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