1 the gilded age: a tale of today (1873) a book by mark twain and charles dudley warner, which,...

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The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today (1873)A book by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner, which, though fiction, is a critical examination of democratic politics, and corruption in the United States at the time. Twain and Warner depict an American society that, despite its appearance of promise and prosperity, is riddled with corruption and scandal.

Politics of the Gilded Age:

1. “Forgettable Presidents” & Laissez- Faire philosophy

2. Corruption & power of govt. at local & state level (Machines)

3. Electoral Stability & Party Loyalty (Few Distinctions in Parties)

4. High Voter Turnout

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Politics of the Gilded AgePolitics of the Gilded AgeI. Politics to 1890 = Growth of DiscontentI. Politics to 1890 = Growth of Discontent

A. The Grant AdministrationA. The Grant Administration

1. Election

“waving the bloody shirt”

2. The Scandals

a. Gold Ring (Gould & Fisk)

b. Credit Mobilier

c. Whiskey Ring

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B. Boss TweedB. Boss Tweed

1. Tweed Ring/Tammany Hall

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B. Boss TweedB. Boss Tweed

1. Tweed Ring/Tammany Halla. Give out jobs & contracts for

support & $

b. Stole $200 million from city = submit for work never done

c. Investigated by NY Times & convicted

C. 1873 Depression C. 1873 Depression “hard-money” vs. “cheap-money”

Creditors vs. Debitors

“Greenback Party” & Silver advocates

“crime of 73”

Bland-Allison Act (1878)

Can the Law Reach Him? 1872

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C. Immigration & The Chinese

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Politics of the Gilded AgePolitics of the Gilded AgeI. Politcs to 1890 =“Growth of Discontent”I. Politcs to 1890 =“Growth of Discontent”

D. Politics of the 1880sD. Politics of the 1880s

1. Stalwarts & Half-Breeds

2. Election of 1880 & James GarfieldAssassination: Charles Guiteau, “I

am a Stalwart. Arthur is now President of the United States.”

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3. Chester Arthura. Pendleton Act

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4. Election of 18844. Election of 1884

a. Dem. = Clevelanda. Dem. = Cleveland

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Politics of the Gilded AgePolitics of the Gilded AgeI. Politcs to 1890 =“Growth of I. Politcs to 1890 =“Growth of

Discontent”Discontent”


4. Election of 18844. Election of 1884

b. Rep. = Blaineb. Rep. = Blaine

c. “rum, Romanism, & c. “rum, Romanism, & rebellion”rebellion”

d. Mugwumpsd. Mugwumps

James G. Blaine, depicted as Little Bo Peep, tries to woo the errant Mugwump reformers back into the Republican fold in 1884.

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Politics of the Gilded AgePolitics of the Gilded AgeI. Politcs to 1890 =“Growth of I. Politcs to 1890 =“Growth of

Discontent”Discontent”D. Politics of the 1880sD. Politics of the 1880s

5.5. Cleveland’s First TermCleveland’s First Terma.a. Vetoes & Military Vetoes & Military

PensionsPensionsb.b. Calls for reduction of Calls for reduction of

tarifftariffc.c. Reforms & RegulationReforms & Regulation

i. i. Wabash= Wabash= overturn overturn Granger LawsGranger Laws

ii. Interstate ii. Interstate Commerce Act/ICCCommerce Act/ICC

6. Harrison and the “Billion-6. Harrison and the “Billion-Dollar Congress”Dollar Congress”a.a. 1890 McKinley Tariff1890 McKinley Tariffb.b. Increase veteran Increase veteran

pensionspensionsc.c. 1890 Sherman Silver 1890 Sherman Silver

Purchase ActPurchase Actd.d. 1890 Sherman Antitrust 1890 Sherman Antitrust

Act (used more against Act (used more against unions)unions)

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Politics of the Gilded AgePolitics of the Gilded Age• II. Turning Point = 1890sII. Turning Point = 1890s

– A. Rise of PopulistsA. Rise of Populists• 1. Agrarian Discontent

– a. The Grangers» Oliver Kelley» Cooperatives» Granger Laws

– b. Farmer’s Alliance– c. People’s Party

» Coin’s Financial School

•This poster from 1875 expresses one of the agrarian radicals’ fundamental premises: that all other walks of life were de pendent— or even parasitic—on the indispensable work of farmers. In his famous “Cross of Gold” speech in 1896 (see p. 661), Populist presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan put it this way: “Burn down your cities and leave our farms, and your cities will spring up again as if by magic; but destroy our farms and the grass will grow in the streets of every city in the country.”

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– A. Rise of PopulistsA. Rise of Populists• 2. Omaha Platform

– 1. Increase circulation of $1. Increase circulation of $– 2. Unlimited coinage of silver2. Unlimited coinage of silver– 3. Progressive Income Tax3. Progressive Income Tax– 4. Govt. Regulate RR & 4. Govt. Regulate RR &

communicationscommunications– 5. 8 hr. work day5. 8 hr. work day– 6. Direct Election of Senators6. Direct Election of Senators

Raise less corn, and more hell

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– A. Rise of PopulistsA. Rise of Populists• 3. Election of 1892

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– B. Cleveland’s 2B. Cleveland’s 2ndnd Term = Depression Term = Depression PoliticsPolitics

• 1. Panic of 1893– a. Failure Reading RR =

Failure banks and businesses = stock market plunge

– b. Ag. Depression– c. Silver Purchase Act &

Tariff Blamed = there had been a gold drain on Tres.

– d. Cleveland doesn’t take action

– e. Consolidation of businesses

• 3. Coxey’s March• 4. Pullman Strike

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– C. Election of 1896C. Election of 1896

• 1. Bryan, Populists, and Democrats

“Cross of Gold” Speech

“You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.”

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• 2. McKinley, Hanna, and Republicans

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• 3. Campaign

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• II. Turning Point = 1890sII. Turning Point = 1890s– D. The Significance of Election-1896D. The Significance of Election-1896

• 1.Populist Demise• 2. Urban Dominance• 3. Beginning of Modern Politics

– E. McKinley and RecoveryE. McKinley and Recovery• 1. High Tariffs• 2. Gold Standard Act of 1900• 3. Imperialism

Politics of the Gilded AgePolitics of the Gilded Age

1 the gilded age: a tale of today (1873) a book by mark twain and charles dudley warner, which,...

Documents

gilded age

growth of discontent

agrarian discontent

chinese slide

cleveland slide

pendleton act slide

tweed ringtammany hall

whiskey ring slide