Gilded Age Politics: 1893-Gilded Age Politics: 1893-9696

The Panic of 1893The Panic of 1893

The Silver MovementThe Silver Movement

The Election of 1896The Election of 1896

The Depression of 1893The Depression of 1893

• 1892: Cleveland wins, Dems huge victory1892: Cleveland wins, Dems huge victory• The Panic of 1893: Stocks crash, 15,000 The Panic of 1893: Stocks crash, 15,000

bankruptcies, 20% unemployment, fear bankruptcies, 20% unemployment, fear • Coxey’s Army: unemployed demand public Coxey’s Army: unemployed demand public

works projects. They Swarm on Capital. works projects. They Swarm on Capital. • Pullman Strike: Company Town, ARU & Debs Pullman Strike: Company Town, ARU & Debs

join strike, riot, troops called in. join strike, riot, troops called in. • Coal Strike: 170,000 strike, ethnic tensionCoal Strike: 170,000 strike, ethnic tension

Pullman StrikePullman Strike

Cleveland’s ResponseCleveland’s Response

• Repeals Sherman Silver Purchase, which heRepeals Sherman Silver Purchase, which he

thought caused the depressionthought caused the depression

• This lowers money supplyThis lowers money supply

• J. P. Morgan raises $50 in goldJ. P. Morgan raises $50 in gold

• Cleveland fails to lower tariffCleveland fails to lower tariff

• No sympathy for Coxey and strikersNo sympathy for Coxey and strikers

• Ends career, hated by millionsEnds career, hated by millions

• 1894 Midterm Elections: GOP historic 1894 Midterm Elections: GOP historic victory,victory,– GOP will dominates till the Great DepressionGOP will dominates till the Great Depression

Rise of Labor Unions (end of ch Rise of Labor Unions (end of ch 18)18)

• Problems w/ industrial labor: repetitive,Problems w/ industrial labor: repetitive,– Long hours, dangerous, low pay, strictLong hours, dangerous, low pay, strict

• Knights of Labor: skilled, unskilled, blacksKnights of Labor: skilled, unskilled, blacks– 8 hour day, no strikes, died 18928 hour day, no strikes, died 1892

• Public Perception: foreign, radical, violentPublic Perception: foreign, radical, violent

• Strikes: Haymarket (86), Homestead (92)Strikes: Haymarket (86), Homestead (92)

• AFL: Craft & skilled workers, white menAFL: Craft & skilled workers, white men– Gompers: pragmatic, work with managementGompers: pragmatic, work with management– Strike for limited goal, 1900 1 m members Strike for limited goal, 1900 1 m members

Social and Literary ChangesSocial and Literary Changes

• Work: women & children go back to Work: women & children go back to workwork

• New Realism: Real life depictionsNew Realism: Real life depictions

• Mark Twain, Stephen Crane, Jack Mark Twain, Stephen Crane, Jack London and Theodore DreiserLondon and Theodore Dreiser

• Silver Movement: Many had almost Silver Movement: Many had almost religious faith that silver would religious faith that silver would restore prosperity. Wizard of Ozrestore prosperity. Wizard of Oz

William McKinley: 1896-William McKinley: 1896-19011901

William Jennings BryanWilliam Jennings Bryan

Election of 1896Election of 1896

• GOP: William McKinley, solid, pro gold, GOP: William McKinley, solid, pro gold, • Democrats and Populists: William Democrats and Populists: William

Jennings Bryan, pro silver, religiousJennings Bryan, pro silver, religious• ““Cross of Gold” Speech: HandoutCross of Gold” Speech: Handout• First Modern Campaign: Bryan First Modern Campaign: Bryan

campaigns all over country. McKinley campaigns all over country. McKinley stays on front porch and used mass stays on front porch and used mass media. media.

• GOP start 30 years of dominanceGOP start 30 years of dominance

Bryan’s Cross of Gold Bryan’s Cross of Gold SpeechSpeech

Most famous American political speechMost famous American political speechThemes: Themes: Populism: appeal to the common man,Populism: appeal to the common man,

fear of the elitesfear of the elitesAgrarian myth: family farmer bedrock of Agrarian myth: family farmer bedrock of

American democracyAmerican democracyPro Silver: silver will solve all problemsPro Silver: silver will solve all problemsReligion: heavy use of religious imagery Religion: heavy use of religious imagery