reside and people look for significant change in their life.

• The Wizard

represents William McKinley who tried to be all things to everyone, but turned out to be a fake.

President William McKinley

• Munchkins- • Factory “slaves” to the big business- remember the

Wicked Witch of the East had cast a spell on them making the Munchkins her subjects.

• The Wicked Witch of The West

represents the railroads and the control they had over the populist supporters.

• Flying Monkey’s – Plains Indians

Significance of thePopulist Movement

• McKinley’s win = victory of urban/eastern interests over agrarian concerns.

• The Democrats embraced the populist vote in the future.

• Republicans would dominate politics for the next 30 years.

• The reform spirit of the Populists would be embraced by the more urban, middle-class Progressives in the early 20th century.