Introducton to American History
Donbonano
1104_AmericanHistoryComb_9e_18.pptxChapter 18: The Politics of Conservatism and Dissent
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
Learning Objectives
Discuss the differences between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party.
Evaluate the reasons for the abandonment of black Americans by both parties. Explain the ways in which blacks were effectively disenfranchised from the electoral process.
Describe the political and social philosophy by Booker T. Washington.
Discuss the women’s suffrage movement of the late 19th century.
Discuss the key issues that came up in the presidential elections of the 1880s.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
Learning Objectives (Continued)
Describe the reasons behind the Agrarian Revolt, the push for “free silver” and the problems of the currency and price deflation.
Trace the evolution of the farmer’s movement from the Grange through the Populists.
Explain how the assassination of James Garfield helped propel Congress toward the passage of the Pendleton Act.
Discuss the personality and policies of Benjamin Harrison.
Explain the Populist platform and ideological leanings.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.1a Critics of the Gilded Age
The political activity of the Gilded Age lacked the vitality of other periods.
Most Americans felt the political parties were unresponsive to the needs of the American people.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.1b Two Empty Bottles
James Bryce’s description of the two political parties
Democrats: Southern whites and Northern immigrants; white supremacy in the South; farmers, workers, small businessmen
Republicans: business groups and farmers; blacks and Union army veterans
Waved “the bloody shirt”
Memories of the war
Democrats made inroads among Western farmers.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.1c The Pull of Sectionalism
Growth of industry and expansion of the West increased sectionalism.
Issues: currency, banking, tariffs, public lands, internal improvements, railroad regulation, immigration
A common feature: agriculture versus industry
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.1d The Disabled Presidency
Office of the president was at a low ebb in relation to its power and prestige.
Congress dominated government after Johnson’s impeachment.
It was believed that presidents should only enforce laws.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.1e The Party Bosses
The real power was in the hands of party bosses.
U.S. Senators headed powerful state machines before Civil Service controlled thousands of jobs.
Many cities were run by corrupt political machines, but the machines did provide some order, stability, and social services.
Tammany Hall, in New York City, was the most notorious example of a political machine.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.1f Upper-Class Reformers
Upper class reformers: Mugwumps
Men of high ideals criticized the spoils system and corruption.
They were not interested in helping the poor.
They included newspapermen, scholars, and intellectuals—men of high ideals prominent social position, conservative economic views, and usually of Republican background.
They were opposed to patronage and corruption.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.1g The Voters
Voters were often limited in what could be done to relieve social and economic discontent.
Voters did not consistently support either party.
Victory in national elections depended on heavily populated, “doubtful” states.
As a result, most political leaders in the Northeast functioned in an essentially conservative fashion.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.2a The Abandonment of the Blacks
The Republican Party was the party of civil rights, but it did little to help blacks in the South because it was more interested in gaining white voters.
Northerners also abandoned blacks.
Courts abandoned blacks: Fourteenth Amendment was binding on states—but not individuals (1883).
Plessy v. Ferguson, 1896, supported the “separate but equal” doctrine.
Both James Garfield and Chester Arthur failed to act on the issue of civil rights.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.2a The Abandonment of the Blacks (Continued)
Williams v. Mississippi (1898) approved disfranchisement of blacks through the following:
Poll taxes, white primaries, literacy tests
Whites were exempted from literacy tests under “grandfather clauses.”
Most whites believed they were superior to blacks.
“Jim Crow” laws allowed for segregation in virtually every aspect of life in the South.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.2a The Abandonment of the Blacks (Continued)
Booker T. Washington
Atlanta Compromise accepted inequality and segregation in return for economic security.
Blacks faced disfranchisement, discrimination, and lynching
Ida B. Wells-Barnett fought against lynching.
They were the poorest of the poor in the poorest region of the nation.
W.E.B. DuBois and T. Thomas Fortune argued for full equality.
Church became the center for black communities.
Segregation spurred some black entrepreneurship.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.2b New Achievements for Women
Women of the Gilded Age were struggling for more rights
Movement for right to vote split in 1870s.
Lucy Stone accepted both the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, even though they did not include women.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony opposed them.
The major parties ignored the issue.
Protestant fundamentalists opposed women’s suffrage.
National American Women’s Suffrage Movement unified factions in 1890.
Supreme Court ruled against women’s vote.
