Lecture 67: Politics in the Gilded Age

Theme: Politics and Power

• Learning Objective: Explain similarities and differences between political parties during the Gilded Age.

Major Political Parties

• Republicans

  • Continued to appeal to Civil War divisions, termed as "waving the bloody shirt."
  • Supported by Northern states, Midwest, African Americans, and reformers.
  • Advocated for big government, individual rights, and high protective tariffs.
  • Key Tariffs: McKinley Tariff (1890), Dingley Tariff (1897).

• Democrats

  • Held the "solid South," states formerly part of the Confederacy.
  • Strong support in large cities from Catholics and Jews.
  • Opposed high tariffs due to economic disadvantages in the South.

Key Issues

• Tariffs

  • Republicans favored high tariffs to protect Northern industries.
  • Democrats opposed them, supporting the Wilson-Gorman Tariff (1894).

• Currency

  • Panic of 1893 led to economic instability.
  • Fear of depleted gold reserves undermining the dollar's value.
  • J.P. Morgan's gold loan helped, but didn't end the crisis.
  • Bimetallism vs. Gold Standard divided parties.
  • Democratic Split: Gold bugs (urban, wage-reliant) vs. Silverites (rural, farmers).

Corruption and Political Machines

• Rampant patronage system.

• Political Machines

  • Mobilized immigrants, offered jobs/housing for votes.
  • Led to high voter turnout.
  • Graft and "honest graft" (George Plunkett) prevalent.

• Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act

  • Prompted by President Garfield's assassination.
  • Introduced meritocracy in government jobs.

Populist Party

• Origins and Goals

  • Formed due to economic instability.
  • Advocated for strong government regulation.
  • Omaha Platform (1892): Unlimited silver coinage, graduated income tax, government control of railroads, eight-hour workday, direct senatorial elections.
  • Attempted biracial voting coalitions.

• Election Impacts

  • 1892: Gained 9% popular vote; 22 electoral votes.
  • 1896: Democrats adopted Populist policies; William Jennings Bryan's "Cross of Gold" speech.
  • Eventually declined, but influenced future Progressive policies.

Conclusion

• Political structure and party issues remained similar post-Civil War.
• Populist policies adopted in future reforms.
• Civil Service reforms weakened traditional patronage systems.

For additional resources, visit apushlights.com. Looking forward to the next lecture!