The document summarizes political events in the United States during the Gilded Age from the 1870s-1890s. It discusses the rise of third parties like the Populists in response to economic hardship faced by farmers. It also covers civil service reform efforts and the growing conflict between pro-silver and pro-gold factions that came to a head in the 1896 presidential election between William Jennings Bryan and William McKinley.

1. Chapter 18: Politics of the Gilded Age

2. Timeline of Presidents through this era… Grant Hayes Garfield Arthur Cleveland Harrison Cleveland

3. The “Gilded Age” " What is the chief end of man?--to get rich. In what way?--dishonestly if we can; honestly if we must." -- Mark Twain-1871 “ Gilded” - covered in a thin layer of gold. Often hiding something unattractive underneath. This is a time of extreme wealth and poverty.

4. Section 1 Parties in Balance 1876-1892 - 3 of 5 Presidential elections were decide by less than 1% of the vote Couldn’t win both houses Timid Presidents is the result Scared to upset balance and lose power/votes

5. 1876 Rutherford B. Hayes Riddled with rumors of “fraud” “ His Fraudulency”, and “Rutherfraud” plagued by corruption, miscounts Announced, “one term”- opened the door for others to oppose him within his own party.

6. Strike ! Depression of 1873 Hayes in office in March of 1877 Baltimore/Ohio RR (B&O) Strike, rioting spreads through Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Chicago, and St. Louis… Hayes sends federal troops to Martinsburg, WV (Governor requested) Troops used as strikebreakers

7. Deflation-prices are falling Dollar could buy more, but farmers/businessmen who had loans, had to work twice as hard New “payback” dollars not worth same as “debt” dollars Farmers/Business push for “greenbacks” or for more coined silver Sought to raise prices (inflate) Coined silver dollars, prices did rise Called Free silver because it production was unlimited (Cha-Ching): Money

8. Bland-Allison Act Government coin $2 Million silver / month Result? Prices go up- (Good for Farmers and Businessmen)

9. Richards P. Bland, a Congressman from Missouri, was able to gain passage of a bill that provided for liberal coinage of silver. The more conservative Senate toned down the House proposal and with the support of Senator William B. Allison of Iowa agreed on the terms of what became the Bland-Allison Act: The U.S. Treasury was instructed to purchase between $2 million and $4 million worth of silver each month from the western mines The metal was to be minted into silver dollars as legal tender. Reactions to this measure were predictable. The mining and debtor interests argued that the Bland-Allison did not go far enough and urged the "free and unlimited coinage of silver ." The conservative forces took the opposite approach, urged repeal of Bland-Allison and argued that economic sanity could only be restored by adherence to the gold standard. President Rutherford B. Hayes, influenced by industrial and banking interests, vetoed the measure. Congress promptly overrode the veto.

10. Spoiled Rotten “To the victor goes the spoils” After election is won, it is a mad scramble for jobs- gov’t jobs People thought that if you worked hard for the campaign, you deserved a gov’t job. But, the result was: no qualifications Critics say, “Out with the Party Hacks”

11. Reforming Spoiled Gov’t Leads to Civil Service Reform Carl Shurz and Harper’s Weekly’s George W. Curtis lead reform President Ulysses S. Grant appoints a commission, but “Stalwarts”, or Republican Bosses prevent anything from ever happening Most famous Stalwart- Roscoe Conkling: NY State Boss

12. “ Pump your brakes, Mr. C.” What did the Bland-Allison Act try to accomplish? How? What “system” needed serious reform to ensure political positions were filled with competent leaders? What group tried to prevent reform from happening? Why?

13. NY Customhouse Shuffle Hayes in office, pushes for reform Wants to change hiring in the NY Customhouse 2/3 of the nation’s revenue of tariffs went to 1000 people working there Reform included: No gov’t workers involved in campaigning Asked Chester A. Arthur and Alonzo B. Cornell to resign from Customhouse Conkling furious, fights back First attempt at regulating spoils system

14. Battle Lines Are Drawn Business vs Reform Stalwarts vs. ‘Half breeds” Business interests Business and civil service reform, hands off South Boss Conkling JamesG. Blaine NY Stalwart “Plumed Knight”

15. Blaine, the “Plumed Knight” James Gillespie Blaine, the "Plumed Knight" (1830-1893)

16. Election of 1880 At the Republican convention, it became deadlocked between Grant and Blaine, so the party chose- James A. Garfield To cater to the Stalwarts, the VP ticket went to Chester Arthur (business guy) Democrats choose: General Winfield Scott Hancock Outcome 1880: Bloody Shirt, Garfield wins

17. “ The Bloody Shirt" In the years following the Civil War, each party struggled to find political issues to distinguish it from the other and to try to seize government power. From 1868 to 1880, the most common Republican campaign tactic was to wave the "Bloody Shirt" to remind voters of the South's dishonor of seceding and causing the Civil War. This tactic painted all Democrats as traitors to the Union.

18. Whoa, slow down. What caused such a rift in the Republican Party before the election of 1880? Who was involved? What did they support? Did one of them get nominated for President? How was the South characterized?