Women made progress in education and office work.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.2b New Achievements for Women (Continued)
Women comprised one-sixth of total workforce by 1900 with most in lowest-paying jobs and with pay unequal to that of men.
Belva Anna Bennett Lockwood, a campaigning woman, got Congress to approve equal pay for government workers in 1872.
Higher education opened up.
Women’s clubs flourished.
Women’s Christian Temperance Union, one of the largest organizations, was led by Frances Willard.
She was a vigorous leader who supported and other reforms.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.3a Hays and the Presidency
Hayes was a man of integrity and honest intentions.
Republican Party was split.
Democrats controlled House.
Hayes sought to restore some power to White House.
“He serves his party best who served his country best.”
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.3b Hayes Withdraws Troops from the South
Hayes ended military Reconstruction.
Hayes withdrew troops from the South.
Hayes determined that Reconstruction governments were unpopular and unsustainable.
He sought harmony.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.3c Depression and the Silver Question
Depression of 1873 was the worst depression up to that time.
“Crime of 73” Government discontinued silver coinage.
Farmers demanded “free coinage of silver” at a 16–1 ratio to the price of gold.
Bland-Allison Act resumed silver purchase.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.3d The Election of 1880
Hayes did not seek reelection and the Republican convention was divided.
“Half-Breed” Republican James Garfield defeated Winfield Scott Hancock.
James Weaver, Greenback Labor Party, got 4 percent of votes.
“Stalwart” Republican Chester Alan Arthur was selected as vice presidential running mate.
Garfield was elected.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.3e Garfield and Arthur
Garfield could conceivably have been a very good president.
Garfield was often compared to Lincoln with similar upbringing, talents, and career.
Charles J. Guiteau, a deranged and disgruntled office-seeker, assassinated Garfield on July 2, 1881.
Chester Alan Arthur was honest and able—despite his involvement in earlier United States Customs scandal.
He alienated his own party and supported Civil Service.
He also signed the Chinese restriction bill and supported more money for the navy.
Arthur chose not to run again in 1884 due to illness and lack of support from own party.
He died in 1886 of illness, probably cancer.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.3f The Civil Service Act
Most important legislation of Arthur’s presidency
Pendleton Civil Service Act created basis for a permanent civil service based on merit, not on spoils.
Exams were required for public service jobs
At first it affected only 12 percent of jobs.
Presidents could cover more employees at their discretion.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.3g The Election of 1884
Republicans turned their backs on Arthur.
James G. Blaine, “Half-Breed” Republican, ran against Grover Cleveland, Democrat
The campaign was based on personal abuse and negative attacks.
Blaine was accused of corruption and having sexual relations with his wife before their marriage.
Cleveland was criticized for fathering an illegitimate child.
A Blaine campaign worker in NYC slurred the Democratic Party as the party of Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion.
Cleveland won by very narrow margin.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.3h Cleveland and the Presidency
Cleveland had a reputation as a reformer and man of integrity.
Cleveland promised to adhere to “business principles.”
He was conservative and little different from Republicans.
He removed thousands of federal office holders and replaced them with Democrats.
He vetoed federal relief for farmers and hundreds of private military pension bills pushed through by Congress for those who had been rejected by the Pension Office.
Cleveland opposed silver purchase as a drain on treasury.
Little significant legislation passed during his term.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.3i The Tariff Issue
Republicans favored higher tariffs to protect manufacturing in the North.
Cleveland advocated a drastic reduction in tariffs.
House passed it; Senate did not.
Southerners supported lower tariffs; Northerners did not.
The tariff question became an issue in 1888.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.3j The Election of 1888
Election of 1888: One of the most corrupt elections in history
Benjamin Harrison, grandson of William Henry Harrison, and Republicans defended the protective tariff.
Grover Cleveland called for reduction.
Both parties bought votes.
Cleveland won the popular vote, but not the electoral vote.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.3k Harrison and the Republicans
Republicans had the won presidency and a majority in Congress.
Harrison was considered cold and intellectual: “Harrison sweats ice water.”
Leadership passed to Republicans in Congress who controlled both houses.
McKinley Tariff raised tariffs to a higher rate than ever before.
Dependent Pension Act gave pensions to all veterans suffering from disability, whether acquired in service or not, and to their widows and children.
Sherman Silver Act and Sherman Antitrust Act
The first billion dollars gave surpluses back to the states.
