chapter 19 gilded age politics. the politics of equilibrium the most striking feature of the late...

Chapter 19Chapter 19

Gilded Age PoliticsGilded Age Politics

The Politics of EquilibriumThe Politics of Equilibrium

The most striking feature of the late 19th century The most striking feature of the late 19th century party system was its remarkable stability, the party system was its remarkable stability, the electorate was divided almost precisely evenly electorate was divided almost precisely evenly between Democrats and Republicans, 16 states between Democrats and Republicans, 16 states Republican - generally controlled the Senate, 14 Republican - generally controlled the Senate, 14 states Democratic - most of them in the south, states Democratic - most of them in the south, generally controlled the House, only 5 states in generally controlled the House, only 5 states in doubt and usually determined the election (NY and doubt and usually determined the election (NY and Ohio), genuinely mass-based politics, 78% voter turn Ohio), genuinely mass-based politics, 78% voter turn out.out.


Party identification was more a Party identification was more a reflection of cultural inclinations reflection of cultural inclinations than a calculation of economic than a calculation of economic interestinterest


To white Southerners loyalty to To white Southerners loyalty to the Democratic Party was a the Democratic Party was a matter of unquestioned faith, matter of unquestioned faith, religious and ethnic differences religious and ethnic differences shaped party loyaltiesshaped party loyalties


DemocratsDemocrats attracted most of the attracted most of the Catholic voters, recent Catholic voters, recent immigrants, and poorer workers immigrants, and poorer workers


Republicans appealed to Republicans appealed to northern Protestants, citizens of northern Protestants, citizens of old stock, much of the middle old stock, much of the middle class - tended to support class - tended to support measures restricting measures restricting immigration and to favor immigration and to favor temperance legislationtemperance legislation


Federal government did Federal government did relatively little - delivered mail, relatively little - delivered mail, maintained national security, maintained national security, conducted foreign policy, conducted foreign policy, collected tariffs and taxes - few collected tariffs and taxes - few other responsibilitiesother responsibilities


Federal Government's support of Federal Government's support of economic development gave economic development gave subsidies to railroads, grants subsidies to railroads, grants and federal land, protected and federal land, protected capitalists from challenges from capitalists from challenges from their workers, administered their workers, administered annual pensions to Union Civil annual pensions to Union Civil War VetsWar Vets


Most powerful political Most powerful political institutions were the two institutions were the two political parties and the federal political parties and the federal courts - national leaders were courts - national leaders were more concerned with office and more concerned with office and winning elections, controlling winning elections, controlling patronage than with policypatronage than with policy


Two groups were competing for Two groups were competing for control of the Republican party control of the Republican party and threatening to split it, the and threatening to split it, the StalwartsStalwarts werewere led by Roscoe led by Roscoe Conkling (NY) and favored Conkling (NY) and favored traditional professional machine traditional professional machine politics, the Half-Breeds werepolitics, the Half-Breeds were led led by James G. Blaine (ME) and by James G. Blaine (ME) and favored reformfavored reform


This battle over This battle over patronage patronage (getting a larger (getting a larger slice of the pie) slice of the pie) overshadowed overshadowed all else during all else during Hayes unhappy Hayes unhappy presidencypresidency


Republicans nominated James Republicans nominated James Garfield (Half-breed) for Garfield (Half-breed) for President and Chester Arthur President and Chester Arthur (Stalwart) for Vice President, the (Stalwart) for Vice President, the Democrats nominated Winfield Democrats nominated Winfield Scott Hancock in the Election of Scott Hancock in the Election of 18801880


Republicans won the election Republicans won the election and captured both houses of and captured both houses of Congress, benefiting from the Congress, benefiting from the end of the recession and the end of the recession and the return of economic prosperityreturn of economic prosperity


James GarfieldJames Garfield supported civil supported civil service reform and got into a service reform and got into a public quarrel with the Stalwarts public quarrel with the Stalwarts and Conkling, he was shot and and Conkling, he was shot and killed by a deranged gunman (“I killed by a deranged gunman (“I am a Stalwart and Arthur is am a Stalwart and Arthur is President now”)President now”)


