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The Politics of the The Politics of the Gilded AgeGilded Age
"What is the chief "What is the chief end of man?--to end of man?--to get rich. In what get rich. In what way?-- honestly if way?-- honestly if we can; we can; dishonestly if we dishonestly if we must."must."
-- Mark Twain-1871-- Mark Twain-1871
The Election of 1868The Election of 1868
Republicans - Republicans - nominate nominate Ulysses S. GrantUlysses S. Grant
Grant promises Grant promises continued continued Military Military Reconstruction. Reconstruction.
Campaigned by Campaigned by waving the waving the "Bloody Shirt" - "Bloody Shirt" - vote how you vote how you shotshot
Democrats - nominate Horatio Democrats - nominate Horatio Seymour Seymour
Policy of Repudiation - Policy of Repudiation - redemption of Bonds at highest redemption of Bonds at highest possible level. possible level.
So-called "Ohio Idea"So-called "Ohio Idea" Seymour backs eastern banker’s Seymour backs eastern banker’s
gold plan.gold plan.
Seymour joining hands with the Irish vote and the Confederate vote to prevent the Negro from reaching the ballot box.
500,000 500,000 Freedmen Freedmen vote for vote for Grant. Grant.
Grant wins by Grant wins by 300,000 votes300,000 votes
Grant Administration Grant Administration
called the "Era of Good called the "Era of Good Stealings"Stealings"
Democrats locked out of Democrats locked out of political troughpolitical trough
Business and political Business and political "machines" gain spoils"machines" gain spoils
Period of graft, corruption, Period of graft, corruption, and scandaland scandal
The ScandalsThe Scandals
Black Friday - Sept. 24, 1869Black Friday - Sept. 24, 1869
"Jubilee Jim" Fisk "Jubilee Jim" Fisk (the Brass) and Jay (the Brass) and Jay Gould (the Brains) Gould (the Brains) corner the gold corner the gold market after promise market after promise from Grant to keep from Grant to keep Treasury from selling Treasury from selling gold reserves.gold reserves.
Jay Gould
Panic buying drives up prices.Panic buying drives up prices. Treasury releases reserves - prices Treasury releases reserves - prices
plummet - many are bankrupt. plummet - many are bankrupt. Grant exonerated of wrong-doing.Grant exonerated of wrong-doing.
Tweed Ring ScandalsTweed Ring Scandals "Boss" William Marcy "Boss" William Marcy
Tweed of Tammany Tweed of Tammany Hall in NYCHall in NYC
Used graft and Used graft and political power to political power to extort profits from extort profits from political position.political position.
NY Times NY Times published reports published reports of scandals, of scandals,
Cartoonist Cartoonist Thomas Nast Thomas Nast attacked Tweedattacked Tweed
Let Us Prey
The Tammany Tiger Loose - What are you going to do about it?
““Whispering Sammy” TildenWhispering Sammy” Tilden
Samuel J. Tilden Samuel J. Tilden prosecuted Tweed prosecuted Tweed on corruption on corruption chargescharges
Boss Tweed dies Boss Tweed dies in jailin jail
Credit Mobilier ScandalCredit Mobilier Scandal
Railroad construction company of made Railroad construction company of made exorbitant profits by overcharging in the exorbitant profits by overcharging in the construction of the Union Pacific RR.construction of the Union Pacific RR.
Used bribery Used bribery and kickbacks and kickbacks to Congress.to Congress.
Whiskey Ring ScandalWhiskey Ring Scandal
Whiskey producers cheated Whiskey producers cheated the government out of the government out of excise taxes and paid excise taxes and paid kickbacks to controllers kickbacks to controllers and tax collectors.and tax collectors.
Grants personal Grants personal secretary is involved secretary is involved - gets pardon- gets pardon
"honest citizens" to rise up and "sweep from power the men who prostitute the name of an honored party to selfish interests."
Military Ring ScandalMilitary Ring Scandal
Secretary of War Belknap Secretary of War Belknap involved in profit making involved in profit making from selling the privilege of from selling the privilege of disbursing shoddy goods to disbursing shoddy goods to Indians. Indians.
Grant accepts Belknaps Grant accepts Belknaps resignation "with regret"resignation "with regret"
Scandals lead to calls for Scandals lead to calls for civil service reformscivil service reforms
Election of 1872Election of 1872
Liberal Republican Liberal Republican "Revolt""Revolt"
Republican party splits Republican party splits over "Anti-Grantism"over "Anti-Grantism"
Formation of Liberal Formation of Liberal Republican Party - leads to Republican Party - leads to nomination of Horace nomination of Horace Greeley liberal editor of NY Greeley liberal editor of NY Tribune.Tribune.