Republicans suffered major losses in 1890, but they gained control of House of Representative.
First Populists (9) were elected.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.4a The Plight of the Farmer
Farmers could not control their market or prices.
Prices declined to lower than what it cost to produce crops.
The cause was overexpansion in production.
Supply outran demand.
Tenant farmers increased to 35.3 percent of all farmers.
Interest rates rose to as high as 36 percent due to the currency shortage.
Farmers blamed railroads, banks, brokers, and high taxes.
The high tariff hurt them.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.4b The Granger Movement
Farmers felt they were being left behind and began to organize.
Patrons of Husbandry (1867), with 1.5 million members, began as a social organization.
Several states enacted Granger laws to regulate railroad rates.
Supreme Court upheld these as part of state’s “police power.”
Since Grange provided no immediate successes, membership fell rapidly.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.4c The Greenback Movement
Advocated the circulation of paper money
1867-1872 was dominated by labor, which promoted lower interest rates and reduced taxes.
Farmers took over in 1873.
Fifteen congressmen were elected in 1878.
James Weaver ran for president in 1880 (three percent of vote).
Corn prices rose after 1880.
Party was dead by 1888.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.4d The Farmers’ Alliance
New farm organizations began to appear when the Grange declined.
The Northwest Alliance (1880) & Southern Alliance (1875) tried cooperatives.
However, they failed to unify in 1888.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.4e The Emergence of Populism
Alliances issued demands that could only be met through political means, even though they claimed to be non-political.
Populism supported graduated income tax, direct election of U.S. senators, and government control of transportation.
In June 1890, People’s (Populist) Party organized in Kansas.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.4f Populist Ideology
Populists viewed the common people as the backbone of American society.
They distrusted intellectuals and big business and wanted to put the power back in the hands of ordinary people.
They also favored free silver, political rights for African Americans, eight-hour work day, and the elimination of Pinkteron detectives.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.4g The Election of 1892
Populists had strong appeal, but did not win the presidency.
Populist ran General James B. Weaver
Populist Party won 22 electoral votes and thousands of state and local offices.
Populist governors were elected in Kansas and North Dakota.
Cleveland defeated Harrison in his third straight popular vote victory.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.4h Cleveland and the Depression of 1893
Cleveland came into office at the time of a major depression
During the Depression of 1893, the worst in years, major corporate bankruptcies lead to stock panic, and the stock market collapsed.
Banks (500) and businesses (16,00) failed.
The main cause was overexpansion of transportation facilities and industrial production.
Cleveland, like previous presidents, did not believe it was his job to end suffering.
New York bankers bought millions in government bonds.
Panic of 1893 was precipitated by a stock market crash and financial collapse that dominated the mid-1890s.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.4h Cleveland and the Depression of 1893 (Continued)
Cleveland confined the rest of his term to being protector of the status quo.
Tariffs remained high.
Gold finds in Yukon eventually ended the currency crisis.
Cleveland refused to make any significant changes.
Rejected Jacob S. Coxey’s march of unemployed in 1894
Sent federal troops to crush Pullman strike the same year
Supreme Court sided with the rich during the growing war between rich and poor.
Court rejected income tax in 1895.
It upheld imprisonment of Eugene Debs.
It held that Sherman Act did not apply to manufacturing.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.4i The Election of 1896
William McKinley, Republican, ran against William Jennings Bryan—Democrat, orator, and Populist.
Republicans had $15 million to Bryan’s $300,000.
The press heaped abuse on Bryan as “political faker” by promoting idea that Bryan’s victory would bring disaster because factories would close and wages would be cut.
Bryan waged 18,000-mile whistle-stop tour and spoke to five million.
McKinley stayed home and ran “front porch” campaign with choreographed speeches and help from biased newspapers.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.4i The Election of 1896 (Continued)
McKinley won by 500,000 votes with a total of 14 million votes cast.
Election was a turning point in American history:
Began a series or Republican victories
Was a triumph for conservatism and industrialism
Broke Populism
Populists pioneered many ideas that would be enacted in the twentieth century.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
18.4j McKinley and the End of an Era
McKinley came into office under favorable circumstances.
His call for high tariff and the gold standard resulted in the highest tariff in history in 1898.
He was the first “modern” president to employ bureaucratic means to enhance agenda.
McKinley ignored the issue of black rights.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