Chester ArthurChester Arthur kept most of kept most of Garfield's appointments and Garfield's appointments and supported civil service reform, supported civil service reform, which resulted in the passage of which resulted in the passage of the Pendleton Act of 1883 by the Pendleton Act of 1883 by Congress which required that Congress which required that some federal jobs be filled by some federal jobs be filled by competitive written examinations competitive written examinations rather than by patronagerather than by patronage


In the Election of 1884 the Republican In the Election of 1884 the Republican candidate was James Blaine to thousands of candidate was James Blaine to thousands of Americans a symbol of seamy party politics, Americans a symbol of seamy party politics, Liberal Republicans (Mugwumps) Liberal Republicans (Mugwumps) announced they would bolt the party and announced they would bolt the party and support an honest Democrat, the support an honest Democrat, the Democratic nominee was Grover Cleveland Democratic nominee was Grover Cleveland who had a reputation as an enemy of who had a reputation as an enemy of corruption and was well liked for his corruption and was well liked for his opposition to political graft, he was known opposition to political graft, he was known as the “veto governor”as the “veto governor”


Democrats spread news that Democrats spread news that Blaine had tolerated a slander on Blaine had tolerated a slander on the Catholic Church, based on the Catholic Church, based on the fact that an associate had the fact that an associate had referred to the Democratic Party referred to the Democratic Party as the party of “rum, Romanism, as the party of “rum, Romanism, and rebellion”and rebellion”


Grover Cleveland Grover Cleveland won the election won the election of 1884 by a of 1884 by a narrow margin narrow margin created by an created by an unusually high unusually high turnout of turnout of Catholic voters in Catholic voters in New YorkNew York


In 1887 President Cleveland (the In 1887 President Cleveland (the first Democratic president since first Democratic president since before the Civil War) asked before the Civil War) asked Congress to reduce the Congress to reduce the protective tariff rates (he protective tariff rates (he believed that the high tariff was believed that the high tariff was contributing to the federal contributing to the federal government’s surplus and government’s surplus and resulted in graft)resulted in graft)


Democrats passed the bill in the Democrats passed the bill in the House but the Republicans in the House but the Republicans in the Senate defiantly passed a bill of Senate defiantly passed a bill of their own actually raising the their own actually raising the rates, this deadlock made the rates, this deadlock made the tariff an issue in the election of tariff an issue in the election of 18881888


In the election of 1888, the In the election of 1888, the Democrats nominated Grover Democrats nominated Grover Cleveland and supported tariff Cleveland and supported tariff reductions, the Republicans reductions, the Republicans settled on former senator settled on former senator Benjamin Harrison and endorsed Benjamin Harrison and endorsed protection of the American protection of the American economy through tariffseconomy through tariffs


Benjamin Benjamin Harrison won Harrison won the election in the election in the Electoral the Electoral College by a College by a vote of 233 to vote of 233 to 168, but lost the 168, but lost the popular vote to popular vote to Cleveland by Cleveland by over 100,000 over 100,000 votesvotes


Benjamin Harrison had few Benjamin Harrison had few visible convictions and made no visible convictions and made no effort to influence Congress, as a effort to influence Congress, as a result his record was little better result his record was little better than his grandfather (William than his grandfather (William Henry Harrison – 1840) who only Henry Harrison – 1840) who only served for one monthserved for one month


Sentiment began to swell in the U.S. Sentiment began to swell in the U.S. to curb the power of the trusts, by to curb the power of the trusts, by the mid 1880's 15 southern and the mid 1880's 15 southern and western states had adopted laws western states had adopted laws prohibiting combinations that prohibiting combinations that restrained competition, but restrained competition, but Corporations found it easy to escape Corporations found it easy to escape limitations by incorporating in limitations by incorporating in states such as New Jersey and states such as New Jersey and DelawareDelaware


In order to effectively regulate In order to effectively regulate the trusts, legislation would the trusts, legislation would have to be passed by the have to be passed by the national government, both national government, both houses of Congress passed the houses of Congress passed the Sherman Antitrust Act (1890)Sherman Antitrust Act (1890)