Democrats - endorse Greeley Democrats - endorse Greeley after his call for reuniting after his call for reuniting north and south.north and south.
Republican Party – re-Republican Party – re-nominates Grant.nominates Grant.
After much mudslinging After much mudslinging Grant wins 286 - 66 Grant wins 286 - 66 electoral voteselectoral votes
The election leads to minor The election leads to minor civil service reforms and a civil service reforms and a general amnesty for most general amnesty for most southerners.southerners.
Grants second term marred Grants second term marred by economic crisis.by economic crisis.
IV. The Panic of 1873IV. The Panic of 1873
Overheating and extension of Overheating and extension of economy causes down cycle economy causes down cycle beginning in 1873.beginning in 1873.
Bank panic leads to failure of Bank panic leads to failure of Jay Cooke and Co. bankingJay Cooke and Co. banking
Collapse leads to 15,000 Collapse leads to 15,000 businesses failing.businesses failing.
Currency Currency controversy controversy heats up into heats up into major issuemajor issue
A. Greenback ControversyA. Greenback Controversy
Process of removing paper Process of removing paper "Greenbacks" from "Greenbacks" from circulation leads to circulation leads to controversy between controversy between
Currency ControversyCurrency Controversy
Hard Money Contractionists
Soft Money Expansionist Creditors Debtors
Less Currency More Currency
Deflation Inflation
Gold currency Silver currency
Bankers Farmers
1870 - Supreme Court ruled the 1870 - Supreme Court ruled the Civil War Tender Act Civil War Tender Act unconstitutional unconstitutional
Set stage to continue Set stage to continue withdrawing inflated Civil War withdrawing inflated Civil War paper money.paper money.
Grant adds two seats to Grant adds two seats to Supreme Court (to 9 Justices) Supreme Court (to 9 Justices) who vote to repeal earlier who vote to repeal earlier decision and keep decision and keep Greenbacks in circulation.Greenbacks in circulation.
1874 - Grant persuaded by 1874 - Grant persuaded by Hard Money people to veto a Hard Money people to veto a bill to expand the money bill to expand the money supply.supply.
1875 - Resumption Act passed 1875 - Resumption Act passed - pledges government to - pledges government to withdraw more Greenbacks withdraw more Greenbacks and to buy all Greenbacks back and to buy all Greenbacks back for gold by "Redemption Day" for gold by "Redemption Day" in 1879.in 1879.
B. Silver IssueB. Silver Issue
Controversy over gold coins Controversy over gold coins vs. silver coinsvs. silver coins
Early 1870's - US Treasury Early 1870's - US Treasury sets rate of exchange for silver sets rate of exchange for silver at 1/16 the price of gold.at 1/16 the price of gold.
This is below "market" This is below "market" value. Miners slow down value. Miners slow down extraction and sale of silver.extraction and sale of silver.
1873 - "Crime of 1873" 1873 - "Crime of 1873"
Treasury stops offering silver Treasury stops offering silver dollars. dollars.
New silver deposits found - New silver deposits found - price of silver dropsprice of silver drops
Call for new silver minting - Call for new silver minting - return to "dollar of our return to "dollar of our Daddies"Daddies"
Grants monetary policy:Grants monetary policy:
Decreases the money supplyDecreases the money supplyBrings inflation under Brings inflation under
controlcontrol
Increases the governments Increases the governments rating levelrating level
Bring Greenbacks back to Bring Greenbacks back to face valueface value
Worsens the Worsens the depression begun depression begun with the Panic of with the Panic of 18731873
Election of 1874 Election of 1874 Democratic House is elected.Democratic House is elected.
Leads to the Bland-Allison Leads to the Bland-Allison Act of 1878 - instructing the Act of 1878 - instructing the Treasury to buy and mint $2-Treasury to buy and mint $2-4 million a month of silver.4 million a month of silver.
Greenback - Labor Party Greenback - Labor Party formed in 1878.formed in 1878.
Paradox of PoliticsParadox of Politics
Major parties agreed on most Major parties agreed on most major issuesmajor issues
YetYet
Each contest is hard fought and Each contest is hard fought and close.close.
