Chapter 19:From Stalemate to Crisis

Chapter 19:From Stalemate to Crisis

I. The Politics of Equilibrium

In the late 19th century, most Americans engaged in political activity because of broad regional, ethnic, and religious sentiments

The Party System

From the end of Reconstruction to the late 1890s, the electoral was divided almost precisely evenly
Republican Party captured the presidency in all but two of the elections of the era
In the five presidential elections beginning in 1876, the average popular-vote margin separating the Democratic and Republican candidates was 1.5%
Republicans generally controlled the Senate, the Democrats generally controlled the House
Voter turn out in presidential elections between 1860 and 1900 averaged over 78% of eligible voters
Party loyalties reflected many factors: region was the most important, religious & ethnic differences & church
Democrats attracted Catholic voters, recent immigrants and poorer voters
Republicans appealed to northern Protestants and the middle-class

The National Government

Govt. in Washington was responsible for delivering mail, maintaining a national military, conducting foreign policy, and collecting tariffs and taxes
Federal govt. had been active for decades supporting the economic development of the nation
Gave subsidies to RR, usually in the form of grants of federal land
President Cleveland’s intervention in the Pullman strikes suggested the govt. was not averse to using its military and police power to protect capitalists from challenges from their workers
Between the end of the Civil War and the early 20th century, the federal govt. administered annual pensions for the retired Union Civil War workers and their widows
Reformers pressured the govt. to create a system of old-age pensions for all Americans

Presidents and Patronage

A new president and his tiny staff had to make almost 100,000 appointments
Most of them in the post office, the only real large govt. agency
Presidents had limited latitude; had to avoid offending various fractions w/in their own parties
At the end of Rutherford B. Hayes’ presidency, the Stalwarts—led by Roscoe Conkling—and the Half-Breeds—led by James G. Blaine—were competing for control of the Republican Party
Garfield tried to defy the Stalwarts by showing civil service reform and it led to his assassination
Pendleton Act required some federal jobs to be filled by written examinations rather than patronage

Cleveland, Harrison, and the Tariff

In the election of 1884, religious controversy may have been the deciding factory; Democratic candidate Grover Cleveland was victorious
Cleveland was respected for his stern and righteous opposition to politicians, grafters, pressure groups & Tammany Hall: he became famous as the “veto governor”
Cleveland doubted the wisdom of protective tariffs (taxes on imported goods designed to protect domestic producers)
In December 1887, Cleveland asked Congress to reduce tariffs, which became an issue in the election of 1888; Republican candidate Benjamin Harrison was victorious

New Public Issues

By the mid-1880s, fifteen western and southern states had adopted laws prohibiting combinations that restrained competition
Responding to popular demands, Congress passed the Sherman Antitrust Act in July 1890
Not likely to have any real effect on corporate power because it was indifferently enforced and steadily weakened by the courts-had virtually no impact
Highest protective measure ever proposed to Congress was the McKinley Tariff
Policies of Cleveland’s second term were devoted to minimal govt. and hostile to active efforts to deal w/ social or economic problems
Interstate Commerce Act banned discrimination in rates between long and short hauls, required RR to publish their rate schedules & file them with the govt, and declared all rates be “reasonable and just”

II. The Agrarian Revolt

Farmers frustration w/ federal govt. led to one of the most powerful movements, known as Populism

The Grangers

The Grange appeared in 1860s as a social & self-help association for farmers
Depression of 1873 turned it into an agency of political change
As membership grew, lodges in the Midwest began to focus less on social benefits & more on economic possibilities
They urged cooperative political action to curb monopolistic practices of the railroads & warehouses
Grangers worked to elect state legislators pledged to their program and managed to gain control of legislatures in most Midwestern states
Their purpose was to subject the RR to govt. control
Some Granger coops survived, but the movement as a whole dwindled rapidly

The Farmers Alliances

Farmers in Texas were banding together in so-called farmer alliances in 1875
Alliances were principally concerned w/ local problems; they formed coops, established stores, banks & processing plants
Some alliance leaders saw movement as an effort to build a society in which economic competition might give way to cooperation
Alliances were notable for the prominent role of women; they were full voting members and even held offices
Economic frustration helped push the movement into creation of a national political organization
In July 1892, delegates met in Omaha, NE to create new political party, approve official set of principles & nominate candidates for presidency & vice presidency
Official name became the People’s Party, but its members were known as Populists
Election of 1892 demonstrated potential power of the movement; party elected 3 governors, 5 senators and 10 congressmen

The Populist Constituency

In the Midwest, Populists were usually family farmers struggling to save their land
In the South, many were modest landowners & significant numbers were sharecroppers & tenant farmers
Most Populists had one thing in common: they were engaged in a type of farming that was less viable in the face of new mechanized and commercial agriculture
Populism never attracted significant labor support; economic interests of labor & farmers were at odds
Endorsed “free silver,” the idea of permitting silver,along with gold, to become the basis of currency
Most white Populists were willing to accept African American assistance as long as it was clear that whites were in control
Populist leaders were members of rural middle class: professionals, editors & lawyers or politicians & agitators