Most members of Congress saw the Most members of Congress saw the legislation as a largely symbolic measure legislation as a largely symbolic measure that would deflect criticism but not likely to that would deflect criticism but not likely to have any real effect on corporate power, have any real effect on corporate power, the act was indifferently enforced and the act was indifferently enforced and steadily weakened by courts – had virtually steadily weakened by courts – had virtually no impact in the decade after its passage, no impact in the decade after its passage, by 1901 the Justice Department had used by 1901 the Justice Department had used the act many times against unions, but only the act many times against unions, but only 14 times against business combinations14 times against business combinations


McKinley Tariff – Republicans McKinley Tariff – Republicans drafted the highest protective drafted the highest protective tariff measure ever proposed to tariff measure ever proposed to Congress - passed in 1890 but Congress - passed in 1890 but the Republican Party lost the the Republican Party lost the House and had its majority in the House and had its majority in the Senate slashed to 8 seats in the Senate slashed to 8 seats in the 1890 Congressional elections1890 Congressional elections


In the election of 1892, the In the election of 1892, the Democrats nominated Grover Democrats nominated Grover Cleveland who opposed the Cleveland who opposed the McKinley Tariff and the McKinley Tariff and the Republicans nominated Benjamin Republicans nominated Benjamin Harrison who supported the Harrison who supported the tariff, a third party candidate, tariff, a third party candidate, James Weaver of the People’s James Weaver of the People’s Party also entered the raceParty also entered the race


Cleveland won the election of Cleveland won the election of 1892 by a comfortable margin, he 1892 by a comfortable margin, he was devoted to minimal was devoted to minimal government intervention and government intervention and hostile to active efforts to deal hostile to active efforts to deal with social or economic problems, with social or economic problems, supported tariff reduction but did supported tariff reduction but did not effectively lower the tariff not effectively lower the tariff (Wilson-Gorman Tariff)(Wilson-Gorman Tariff)


Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railway Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railway Co v. IllinoisCo v. Illinois (The (The WabashWabash Case) Case) Supreme Court ruled one of the Supreme Court ruled one of the Granger Laws unconstitutional – the Granger Laws unconstitutional – the law was an attempt to control law was an attempt to control interstate commerce and thus interstate commerce and thus infringed on the executive power of infringed on the executive power of Congress, the Court would even later Congress, the Court would even later limit the power of the states to limit the power of the states to regulate commerce even within their regulate commerce even within their own boundariesown boundaries


Congress responded to public Congress responded to public pressure with the Interstate pressure with the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 which Commerce Act of 1887 which banned discrimination in rates banned discrimination in rates between long and short hauls, between long and short hauls, required that railroads publish their required that railroads publish their rate schedules and file them with rate schedules and file them with the government, and declared that the government, and declared that all interstate rail rates must be all interstate rail rates must be “reasonable and just” “reasonable and just”


A 5 person Interstate Commerce A 5 person Interstate Commerce Commission was to administer Commission was to administer the act and regulate business the act and regulate business practices but did so without practices but did so without much practical effect, it was much practical effect, it was haphazardly enforced and haphazardly enforced and narrowly interpreted by the narrowly interpreted by the courtscourts

The Agrarian Revolt

• Popular myth held that American farmers were the most individualistic of citizens and the least likely to join together in a cooperative economic or political movement, in reality farmers had been attempting to organize since the 1860’s

The Agrarian Revolt

• The Grange was the first major farm organization, designed to be a social and self-help association, Oliver H. Kelley was appalled by what he considered the isolation and drabness of rural life so he founded the National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry which attempted to bring farmers together to learn new scientific agricultural techniques, hoped to create a feeling of community to relieve the loneliness of rural life

The Agrarian Revolt

• Membership in the Grange rapidly increased after the Depression of 1873 caused farm prices to drop, it was strongest in the South and Midwest, as membership grew the goals changed, began to attempt to organize marketing cooperatives to allow farmers to circumvent the middlemen, urged cooperative political action to curb the monopolies of the railroads and warehouses