19. Garfield begins.. Garfield elected Solid South-Democrats from 1880-1920 Credit Mobilier Bribed w/ stock in his company Garfield names rivals of Stalwarts (& Conkling) to head customhouse jobs

20. Credit Mobilier Scandal (Flashback- 1872) Grant reelected Transcontinental Railroad Approved Union Pacific/ Central Pacific RR Union Pacific creates Credit Mobilier which receives pay for work done , or not. Using federal RR funding. Rep. Garfield and VP Schuyler Colfax bribed with Credit Mobilier stock to keep quiet.

21. “I am a Stalwart…” Charles Guiteau- Chicago lawyer Failed to get job in “spoils” Shoots Garfield in the back at a RR station- 1881 “ I am a Stalwart, and Arthur is President now!” 11 weeks later, Garfield dies.

22. “ I am a Stalwart…”

23. Hold up, wait a minute. What is Credit Mobilier? What effect did the spoils system have on Garfield’s presidency? What is a Stalwart? Who would most likely support Stalwart policy?

24. Arthur is President now! Arthur is seen as wealthy, Stalwart, high-class party hack WOW! Arthur calls for Civil Service Reform Why? **To avoid defeat in next election (1884) Balance!!!

25. Contributions of Chester Arthur Arthur worked on tariff reform Modernized the Navy But, “Could a leopard change his spots?” Blaine is nominated for Rep. Ticket in 1884

26. Uh, what does that mean? Can a leopard change his spots? Party Hack Credit Mobilier Bloody Shirt Stalwart Half-Breed Civil Service Reform

27. Pendleton Act of 1883 Civil service reform bill of 1883 called... Pendleton Act of 1883- stopped appointment to office for political reasons. Jobholders couldn’t be assessed to support the party. 15% of jobs were classified decided by winners of qualification competition exams Stopped “pork barrel” legislation for river and harbor work (Catering to your district of constituents)

28. Is there corruption today? Wolfowitz 'broke World Bank laws' -A panel of executives says its President broke bank rules in awarding a substantial pay rise to his girlfriend. Iraq contracting scam Three Army Reserve officers, two civilians accused in bid-rigging scheme • Indictment says $8.6 million in reconstruction funds steered to a contractor • Accused allegedly received kickbacks that included vehicles, jewelry, real estate Katrina storm fraudsters paid $1.4bn The US government gave bogus assistance to victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita The Republican majority leader in the House of Representatives Tom DeLay has been indicted with criminal conspiracy Jurors convict Scooter Libby on four of five charges Cheney’s ex-aide faces jail time in CIA leak case

30. Not just in poor countries …

31. Section 2 Democrats Come and Go Grover Cleveland the reformer “ veto mayor” Stayed independent through years of corruption

32. Mugwumps Blaine (r ) v. Cleveland Ridicule of Reformers Republicans call reformers MUGWUMPS after Algonquin Indian word for chief Attacked Cleveland for being a drunk and immoral

33. Serendipitous Events Two Events Minister calls party (D) a party of “ rum, Romanism, and rebellion” Democrats jump on opportunity to alert Irish about “Blaine’s remark” Dinner Feast of Blaine while starving children go hungry

34. Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 Senator Shelby M Cullom (il) Thought govt should regulate RR RR too rich and powerful No competition No freight charge per distance Couldn’t rely on fair rate, secret charges New rates would be proportionate to distance Public schedules and rates ***Regulating “big business” ***

35. Tariffs (taxes) Treasury pulling 100 million more than its spent..cut taxation Reduce tariffs Customs duties that raised the price of imported goods Big business and labor wanted high tariffs to protect American industry against foreign competition A real Issue!

36. Election of 1888 “ unnecessary taxation is unjust taxation” (d) Cleveland (r) Benjamin Harrison aloof, unfriendly man “ front porch campaign” Harrison wins with big dollar support

37. Electoral reform Civil rights bill Harrison disliked the treatment of Southern blacks at the polls Blacks = Republicans Why? Lodge Bill Filibuster to prevent bill from passing Compromise= Tariff bill for Lodge Bill

38. Sherman Anti Trust Act By 1880, 90% of lamp oil made by Standard Oil EC Knight –sugar American Tobacco Co- tobacco Issue interests both parties “ like passing a law against the wind” people and Congress for anti trust Big business against Not until T Roosevelt does it stop

39. Section 3 Farmers Local lodges organize into Granges collaborate to buy own seed and fertilizer Alliances -farmers become more involved into politics, blaming RR and banks for farming demise

40. Populists Founded by Western and Southern farmers in 1892 Saw corruption everywhere:business, homes, Dem/Rep parties 5 Demands free coinage income tax govt ownership of RR shorter working day direct election of Senators

41. Famous Populists Mary Elizabeth Lease (KS) “ What farmers need to raise less corn and more hell.” “ Sockless” Jerry Simpson (KS) Tom Watson (GA) “ ...ants will carry me out the keyhole...”

42. Section 4 Our Money... William Jennings Bryan (IL) “ Great Commoner” & “Prairie Avenger” distrusted the rich every argument posed him and God vs opponent and Satan “ You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold”

43. Election of 1896 Bryan vs. McKinley McKinley campaign run by Mark Hanna spread the opinion that life would be in shambles if Bryan won election. Effective propaganda Bryan couldn’t appeal to city and industry McKinley wins