Populist Ideas

Reform program of the Populists was spelled out first in the Ocala Demands of 1890 and then, more clearly in the Omaha platform of 1892
Produced a system of “subtreasuries,” which would strengthen coops w/ both the Grangers & Alliances
Govt. would establish network of warehouses for farmers to deposit their crops
Populists called for abolition of national banks, end of absentee ownership of land, direct election of senators, regulation & govt. ownership of RR, telephones, and telegraphs, and demanded a graduated income tax
Some Populists were anti-Semitic, anti-intellectual, anti-eastern, and anti-urban
Populism was not a challenge to industrialization or capitalism, but a response to the brutal and chaotic way the economy was developing

III. The Crisis of the 1890s

Beginning in 1893, there was a severe depression followed by widespread labor unrest and violence, culminating in the strikes of 1894

The Panic of 1893

Began when the Philadelphia and Reading RR declared bankruptcy; two months later, the National Cordage Company failed as well
The two corporate failures triggered the collapse of the stock market
Wave of bank failures soon began & caused a contraction of credit
Depression showed how dependent the economy was on the RR, the nation’s most powerful corporate & financial institution
Within six months, 8,000 businesses, 156 railroads, and 400 banks failed
“Coxey’s Army” was a band of 500 unemployed men who marched from Masillon,Ohio to WashingtonD.C.to present their demands to the govt. – Congress took no action on their demands

The Silver Question

President Cleveland believed the instability of currency was the primary cause of the depression
In the 1870s, the “mint” ratio of the value of silver to gold was 16:1
“Crime of ‘73” referred to the belief that a conspiracy of big bankers had been responsible for the “demonetization” of silver
Cleveland believed the cause of the weakening gold reserves was the Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890, which required the govt. to purchase silver & pay for it in gold
“Free silver” became a symbol of liberation & would be a “people’s money”
It would eliminate the indebtedness of farmers and of whole regions of the country

IV. “Cross of Gold”

-“money question” was a way to win support of people not engaged in farming but still starved for currency

The Emergence of Bryan

-opposing the free coinage of silver, the Republicans settled on William McKinley for the 1896 presidential candidate
-William Jennings Bryan delivered the “Cross of Gold” speech and the next day was nominated for president
-Bryan served as a potent symbol of rural, Protestant, middle-class America
-many argued that fusion with the Democrats would destroy their identity and—ultimately—their party

The Conservative Victory

-the 1896 produced desperation among conservatives
-McKinley conducted a “front porch” campaign, while Bryan introduced modern campaigning by “running” for office rather than “standing” for it
Bryan was the first presidential candidate to outright say that he wanted to be president
-McKinley won, which put an end to the Populist Party

McKinley and Recovery

-the McKinley administration was characterized by the submission of the labor unrest, a decline in agrarian protest, and a commitment to stability
-McKinley and his allies committed themselves fully to higher tariff rates
-The Currency Act of 1900 assigned a specific gold value to the dollar and required all currency issued by the U.S. to adhere to that value
-economic development seemed to vindicate the Republicans; prosperity returned in 1898, foreign crop failures sent farm prices surging upward, and American business entered a cycle of expansion

Chapter Nineteen

I. The Politics of Equilibrium

-in the late 19th century, most Americans engaged in political activity because of broad ______, ______, and ______sentiments

The Party System

-from the end of Reconstruction to the late 1890s, the electoral was divided almost precisely evenly; the ______generally controlled the Senate, the ______generally controlled the House

-in the five presidential elections beginning in 1876, the average popular-vote margin separating the Democratic and Republican candidates was ______

-voter turned out in presidential elections between 1860 and 1900 averaged over ______of eligible voters

-individuals might affiliate with a party because their parents had or because it was the party of their ______, ______, or ______group

The National Government

-the government in Washington was responsible for delivering _____, maintaining a national ______, conducting foreign policy, and collecting ______and taxes

-Pullman strikes suggested that the government was not averse to using its military and police power to protect ______from challenges from their ______

-reformers pressured the government to create a system of old-age ______for all Americans

-between the end of the Civil War and the early 20th century, the federal government administered annual pensions for the retired ______workers and their widows

Presidents and Patronage

-a new president and his staff had to make almost 100,000 appointments (most of them in the______, the only real large government agency)

-presidents had ______latitude, since they had to avoid offending the various fractions within their own parties

-at the end of Rutherford B. Hayes’ presidency, the ______—led by Roscoe Conkling—and the Half-Breeds—led by ______

______—were competing for control of the Republican Party

-Garfield tried to defy the ______and got assassinated

-the ______required some federal jobs to be filled by written examinations rather than patronage

