POLITICAL POLITICAL REALIGNMENTSREALIGNMENTS

IN THE 1890sIN THE 1890s

Politics of StalematePolitics of Stalemate

Politics was a major fascination of the late Politics was a major fascination of the late nineteenth centurynineteenth century

White males made up bulk of electorateWhite males made up bulk of electorate– Women may vote in national elections only in Women may vote in national elections only in

Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, ColoradoWyoming, Utah, Idaho, Colorado– Black men denied vote by poll tax, literacy Black men denied vote by poll tax, literacy

teststests

The Party DeadlockThe Party Deadlock

Post-Civil War Democratic party divides electorate Post-Civil War Democratic party divides electorate almost evenly with Republicansalmost evenly with Republicans

Democrats emphasize state’s rights and limited Democrats emphasize state’s rights and limited governmentgovernment

Republicans see government as agent to promote moral Republicans see government as agent to promote moral progress and material wealthprogress and material wealth

One-party control of both Congress and White House One-party control of both Congress and White House rarerare

Each party has safe states, control of federal Each party has safe states, control of federal government rests with 6 “doubtful” states in North and government rests with 6 “doubtful” states in North and MidwestMidwest

Federal influence wanes, state control risesFederal influence wanes, state control rises

Experiments in the StatesExperiments in the States

State government commissions State government commissions investigate, regulate railroads, factoriesinvestigate, regulate railroads, factories

Munn v. IllinoisMunn v. Illinois (1877) upholds (1877) upholds constitutionality of state investigationsconstitutionality of state investigations

Wabash case (1886) prompts Wabash case (1886) prompts establishment of Interstate Commerce establishment of Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC)Commission (ICC)

ICC prototype for modern regulatory ICC prototype for modern regulatory agenciesagencies

Reestablishing Reestablishing Presidential PowerPresidential Power

Presidency hits nadir under JohnsonPresidency hits nadir under Johnson Later presidents reassert executive powerLater presidents reassert executive power

– Hayes ended military ReconstructionHayes ended military Reconstruction– Garfield asserted leadership of his partyGarfield asserted leadership of his party– Arthur strengthened navy, civil service reformArthur strengthened navy, civil service reform– Cleveland used veto to curtail federal Cleveland used veto to curtail federal

activities, called for low tariffsactivities, called for low tariffs

The Election of 1880The Election of 1880

The Election of 1884The Election of 1884

Republicans in Power:Republicans in Power:The Billion-Dollar CongressThe Billion-Dollar Congress

1888: Republicans control both White 1888: Republicans control both White House and Capitol Hill House and Capitol Hill

1890: Adoption of Reed Rules permits 1890: Adoption of Reed Rules permits enactment of “billion dollar” program enactment of “billion dollar” program

Tariffs, Trusts and SilverTariffs, Trusts and Silver 1890: McKinley Tariff raises duties to historic 1890: McKinley Tariff raises duties to historic

highhigh Dependents Pension Act: By 1893, 1 million Dependents Pension Act: By 1893, 1 million

receiving pensions from union army receiving pensions from union army 1890: Sherman Anti-Trust Act regulates big 1890: Sherman Anti-Trust Act regulates big

businessbusiness– U.S. vs. E.C. KnightU.S. vs. E.C. Knight clarifies that law does not apply clarifies that law does not apply

to manufacturersto manufacturers

1890: Sherman Silver Purchase Act moves 1890: Sherman Silver Purchase Act moves country toward bi-metallic monetary systemcountry toward bi-metallic monetary system

The 1890 ElectionsThe 1890 Elections

““Billion Dollar” Congress alienates peopleBillion Dollar” Congress alienates people Republicans also assert activist Republicans also assert activist

government policies on state levelgovernment policies on state level– Sunday closing lawsSunday closing laws– ProhibitionProhibition– Mandatory English in public schoolsMandatory English in public schools

1890: Alienated voting blocks turn out 1890: Alienated voting blocks turn out Republican legislatorsRepublican legislators

The Rise of the The Rise of the Populist MovementPopulist Movement

Discontented farmers of West and South Discontented farmers of West and South provide base of support provide base of support

The National Farmers' Alliance and The National Farmers' Alliance and Industrial Union the resultIndustrial Union the result