The Agrarian Revolt

• Farmers Declaration of Independence: proclaimed that the time had come for farmers suffering from long continued systems of oppression and abuse to rouse themselves from indifference of their own interests, vowed that farmers would use all lawful and peaceful means to free themselves from tyranny of monopolies

The Agrarian Revolt

• Montgomery Ward and Company emerged as a mail-order business to specifically meet the needs of the farmers

The Agrarian Revolt

• Grangers worked to elect state legislatures and usually operated through existing parties, occasionally ran a candidate under such labels as "antimonopoly" and "reform"

The Agrarian Revolt

• Granger Laws – states imposed strict regulations on railroad rates and practices, struck down by the Supreme Court in the Wabash case

The Agrarian Revolt

• Decline of the Grangers caused by new regulations being destroyed, political inexperience, temporary agricultural prosperity in the late 1870s

The Agrarian Revolt

• Starting in the 1870’s farmers began to band together in Farmers Alliances, these were principally concerned with local problems, they formed cooperatives and marketing mechanisms, established stores, banks, processing plants to free from dependence on the hated furnishing merchants, argued for a sense of mutual, neighborly responsibility that would enable farmers to resist oppressive outside forces - promoted cooperation as an alternative economic system to competition

The Agrarian Revolt

• Women were full voting members in most local Alliances (Mary E. Lease) and the issue of temperance became prominent

“Raise less corn and more hell!”

Mary Lease

The Agrarian Revolt

• Problems of Alliances – cooperatives did not always work well, market forces against them were too strong, cooperatives in many cases were mismanaged, the Alliances then decided to create a national political organization, in 1889 the Southern and Northwestern Alliances agreed to a loose merger

The Agrarian Revolt

• Ocala Demands – a party platform run on by candidates for Congress in the 1890 congressional elections, won partial or complete control of the legislatures in 12 states, 6 governorships and 3 seats in the US Senate, 50 in the House

The Agrarian Revolt

• In Omaha, Nebraska (1892) 1,300 delegates proclaimed the creation of the new People's Party (populists), in the election of 1892 the Populist candidate was James B. Weaver who earned over 1 million votes (8.5%) and 22 electoral votes from six Rocky Mountain and Great Plains states

The Agrarian Revolt

• Populism appealed principally to farmers, particularly small farmers with little economic security, engaged in a farming that was less viable to face the new, mechanized commercial agriculture, geographically isolated farmers, but never attracted significant labor support since the interests of labor and interests of farmers were at odds, in the Rocky Mountain states miners bought in to the Populist platform

The Agrarian Revolt

• Free Silver was the idea of permitting silver to become the basis of currency so as to expand the money supply

The Agrarian Revolt

• White Populists struggled with the race question, Colored Alliances in the South numbered over 1.25 million members by 1890, the interracial character of the movement faded when southern conservatives began attacking Populists for undermining white supremacy

The Agrarian Revolt

• Populist leaders were often members of the rural middle class, professional people, lawyers or editors, few were marginal farmers, almost all Protestant, some were somber others were rabble-rousers, gave rise to the “southern demagogue” who would arouse the resentment of the poor farmer against the planter aristocracy

The Agrarian Revolt

• Omaha Platform of 1892 proposed a system of subtreasuries which would strengthen the cooperatives, the government would establish a network of warehouses where farmers would deposit their crops, using those crops as collateral growers could then borrow money from the government at low rates and wait for the price of their goods to go up before selling them.

The Agrarian Revolt

• Also called for the abolition of national banks, the end of absentee ownership of land, called for regulation and government ownership of railroads, telephones and telegraphs, demanded a system of government operated postal savings banks, a graduated income tax, the inflation of currency and remonetization of silver

The Agrarian Revolt

• Populists rejected laissez fair economics and the idea that the rights of ownership were absolute, Populism was a response to the brutal and chaotic way the economy was developing, but not anti-capitalist