Cleveland, Harrison, and the Tariff

-in the election of 1884, ______controversy may have been the deciding factory; Democratic candidate Grover Cleveland was victorious

-Dr. Samuel Burchard, referred to the Democrats as the party of “______, ______, and rebellion”

-Cleveland doubted the wisdom of protective tariffs (taxes on ______goods designed to protect ______producers)

-in 1887, Cleveland asked Congress to ______tariffs which became an issue in the election of 1888; Republican candidate ______was victorious

New Public Issues

-by the mid-1880s, ______western and southern states had adopted laws prohibiting combinations that restrained competition

-responding to popular demands for antitrust legislation, Congress passed the ______, which had no impact

-the highest protective measure ever proposed to Congress was the ______

-the ______banned discrimination in rates between long and short hauls, required railroads to publish their rate schedules and file them with the government, and declared all rates as “reasonable and just”

II. The Agrarian Revolt

-frustration with the federal government among farmers prompted one of the most powerful movements, known as ______

The Grangers

-began in 1860s as self-help association for farmers under the leadership of ______

-he established the ______after years of labor as secretary; from his association emerged a network of other local organizations

-after 1873, the Grange urged cooperative political action to curb monopolistic practices of the ______and ______

-began work to elect state legislators pledged to their program and managed to gain control of legislation in most of the ______states

The Farmers Alliances (the successor to the Grange)

-most notable farmers in ______were banding together in so-called farmer alliances in 1875

-some alliance leaders put in effort to build a society in which ______might give way to cooperation

-famous for the prominent role of ______; they were full voting members and even held offices

-in July 1892, the Alliance merged and became the ______, or the Populists

The Populist Constituency

-Populists were significant members of ______and tenant farmers

-most Populists had one thing in common: they were engaged in less viable farming in the face of a ______and ______agriculture

-endorsed the demand of “______,” or allowing silver to become the basis of currency along with gold

-most white Populists were willing to accept ______assistance as long as it was clear that whites were in control

Populist Ideas

-the reform program of the Populists was spelled out first in the _____

______of 1890 and then in the ______platform of 1892

-produced a system of “______,” which would replace and strengthen the cooperatives with both the Grangers and Alliances

-called for: abolition of ______, end of absentee ownership of land, ______of senators, regulation of railroads, telephones, and telegrams, and a ______

-many were anti-______, anti-intellectual, anti-______, and anti-urban

-not a challenge to ______or ______, but a response to the brutal and chaotic development of the economy

III. The Crisis of the 1890s

-beginning in ______, there was a severe depression followed by widespread labor unrest and violence

The Panic of 1893

-started when the ______declared bankruptcy; two months later, the National Cordage Company failed as well

-depression showed how dependent the economy was on the ______, the most powerful corporation in America

-within _____ months, 8,000 businesses, 156 railroads, and 400 banks failed

-“______Army” was a band of 500 unemployed men who marched from ______, Ohio to Washington, D.C. on foot to present their demands to the government

The Silver Question

-Cleveland believed ______was the primary cause of the depression

-in the 1870s, the “mint” ration of the value of silver to the value of gold was ___:___

-the ______referred to the belief that a conspiracy of big bankers had been responsible for the “demonetization” of silver

-Cleveland believed the cause of the weakening gold reserves was the ______of 1890, which required the government to purchase silver and pay for it in gold

-supporters believed “free silver” would eliminate the ______of farmers and of whole regions of the country

IV. “Cross of Gold”

-the “______” seemed a way to win support of people not engaged in farming but still starved for currency

The Emergence of Bryan

-opposing the free coinage of silver, the Republicans settled on ______for the 1896 presidential candidate

-William Jennings Bryan delivered the “Cross of Gold” speech and the next day was ______

-Bryan served as a potent symbol of rural, ______, middle-class America

-many argued that fusion with the ______would destroy their identity and—ultimately—their party

The Conservative Victory

-the 1896 victory produced desperation among conservatives

-McKinley conducted a “______” campaign, while Bryan introduced modern campaigning by “______” for office rather than “standing” for it

- ______was the first presidential candidate to outright say that he wanted to be president

-McKinley won, which put an end to the ______

McKinley and Recovery

-the McKinley administration was characterized by the submission of the labor unrest, a decline in ______protest, and a commitment to ______

-McKinley and his allies committed themselves fully to ______rates

-The ______of 1900 assigned a specific gold value to the dollar and required all currency issued by the U.S. to adhere to that value

-______seemed to vindicate the Republicans; prosperity returned in 1898, foreign crop failures sent farm prices surging upward, and American business entered a cycle of expansion

V. Conclusion

-a series of worthy, but dull, presidents presided over this political system as symbols of its ______

-battles between ______and workers intensified

-American ______became resentful of the decline in fortunes

-men and women grew angry about ______

Chapter Nineteen

Shelby Burton

A.J. Colpaert

5th Hour

May 19, 2010