The Farm ProblemThe Farm Problem

Worldwide agricultural economy causes Worldwide agricultural economy causes great fluctuations in supply and demandgreat fluctuations in supply and demand

Farmers’ complaintsFarmers’ complaints– Lower prices for crops (although purchasing Lower prices for crops (although purchasing

power rising) power rising) – Rising railroad rates (rates actually declining)Rising railroad rates (rates actually declining)– Onerous mortgages (loans permit production Onerous mortgages (loans permit production

expansion)expansion)

Conditions of farmers vary by regionConditions of farmers vary by region General feeling of depression, resentmentGeneral feeling of depression, resentment

Selected Commodity PricesSelected Commodity Prices

The Fast-Growing The Fast-Growing Farmers' AllianceFarmers' Alliance

1875: Southern Alliance begins1875: Southern Alliance begins Alliance movement segregated, Colored Alliance movement segregated, Colored

Farmer’s National AllianceFarmer’s National Alliance– Destroyed after leaders lynched in 1891Destroyed after leaders lynched in 1891

1889: Regional Alliances merge into National 1889: Regional Alliances merge into National Farmer’s Alliance Farmer’s Alliance

Division in the SouthDivision in the South– Tillman: Capture existing Democratic party to Tillman: Capture existing Democratic party to

maintain white supremacymaintain white supremacy– Tom Watson and Leondias Polk urge new partyTom Watson and Leondias Polk urge new party

Starting 1890, Alliance runs candidatesStarting 1890, Alliance runs candidates– Speakers like Mary “Yellin’” Lease promote Alliance Speakers like Mary “Yellin’” Lease promote Alliance

candidatescandidates

The Fast-Growing The Fast-Growing Farmers' Alliance: Ocala DemandsFarmers' Alliance: Ocala Demands

System of government warehouses to System of government warehouses to hold crops for higher priceshold crops for higher prices

Free coinage of silverFree coinage of silver Low tariffsLow tariffs Federal income taxFederal income tax Direct election of Senators Direct election of Senators Regulation of railroadsRegulation of railroads

The People's PartyThe People's Party

Southern Alliance splits from Democrats to Southern Alliance splits from Democrats to form Populist partyform Populist party

Southern Populists recruit African Southern Populists recruit African Americans, give them influential positionsAmericans, give them influential positions

1892: Populist presidential candidate 1892: Populist presidential candidate James Weaver draws over one million James Weaver draws over one million votesvotes– Loses South to violence and intimidation by Loses South to violence and intimidation by

Southern DemocratsSouthern Democrats– Loses urban areasLoses urban areas

Alliance wanes after 1892 elections Alliance wanes after 1892 elections

The Crisis of the DepressionThe Crisis of the Depression

Economic crisis dominated the 1890sEconomic crisis dominated the 1890s Railroads overbuilt, companies grew Railroads overbuilt, companies grew

beyond their markets, farms and beyond their markets, farms and businesses went deeply in debtbusinesses went deeply in debt

The Panic of 1893The Panic of 1893

February, 1893: Failure of major railroad February, 1893: Failure of major railroad sparks panic on New York Stock sparks panic on New York Stock ExchangeExchange

Investors sell stock to purchase goldInvestors sell stock to purchase gold Depleted Treasury shakes confidence Depleted Treasury shakes confidence May, 1893: Market hits record low, May, 1893: Market hits record low,

business failures displace 2 million business failures displace 2 million workersworkers

1894: Corn crop fails1894: Corn crop fails

Coxey's Army and the Coxey's Army and the Pullman StrikePullman Strike

1894: Jacob Coxey led “Coxey’s Army” to 1894: Jacob Coxey led “Coxey’s Army” to Washington to demand reliefWashington to demand relief

Pullman strike joined by Eugene Debs’ Pullman strike joined by Eugene Debs’ American Railway Union closed Western American Railway Union closed Western railroadsrailroads

President Cleveland suppressed strikes President Cleveland suppressed strikes with federal troops and Debs was arrestedwith federal troops and Debs was arrested

The Miners of the MidwestThe Miners of the Midwest

United Mine Workers strike of 1894United Mine Workers strike of 1894 ““Old miners”: English and Irish workers, Old miners”: English and Irish workers,

owners of small family mines owners of small family mines ““New miners”: 1880s immigrantsNew miners”: 1880s immigrants Strike pits new miners against oldStrike pits new miners against old

