Gilded Age Politics Notes

 Gilded Age Politics

     I. Boss and Machine Politics

Congress enacted a vicious reform program with Civil Rights Act, Freedmen's Bureau, etc. but after this, national government settled into a stalemate and inactive period. 

People diverted attention from national politics to the rise of businesses and cities. 

Consolidation of power had a parallel in politics- political parties came under control of political machines- tightly organized groups of politicians. 

Each machine had a boss- a top politician who dolled out government jobs to loyal supporters,

Tammany Hall: Democratic political machine, perfect example of their standpoints.

Started at social clubs and later developed into power centers to coordinate needs of businesses, immigrants, and the underprivileged in order to gain votes on election day.

Party bosses: Boss Tweed knew how to manage social ethnic and economic groups, brought modern services to the city, included crude form of welfare.

TH would find jobs and apartments for immigrants, give food to the poor; however, they stole millions from the taxpayers. About 60% of funds ended up in pockets of Tweed and pals, full of corruption.

Tweed's downfall came in the form of political cartoons that depict him as a criminal; he is jailed several times for his actions.

Machine politics will still be very powerful well into the 20th century.

     II. Politics of the Gilded Age

Inactivity in government as attentions shift to labor unions, Western development, rise of industry, economic change, and urbanization. Heavy stalemate in politics.

Term Gilded Age was first used by Mark Twain- superficial glitter of the new wealth. Underneath that, there were problems brewing and people struggling to survive. 

Complacency and conservatism were the main factors in politics due to ideologies, campaign tactics, and party patronage

Prevailing idea of the time: Do-little government: social darwinism, laissez faire, etc. seep into the inactions of the government.

Campaign tactics: really close elections are seen because the Republicans and Democrats avoided taking a strong stance on issues so not as to alienate voters (rise of bosses, etc.). Campaigns included free beer, picnics, buttons, crowd pleasing speeches, etc,; elections brought out around 80% of eligible voters.

Republicans kept memories of Civil War alive during the Gilded Age, blaming Democrats for bloodshed and Lincoln's death, supported economic program of high protective tariffs.

This led to a huge support base for republicans included veterans, african americans, the middle class, businessmen, etc.

Democrats could count on winning every election in the former confederacy

"solid south"- solidly backing the democrats. 

Democrat strength came from political machines, supported by catholics, lutherans, immigrants, etc. Still believed in states rights and limiting government power

Patronage: politics were a game of gaining office, holding office, and giving out offices.

Presidential politics: no one too notable; presidents themselves are not as important as issues at stake.

     III. Rise of the Populist Party

Arose from farmers discontent with economic situation of post Civil War.

The money question- whether or not to expand the money supply, reflected the growing tension between the rich and poor. 

The debtors, famers, etc. were the "have nots"; they wanted more money to borrow money at lower interest and pay off loans more easily with inflated dollars. Gold standard was blamed for the depression in the 1870s. 

Farmers, etc. wanted unlimited minting of silver coins- brought up the issue of bi-metalism.

"The haves": the bankers, creditors, etc. who wanted to keep gold standard- more likely to hold ground against inflation. 

Greenbacks: paper money not backed by gold or silver, issued during the Civil War as a necessary measure. Associated by farmers with prosperity. 

Creditors attacked this as a violation of natural law, and congress later withdrew the last of the greenbacks in circulation.

The Greenback Party: died out after the hard times of the 70's, although the demand for silver money continued through until the end of the century.

Crime of 1873: Congress stopped the coinage of silver. After silver was discovered in Nevada, the Greenbacks shifted their attention there, and the use of silver was revived for money supply. 

1878: Bland-Allison Act allowed only a limited coinage of silver each month at the standard silver to gold ratio of 16 to 1. The have nots were still unsatisfied and continued to press for unlimited silver coinage.

Agrarian unrest flared earlier with the Greenback Party; farmers were plagued with low food prices.

1867: first Farmers Association, national grange of the Patrons of Husbandry (aka The Grange)

Goal of The Grange: enhance the lives of isolated farmers through educational, social, paternal activities; put on concerts, lectures, and picnics.

The Grange found farmers receptive to his hierarchy and secret rituals, and by 1875, it had almost 800 thousand members, with most support in west and south

Moved focus to improving the "farmers plight"- established cooperatively owned stores, warehouses, etc. 

They were trying to make a sort of farmer's labor union- they didn't have enough money to buy the machines they needed to harvest the crops they needed to be successful, decided to come together as a unit to accomplish goals rather than go at it individually. 

The Grangers went into politics and were successful in upper Mississippi valley.

Depression Politics

1892- Cleveland wins election again, but the country enters one of its worst and longest depressions due to over speculations- no substance behind stock market. 

Result- dozens of railroads went into bankruptcy. 20% unemployment. 

Cleveland championed the gold standard and adopted a laissez faire stance; this is coupled with the decline in silver prices. 

The gold reserve fell to dangerously low levels, so Cleveland 1. repealed Silver Sherman Purchase Act of 1890 (increased coinage of silver but not enough to satisfy farmers, etc.), this did not stop trade on gold reserve. 

After, he 2. turned to JP Morgan and borrowed 65 million dollars of gold to back the gold standard- angered the people, giving the idea that government is only a tool of rich bankers.

Workers become further disenchanted with the Pullman Strike of 1894.

Pullman Rail Company raising rent rates without raising pay. Railway union went on strike to protest, and Cleveland used court injunctions- court order- to stop the strike, uses federal troops,  saying the strike is interfering with the US mail. 

Eugene Debs, leader of the Railway Union, is jailed for 6 months for violating this court order.

As depression worsens, the public takes more actions. There is a potential class war between management and labor- 1894 Coxey's Army: a march to Washington by thousands of unemployed, demanded public works program to create jobs; march fell apart when leaders were elected.

Election of 1896

Major turning point, represents transition of national politics away from Democrats. Populists are gaining votes and seats, setting the stage for a major reshaping of party politics.

By 1896, Democrats were divided into gold supporting and silver supporting.

Pro-silver forces dominate the electoral convention, leading to William Jennings Brian being nominated for presidential candidate. 

Democrats highjack the main issue of Populist party (supporting silver), so the two fuse together. 

Republicans nominate William McKinley, best known for a high protective tariff, being a friend of labor, and a silver-friendly voting record, which Mark Hannah turns around to gain more support.

Employers tell workers not to show up to work if Brian wins- evidence of scare tactics, propaganda, and money being influential in the campaign.

McKinley: front porch campaign.

Brian: travels to 27 states and gives 600 speeches.

Factors hurting Brian: rise in wheat prices, making farmers less desperate, doesn't have the worker's vote, leads to McKinley's victory.

Significance:

Marked the end of stalemate politics of the Gilded Age, defeated dominance of Democrats, Republicans have evolved to being a business party with focus on a strong national government, spelled decline of populist party (racism was stronger than economic interest).

Outcome was a clear victory for cities, big business, conservative economics, and middle class values; McKinley is the first modern president- an active leader who positions the US as a major player, Mark Hannah created a model for organizing and financing successful campaigns.