The Crisis of the 1890's The Crisis of the 1890's

The Panic of 1893 precipitated the most severe The Panic of 1893 precipitated the most severe depression the nation had yet experienced, it depression the nation had yet experienced, it began when the Philadelphia and Reading began when the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad companies declared bankruptcy, Railroad companies declared bankruptcy, followed by the failure of the National Cordage followed by the failure of the National Cordage Company, the two corporate failures triggered a Company, the two corporate failures triggered a collapse of the stock market and a wave of bank collapse of the stock market and a wave of bank failures soon began, this caused a contraction failures soon began, this caused a contraction of credit leading many new business to go of credit leading many new business to go bankrupt when they could not get the loans they bankrupt when they could not get the loans they needed to stay afloatneeded to stay afloat


A simultaneous depression in Europe A simultaneous depression in Europe meant a loss of American markets meant a loss of American markets abroad, and a withdrawal of foreign abroad, and a withdrawal of foreign investors gold that was invested in the investors gold that was invested in the US US


Railroads and other major industries Railroads and other major industries had expanded too rapidly, well beyond had expanded too rapidly, well beyond market demand, the railroads were the market demand, the railroads were the nations most powerful corporate and nations most powerful corporate and financial institutions, when the financial institutions, when the railroads suffered as they began to do railroads suffered as they began to do in 1893, the entire economy suffered in 1893, the entire economy suffered along with themalong with them


Within six months more than 8,000 Within six months more than 8,000 businesses, 156 railroads, and 400 businesses, 156 railroads, and 400 banks failed, already low agricultural banks failed, already low agricultural prices fell, 20% (up to 1 million prices fell, 20% (up to 1 million workers) of the labor force lost their workers) of the labor force lost their jobs – prosperity did not fully return jobs – prosperity did not fully return until 1901 until 1901


“ “The month of August will long remain The month of August will long remain memorable in our industrial history. memorable in our industrial history. Never before has there been such a Never before has there been such a sudden and striking cessation of sudden and striking cessation of industrial activity. Nor is there any industrial activity. Nor is there any section of the country exempt from the section of the country exempt from the paralysis.”paralysis.”


Jacob S. Coxey was a businessman Jacob S. Coxey was a businessman and a populist who began advocating a and a populist who began advocating a massive public works program to massive public works program to create jobs for the unemployed an create jobs for the unemployed an inflation of the currency, when it inflation of the currency, when it became clear that Congress was not became clear that Congress was not responding, Coxey decided to “send a responding, Coxey decided to “send a petition to Washington with boots on”. petition to Washington with boots on”.


Coxey's Army numbered 500 when it Coxey's Army numbered 500 when it reached Washington, Coxey was reached Washington, Coxey was arrested and convicted for walking on arrested and convicted for walking on the grass of the U.S. Capital and his the grass of the U.S. Capital and his followers were herded into camps to followers were herded into camps to protect the health of the community - protect the health of the community - Congress took no action to their Congress took no action to their demandsdemands


Coxey’s Army, the Homestead Strike, Coxey’s Army, the Homestead Strike, and the Pullman Strike were all and the Pullman Strike were all symbols of a dangerous instability symbols of a dangerous instability (perhaps a revolution) in the labor (perhaps a revolution) in the labor movement and reinforced the image of movement and reinforced the image of labor radicalismlabor radicalism


President Cleveland believed that the President Cleveland believed that the instability of the currency was the instability of the currency was the primary cause of the depression, the primary cause of the depression, the “money question” revolved around “money question” revolved around what should be the basis of the dollarwhat should be the basis of the dollar


For most of its history the US For most of its history the US recognized silver and gold as a basis recognized silver and gold as a basis for the dollar, known as bimetallism, for the dollar, known as bimetallism, but by the 1870’s silver was worth more but by the 1870’s silver was worth more out on the market than it was turning it out on the market than it was turning it into the Treasury for coinage into into the Treasury for coinage into dollarsdollars


The Crime of 73' – Congress passed a The Crime of 73' – Congress passed a law that officially discontinued silver law that officially discontinued silver coinage, then the market value of silver coinage, then the market value of silver fell well below the 16 to 1 ratio, resulting fell well below the 16 to 1 ratio, resulting in a lost market for silver miners and a in a lost market for silver miners and a lost method of inflating the currency, lost method of inflating the currency, Americans thus concluded that a Americans thus concluded that a conspiracy of big bankers had been conspiracy of big bankers had been responsible for demonetization of silverresponsible for demonetization of silver


