Issues of the late 1800s/early 1900s Expansion of large corporations Settlement of the trans-Mississippi West Surge in urban growth The political strain from all three

What would be the governments proper role?

How do we assimilate all the immigrants?

What about access to new markets?

From 1877 to 1884 political struggles were intense: Pres. Elections were close; House changed five times; seven new states admitted

Democrats control the South Republicans consolidate their coalition in 1896 Elections during this time had high voter

turnout (80%) Navigating unsure economic times Influx of immigrants Growth of cities

However, DC ignored most problems generated by industrialization

Contested political visions Republicans became the party supporting

expansion of the railroad, tariff protection, land subsidies for farmers, preserver of the family

Democrats viewed emancipation as a threat to patriarchy

Neither party thought the govt. should regulate corporations or protect the social welfare of workers Laissez-faire was the rule

People looked more towards local authorities Women were pulled into politics because both

parties linked economic prosperity to family values

Patterns of Party Strength Republicans and Democrats then are not the

same as today In the late 1800s

Republicans ruled rural and small town New England, PA, and upper Midwest; they ran military leaders and “waved the bloody shirt”

Democrats ruled the South and northern cities; southerners campaigned for minimal govt., opposed tariff increases, and attacked govt. interference in the economy

Especially in the North they opposed prohibition and English language requirements

The role of governmental authority shaped the general political debate, but family tradition, ethnic ties, religious affiliation, and local issues determined an individual’s vote Catholics (esp. Irish) and Germans voted Dem. Old-stock northerners (75% of Methodists and

Congregationalists; 65% of Baptists; 60% of Presbyterians) voted Rep.

British-born Protestants and 80% of Swedish and Norwegian Lutherans voted Rep.

African Am. Voted Rep. Social issues were key: prohibition, prostitution,

gambling, Sabbath observance

Regulating Money Supply How to create a money supply adequate for a

growing economy without producing inflation Americans revered gold and silver Bankers, creditors, business leaders,

politicians, economists favored sound money Southerners and westerners favored

expanded money The first question was Greenbacks Greenback Party forms in 1877 and wins

congressional seats The next question was silver

Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890: the Treasury was to purchase 4.5 million ounces of silver monthly

The Spoils System The push for civil service reform Hayes launches an investigation of New York City

customs offices: Future president Arthur is one of the spoils issuers

Garfield wins the election of 1880 Garfield is assassinated by a begrudged civil service

workers that expected patronage Arthur, the poster child for corruption, takes over For the fallen president, the Pendleton Civil Service

Act is passed Competitive exams; standards of merit; political

candidates can’t solicit from government workers (initially only 12%)

1884: Cleveland Victories Republicans nominate a young James

Blaine Supposed to be different from Grantism

Democrats nominate Grover Cleveland (many Republicans bolted to him – Mugwumps) However had fathered an illegitimate child;

“Ma, Ma, where’s my pa?” Cleveland was also opposed by Tammany Hall

Democrats were denounced as the party of “Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion”

Tariffs and Pensions Tariff issue

Which products, commodities, or raw materials?

the high tariffs of the 1880s had created a budget surplus; was this bad? Cleveland found it a corrupting influence because

of pork-barrel projects (a paternalistic govt.) Pension issue

Cleveland also took on the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) over costly pensions

He vetoed a bill which would have pensioned all disabled veterans

1888: Big Business and the GAR strike back

Nominating Benjamin Harrison (weak) Hit the tariff issue, focusing on the importance

of having a high protective tariff Ensured prosperity, Provided decent wages, and a Healthy home market for farmers

They got around the Pendleton Civil Service Act and received money from corporations ($4 million)

Cleveland won the popular; Harrison won the College

Pension rolls ballooned from 676,000 to about 1,000,000 (America’s first public welfare program)

1890 the Rep. passed the McKinley Tariff

The Grange Abundant harvests undercut prices Beginning in 1867 farmers begin to form

cooperatives Oliver Kelley and the Grange (Patrons of

Husbandry) Offered information, emotional support, and

fellowship By less and produce more Set up cash-only cooperatives

The also attacked the railroads, who always charged less for large producers and bribed legislators

The lobbied state legislatures Munn v. Illinois (1877) – court upheld the

law to set a maximum rate, however. . . Wabash v. Illinois (1886) – court held that

states can’t regulate interstate railroad rates

Congress passes the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 – federal authority; est. the ICC (all it did was est. the feds role)

The railroads may have lost at the national level, but the won at the state’s by lobbying state govts. Most state repealed regulation laws by

1878 The Grange ultimately collapses under

the weight of the “necessity” – borrowing money After the crop was grown all else was out of

the farmers control: Farmers were at the mercy of local merchants and farm equipment dealers, railroads form transportation

Alliance Movement Centered in the South and West (Grange was the

Plains) Begin in Texas in the 1870s but became the

National Farmers’ Alliance and Industrial Union (or Southern Alliance); a parallel black org., the National Colored Farmers’ Alliance emerge in Arkansas

Same ideas as the Grange 3 million in the Southern; 1.2 million in the NCFA These farmers were the most geographically

isolated, poorest, and relied on one crop The Alliance was to give them knowledge and

opportunity

It eventually spread to the Plains, but weather destroyed hopes in the mid-to-late 1880s

“In God we trusted, in Kansas we busted” The Southern Alliance led by Tom Watson

and Leonidas Polk urged blacks and whites to work together

Women also joined the struggle Mary E Lease: “raise less corn and more

hell” The National Women’s Alliance in 1891

Unified political action in 1890 with a litmus test for politicians Tariff reduction Graduated income tax Public ownership of the railroads Federal funding for irrigation research Ban on land ownership by aliens Free and unlimited coinage of silver

Success Four governorships and control of

eight legislatures in the South On the Plains alliance endorsed

candidates secured control in NE leg. And balance in MN and SD

Problem Northern Alliance sought a 3rd

party to fight for their issues Southern Alliance didn’t want any

challenges to the Democratic Party because it was the party of white supremacy

However, in 1892 alliance leaders organized the People’s Party of the United States; James B. Weaver is the nominee

Party platform Traditional goals of the alliance Direct election of senators Govt. warehouses for surplus storage,

receive low interest loans using crops as collateral, sell stored commodities when market prices rose

African Americans in Reconstruction Redeemer coalition in the South

Large landowners Merchants New South industrialist

None cared for blacks in the South beyond insuring they behaved or voted their way

They were scared of Negro Rule Convict lease program

Notes Quiz 1. Why was election turnout so high

during this time period? 2. What did Republicans support during

this time period? Identify four. 3. What were two provisions of the

Pendleton Civil Service Act? 4. What was Wabash v. Illinois? 5. Why did the Grange collapse? 6. What were four political ideas on the

People’s Party’s platform?