A Beleaguered PresidentA Beleaguered President

Cleveland repeals Sherman Silver Cleveland repeals Sherman Silver Purchase Act to remedy Panic of 1893Purchase Act to remedy Panic of 1893

Repeal fails to stop depressionRepeal fails to stop depression Repeal makes silver a political issueRepeal makes silver a political issue Democrats renege on promise of lower Democrats renege on promise of lower

tarifftariff

Breaking the Party DeadlockBreaking the Party Deadlock

Election of 1894 reduced Democrats to a Election of 1894 reduced Democrats to a sectional southern organizationsectional southern organization

Republicans swept congressional Republicans swept congressional electionselections

Republicans became majority elsewhereRepublicans became majority elsewhere

Changing AttitudesChanging Attitudes

Depression of 1893 forced recognition of Depression of 1893 forced recognition of structural causes of unemploymentstructural causes of unemployment

Americans accepted the need for Americans accepted the need for government intervention to help the poor government intervention to help the poor and joblessand jobless

““Everybody Works but Father”Everybody Works but Father”

Women and children paid lower wages, Women and children paid lower wages, displaced men during depression displaced men during depression

Employers retained women and children Employers retained women and children after depression to hold down costsafter depression to hold down costs

Changing Themes in LiteratureChanging Themes in Literature

Depression encouraged “realist” schoolDepression encouraged “realist” school Mark Twain’s characters spoke in dialectMark Twain’s characters spoke in dialect William Dean Howells, Stephen Crane William Dean Howells, Stephen Crane

portrayed grim life of the poorportrayed grim life of the poor Frank Norris attacked power of big Frank Norris attacked power of big

businessbusiness Theodore Dreiser presented humans as Theodore Dreiser presented humans as

helpless before vast social, economic helpless before vast social, economic forcesforces

The Presidential Election of The Presidential Election of 18961896

Free coinage of silver the main issueFree coinage of silver the main issue– Boost the money supplyBoost the money supply– Seen as solution to depressionSeen as solution to depression

New voting patterns emerged and national New voting patterns emerged and national policy shiftedpolicy shifted

The Mystique of SilverThe Mystique of Silver

““Free and independent coinage of silver”Free and independent coinage of silver”– Set ratio of silver to gold at 16:1Set ratio of silver to gold at 16:1– U.S. mints coined all silver offered to themU.S. mints coined all silver offered to them– U.S. coined silver regardless of other U.S. coined silver regardless of other

nations’ policiesnations’ policies

Silverites believed amount in circulation Silverites believed amount in circulation determined level of economic activitydetermined level of economic activity

A moral crusade for the common peopleA moral crusade for the common people

Republicans and GoldRepublicans and Gold

Candidate: William McKinleyCandidate: William McKinley Silverite Republicans defeated on Silverite Republicans defeated on

convention floorconvention floor Promised gold standard to restore Promised gold standard to restore

prosperityprosperity

The Democrats and SilverThe Democrats and Silver

Candidate: William Jennings BryanCandidate: William Jennings Bryan Free silver promised in "Cross of Gold" Free silver promised in "Cross of Gold"

speechspeech Democrats were enthusiasticDemocrats were enthusiastic

Campaign and ElectionCampaign and Election

Populist party endorsed BryanPopulist party endorsed Bryan Bryan offered return to rural, religious U.S.Bryan offered return to rural, religious U.S. McKinley defended urban, industrial McKinley defended urban, industrial

societysociety Election was a clear victory for McKinley, Election was a clear victory for McKinley,

utter rout of Populist partyutter rout of Populist party

The McKinley AdministrationThe McKinley Administration

McKinley took office at depression’s endMcKinley took office at depression’s end An activist presidentAn activist president Dingley Tariff raised rates to record Dingley Tariff raised rates to record

highshighs 1900: U.S. placed on gold standard1900: U.S. placed on gold standard 1900: McKinley won landslide reelection 1900: McKinley won landslide reelection

against William Jennings Bryanagainst William Jennings Bryan

The Election of 1900The Election of 1900

A Decade’s Dramatic ChangesA Decade’s Dramatic Changes

September, 1901: McKinley assassinatedSeptember, 1901: McKinley assassinated Theodore Roosevelt became presidentTheodore Roosevelt became president