80% voter turnout, straight 80% voter turnout, straight party ticket voting.party ticket voting.
Political DifferencesPolitical Differences
Two Major PartiesTwo Major Parties
REPUBLICANSREPUBLICANS
Protestant / PuritanismProtestant / Puritanism Personal MoralityPersonal Morality Northeast / MidwestNortheast / Midwest Freedmen / GARFreedmen / GAR
DEMOCRATS DEMOCRATS Catholic / Lutheran Catholic / Lutheran Tolerance of DifferenceTolerance of Difference Resisted Government control Resisted Government control
of morals of morals Old SouthOld South Industrial cities / LaborIndustrial cities / Labor
Within the Republican Within the Republican PartyParty
StalwartsStalwarts
"Lord Roscoe" "Lord Roscoe" Conkling Conkling
Senator from New Senator from New York York
embraced jobs for embraced jobs for votesvotes
Half - Breeds Half - Breeds
James G. Blaine James G. Blaine Congressman from Congressman from
Maine Maine lip-service to lip-service to
reformreform
Conflicts led to Conflicts led to deadlock in Republican deadlock in Republican
PartyParty
Election of 1876Election of 1876Grant considers Grant considers
Third Term - is Third Term - is "reminded" by "reminded" by Congressional Congressional Resolution of the Resolution of the tradition of 2 terms.tradition of 2 terms.
Puck Wants a Puck Wants a Strong Man at the Strong Man at the
Head of Head of Government-- But Government-- But
Not Not ThisThis Kind Kind
The The Political Political ‘Army of ‘Army of
Salvation’ Salvation’
Republicans Republicans Stalwarts and Half-Stalwarts and Half-
breeds reach breeds reach compromise, compromise, nominate Rutherford nominate Rutherford B. Hayes - B. Hayes -
"The Great "The Great Unknown" former Unknown" former Governor of OhioGovernor of Ohio
DemocratsDemocratsnominate nominate
"Whispering "Whispering Sammy" Sammy"
Samuel J. Tilden Samuel J. Tilden - NY attorney - NY attorney who bagged who bagged Boss Tweed.Boss Tweed.
Campaigns against Campaigns against Republican Scandals Republican Scandals and for Civil Service and for Civil Service Reform.Reform.
Tilden wins 184 out of 185 needed Tilden wins 184 out of 185 needed electoral voteselectoral votes
4,034,311 4,288,546
Hayes Tilden
20 electoral votes are 20 electoral votes are contested, four southern contested, four southern states send dual sets of states send dual sets of elector votes.elector votes.
Constitution states that Constitution states that the President of the the President of the Senate should open the Senate should open the votes - no mention of who votes - no mention of who counts.counts.
President of the Senate President of the Senate (Vice President) = (Vice President) = RepublicanRepublican
Speaker of the House = Speaker of the House = DemocratDemocrat
Compromise of 1877 -Compromise of 1877 -
Passage of Electoral Act of Passage of Electoral Act of 1877 = sets up electoral 1877 = sets up electoral commission 15 men - 5 commission 15 men - 5 each from House, Senate each from House, Senate and Supreme Court. and Supreme Court.
Republicans Republicans outnumber outnumber Democrats 8-7 Democrats 8-7
Republican Hayes is Republican Hayes is President President
South to lose the last South to lose the last remaining Federal Troops remaining Federal Troops - Reconstruction Ends- Reconstruction Ends
IV. Hayes Presidency IV. Hayes Presidency (1877 - 1881)(1877 - 1881)
Economic and Labor Economic and Labor problemsproblems
Immigrant problems Immigrant problems - Kearneyites in - Kearneyites in California California --Anti-Anti-Chinese. Chinese.
Hayes vetoes Anti-Hayes vetoes Anti-Chinese immigration law, Chinese immigration law, bill passes in 1882 during bill passes in 1882 during Arthur AdministrationArthur Administration
V. Election of 1880V. Election of 1880
Republican Party = Republican Party = standoff between standoff between Stalwarts and Half-Breeds Stalwarts and Half-Breeds leads to "Dark Horse" leads to "Dark Horse" candidate candidate
James A. James A. Garfield gets the Garfield gets the nominationnomination
Chester A. Arthur Chester A. Arthur (Stalwart) as Vice (Stalwart) as Vice PresidentPresident
Democrats Democrats nominate Winfield nominate Winfield S. Hancock - Civil S. Hancock - Civil War General War General wounded at wounded at Gettysburg.Gettysburg.