Farmers and silver Farmers and silver miners demanded a miners demanded a return to free silver return to free silver coinage and an coinage and an inflation of currency inflation of currency (at 16 to 1) but (at 16 to 1) but Congress did little to Congress did little to respondrespond


The U.S. gold reserves were steadily The U.S. gold reserves were steadily dropping, President Cleveland believed dropping, President Cleveland believed that the chief cause of the weakening that the chief cause of the weakening gold reserves was the Sherman Silver gold reserves was the Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890 which required Purchase Act of 1890 which required the government to purchase but not to the government to purchase but not to coin silver and pay for it in gold.coin silver and pay for it in gold.

The Crisis of the 1890'sThe Crisis of the 1890's

A special session of Congress repealed A special session of Congress repealed the Sherman Silver Purchase Act which the Sherman Silver Purchase Act which caused a split in Democratic Party caused a split in Democratic Party between southern and western between southern and western Democrats (who wanted the purchase Democrats (who wanted the purchase and coinage of silver) against the and coinage of silver) against the eastern Democratseastern Democrats


In the election of 1896 supporters of the In the election of 1896 supporters of the gold standard considered its survival gold standard considered its survival essential to the honor and stability of essential to the honor and stability of the nation, while supporters of Free the nation, while supporters of Free Silver considered gold a symbol of Silver considered gold a symbol of tyranny, silver would be the "people's tyranny, silver would be the "people's money"money"


William H. Harvey’s William H. Harvey’s Coin’s Financial Coin’s Financial SchoolSchool extolled the almost miraculous extolled the almost miraculous restorative qualities of free silver, “It restorative qualities of free silver, “It means the reopening of closed means the reopening of closed factories, the relighting of fires in factories, the relighting of fires in darkened furnaces, it means hope darkened furnaces, it means hope instead of despair; comfort in place of instead of despair; comfort in place of suffering; life instead of death.”suffering; life instead of death.”

““A Cross of Gold”A Cross of Gold”

Populists needed money in order fund a Populists needed money in order fund a national campaign, silver miners were national campaign, silver miners were willing to donate to the Populists as long as willing to donate to the Populists as long as there was an addition of a currency plank to there was an addition of a currency plank to the Populist platformthe Populist platform


Republicans watched as the Democrats Republicans watched as the Democrats were unable to deal with the currency were unable to deal with the currency question and divided themselves in two, question and divided themselves in two, heading into the election of 1896 the heading into the election of 1896 the Republicans were quite confidentRepublicans were quite confident


Republican leaders, Republican leaders, led by Ohio boss led by Ohio boss Mark Hanna, settled Mark Hanna, settled on Governor on Governor William William McKinleyMcKinley of Ohio as of Ohio as their candidate, the their candidate, the Republican platform Republican platform opposed the coinage opposed the coinage of silverof silver


The Democrats sent two platforms to their The Democrats sent two platforms to their convention, the majority platform convention, the majority platform (supported by westerners and southerners) (supported by westerners and southerners) called for tariff reduction, an income tax, called for tariff reduction, an income tax, stricter control of trusts and railroads, and stricter control of trusts and railroads, and free silver in an attempt to neutralize the free silver in an attempt to neutralize the People’s Party (the Populists)People’s Party (the Populists)


“ “If they dare to come out in the open and defend If they dare to come out in the open and defend the gold standard as a good thing, we will fight the gold standard as a good thing, we will fight them to the uttermost. Having behind us the them to the uttermost. Having behind us the producing masses of this nation and the world, producing masses of this nation and the world, supported by the commercial interests, the supported by the commercial interests, the laboring interests and the toilers everywhere, we laboring interests and the toilers everywhere, we will answer their demand for a gold standard by will answer their demand for a gold standard by saying to them: ‘You shall not press down upon saying to them: ‘You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns; you shall the brow of labor this crown of thorns; you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.”not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.”


William Jennings Bryan was a 36 year old congressman William Jennings Bryan was a 36 year old congressman from Nebraska when he delivered this speech, he was from Nebraska when he delivered this speech, he was nominated on the fifth ballot to be the Democratic nominee nominated on the fifth ballot to be the Democratic nominee for President (and still remains the youngest person ever for President (and still remains the youngest person ever nominated to be President) he was hailed as the Great nominated to be President) he was hailed as the Great Commoner he served as a potent symbol of rural, Commoner he served as a potent symbol of rural, Protestant, middle-class America, the People’s Party Protestant, middle-class America, the People’s Party (Populists) “fused” with the Democrats and nominated (Populists) “fused” with the Democrats and nominated Bryan as well.Bryan as well.

The Election of 1896 The Election of 1896

The business and financial The business and financial community was terrified of the community was terrified of the prospect of a Bryan victory, prospect of a Bryan victory, contributed lavishly to the contributed lavishly to the Republican Party, which Republican Party, which outspent the Democrats outspent the Democrats $7,000,000 to $300,000$7,000,000 to $300,000


McKinley conducted a “front-porch” McKinley conducted a “front-porch” campaign which was organized and run by campaign which was organized and run by Mark Hanna, Bryan conducted a whistle-Mark Hanna, Bryan conducted a whistle-stop campaign in which he visited the four stop campaign in which he visited the four corners of the U.S. and explained to voters corners of the U.S. and explained to voters why he wanted to be President (the first why he wanted to be President (the first modern presidential campaign), he traveled modern presidential campaign), he traveled more than 18,000 miles and spoke to an more than 18,000 miles and spoke to an estimated 5 million people, prior to this estimated 5 million people, prior to this campaign people “stood” for President campaign people “stood” for President rather than “running” for Presidentrather than “running” for President


Bryan’s revivalistic, camp-meeting Bryan’s revivalistic, camp-meeting style pleased the old-stock style pleased the old-stock Protestants, but it antagonized many Protestants, but it antagonized many of the immigrant Catholics and other of the immigrant Catholics and other ethnic groups who normally voted ethnic groups who normally voted Democratic, they saw Bryan as the Democratic, they saw Bryan as the embodiment of a rural, Protestant embodiment of a rural, Protestant morality that was often directed morality that was often directed against themagainst them


McKinley won the election by a vote McKinley won the election by a vote of 271 votes in the Electoral College of 271 votes in the Electoral College (51.1% of the popular vote) to (51.1% of the popular vote) to Bryan’s 176 votes in the Electoral Bryan’s 176 votes in the Electoral College (47.7% of the popular vote), it College (47.7% of the popular vote), it was a sectional election with was a sectional election with McKinley carrying the industrialized McKinley carrying the industrialized areas and Bryan carrying the rural areas and Bryan carrying the rural areas, it also spelled the end of the areas, it also spelled the end of the People’s PartyPeople’s Party

Election of 1896


McKinley and the Republicans McKinley and the Republicans pushed for higher tariff rates, pushed for higher tariff rates, resulting in the Dingley Tariff resulting in the Dingley Tariff which pushed tariff rates to their which pushed tariff rates to their highest point in American historyhighest point in American history


The Currency Act (or Gold The Currency Act (or Gold Standard Act) of 1900 confirmed Standard Act) of 1900 confirmed the nation’s commitment to the the nation’s commitment to the gold standard by assigning a gold standard by assigning a specific gold value to the dollar specific gold value to the dollar and required all currency issued and required all currency issued by the U.S. to hew to that valueby the U.S. to hew to that value


Prosperity began to return in Prosperity began to return in 1898, foreign crop failures sent 1898, foreign crop failures sent agricultural prices soaring, and agricultural prices soaring, and businesses began to experience businesses began to experience a return to prosperitya return to prosperity

The Election of 1896The Election of 1896

The amount of currency in The amount of currency in circulation grew rapidly with the circulation grew rapidly with the development of new mining development of new mining techniques and the discovery of techniques and the discovery of huge gold deposits in Alaska, huge gold deposits in Alaska, South Africa and Australia, by South Africa and Australia, by 1898 two and half times as much 1898 two and half times as much gold was produced as in 1890gold was produced as in 1890

chapter 19 gilded age politics. the politics of equilibrium the most striking feature of the late...

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