Campaign is Campaign is about character about character not issues - not issues -
Garfield wins by Garfield wins by 39,000 votes - 39,000 votes - 214 to 155 214 to 155 electoral voteselectoral votes
President GarfieldPresident Garfield
Stalwarts and Half-Breeds Stalwarts and Half-Breeds fight over spoilsfight over spoils
Half-breed Blaine becomes Half-breed Blaine becomes Secretary of State - seeks to Secretary of State - seeks to shut out the Stalwarts.shut out the Stalwarts.
Stalwart office Stalwart office seeker Charles seeker Charles Guiteau Guiteau assassinates assassinates President Garfield President Garfield who dies Sept. 19, who dies Sept. 19, 1881.1881. ““An office or your life!”An office or your life!”
"I am a Stalwart of the Stalwarts! I did it and I want to be arrested! Arthur is President now!"
Chester A. Arthur Chester A. Arthur becomes president - becomes president - nation shocked by "an nation shocked by "an office - or your life!"office - or your life!"
VI. Arthur Presidency VI. Arthur Presidency (1881-1885)(1881-1885)
President President Arthur takes Arthur takes up cause of up cause of civil service civil service reform. reform.
Conklingites seek offices and favors Conklingites seek offices and favors - get cold shoulder from Arthur.- get cold shoulder from Arthur.
Pendleton Act of 1883 - Pendleton Act of 1883 - prohibited financial assessments prohibited financial assessments on office holders, established on office holders, established merit system based on aptitude. merit system based on aptitude.
Set up Civil Service Set up Civil Service Commission, created classified Commission, created classified positions.positions.
Pendleton Act sent Pendleton Act sent politicians to Big Business politicians to Big Business for funds.for funds.
VII. Election of 1884 VII. Election of 1884
Repulicans nominate James G. Repulicans nominate James G. Blaine - Blaine -
the Half-Breed, tainted by the Half-Breed, tainted by scandal - including the scandal - including the "Mulligan Letters" proving "Mulligan Letters" proving corruption - "Burn this letter" corruption - "Burn this letter"
Scandal caused some Scandal caused some Republicans to jump ship Republicans to jump ship - called Mugwumps = - called Mugwumps = "holier than thou""holier than thou"
Democrats nominate Grover Democrats nominate Grover Cleveland - said to be clean - Cleveland - said to be clean - called "Grover the Good"called "Grover the Good"
Republicans discovered he Republicans discovered he had fathered an illegitimate had fathered an illegitimate son.son.
Election is all about character, Election is all about character, not about issuesnot about issues
D="Burn, burn, burn this letter!"D="Burn, burn, burn this letter!" R="Ma, Ma, wheres my Pa?R="Ma, Ma, wheres my Pa? R="Rum, Romanism, R="Rum, Romanism,
Rebellion!"Rebellion!"
Cleveland wins 219-182 - First Cleveland wins 219-182 - First Democrat in White House since Democrat in White House since Buchanan.Buchanan.
VIII. VIII. Cleveland Presidency Cleveland Presidency (1885 - 1889)(1885 - 1889)
Cleveland is Cleveland is unbending supporter unbending supporter of Laissez-Faire - of Laissez-Faire - government out of government out of business.business.
weak reformerweak reformer
fired republicans hired fired republicans hired democrats - 2/3 of Federal democrats - 2/3 of Federal employees.employees.
fought against pensions fought against pensions for dubious veteransfor dubious veterans
fought to reduce tariffs, fought to reduce tariffs, reduce government reduce government surplussurplus
sought to reduce sought to reduce monopoliesmonopolies
IX. Election of 1888.IX. Election of 1888.
Democrats re-nominate Democrats re-nominate Cleveland despite Cleveland despite insistence of making insistence of making Tariff an issue.Tariff an issue.
Republicans Republicans nominate Benjamin nominate Benjamin Harrison - grandson Harrison - grandson of "Tippecanoe" of "Tippecanoe" William Henry William Henry Harrison.Harrison.
British Minister Sir British Minister Sir Lionel Sackville-West Lionel Sackville-West writes that a vote for writes that a vote for Cleveland is a vote for Cleveland is a vote for England and free trade.England and free trade.
Republicans put fear of low Republicans put fear of low tariffs on Big Business - raise tariffs on Big Business - raise major war chestmajor war chest
Cleveland won popular vote - Cleveland won popular vote - lost electionlost election
