LOREM IPSUM Book Title DOLOR SET AMET
CHAPTER 4 POLITICS IN THE GILDED AGE The late 19th century in American politics was the most corrupt age in our history. Political bosses ruled with reckless abandon and had no moral values or ethics. In this chapter, you ll learn about a cutthroat, dog-eat-dog society that changed the political landscape of America.
CHAPTER 4, SECTION 1 Big City Corruption IN THIS SECTION, YOU WILL... Learn about the power politicians gained in the late 19th century. Read about the rise of the political boss The Gilded Age in America was a time of great wealth and prosperity (gilded actually means plated in gold ). With that being said, it s important to note that the way people gained wealth was not exactly honest, particularly with politicians. This is the age where the political boss dominated in the big cities around the country. Bosses were powerful politicians who controlled the city behind the scenes. Sometimes they were elected, but usually they just controlled the politicians through bribes or threats. Once the bosses held power, they would rob the public treasury for their own William Boss Tweed benefit. The primary form of corruption in office was the kick back. It was a form of bribery that was particularly popular in the cities. Let me give you an example of how the kick back worked. Pretend that a bridge needed to be built in New York City. The cost of the bridge is $50,000. But here s where things get dicey. The boss would negotiate a contract with a company, and they come to an agreement of $100,000. So, the city treasury (taxpayer money) would pay for this project, and the bridge would be built. The 2
boss took the remaining $50,000 and lined their own pockets with the leftover money. The public, obviously, is the loser. They would pay twice as much for the bridge than what they should have paid. Unfortunately, business like this was done all the time. The kick back and other business practices like this became routine. Bosses did not care that they were stealing from others. An extreme example of a big boss owner was William M. Boss Tweed, who ruled New York City politics from 1869-1872. Tweed wasn t even the mayor of the city. He was a political party official. Tweed s period of governance was dominated by deception, and he became incredibly powerful and wealthy. By the time he was arrested, it was estimated that he stole tens of millions of dollars from the city s treasury. His construction of a New York courthouse showed just how awful he was. The whole building should have cost around $250,000. By the time he was prosecuted, the courthouse was already costing $13 million, and wasn t even finished. Curtains and carpets cost $5 million, and plumbing cost $1.5 million. I sure hope everything was plated in solid gold...otherwise, those costs seem a bit fishy! 3
CHAPTER 4, SECTION 2 IN THIS SECTION, YOU WILL... Understand the major issues presidential campaigns focused on during Gilded Age Recognize the four presidents that governed during the Gilded Age National Politics During the Gilded Age The political map for national politics did not change much during the Gilded Age. The South was still had a strong Democratic structure, and the Northeast was dominated by Republicans. For most of this period, the West was also a solid Republican region. The one battleground area left that everyone wanted to win was the Midwest. Much of the presidential campaigning was focused here because everywhere else was set as to who would win. From 1868-1900, there were nine presidential elections and 18 candidates. All but three of these candidates came from Ohio, New York, Illinois, or Indiana (Midwestern states). The three candidates who did not come from these states lost the elections there. So, it s important to notice that Midwestern states were critical in order to win the presidency during the Gilded Age. Four major issues dominated presidential elections during the Gilded Age. Campaigns during this period were not very serious, and issues were not even debated (although sometimes they were discussed). 1. Issue #1: Bloody Shirt--This was a popular label given to the memory of the Civil War. It was still fresh in people s minds, and most Republicans would remind voters that Democrats brought up the war. In essence, they were waving the bloody shirt to undercut the credibility of Democrats. 2. Issue #2: Tariffs--The question was how high they should be. Republicans wanted them higher, and Democrats wanted lower tariffs. 4
3. Issue #3: Currency Reform--Had to deal with the issue of the amount of money in circulation and inflation. 4. Issue #4: Political Reform--The government had to be cleaned up. Corruption was becoming rampant, and presidents needed to eliminate fraud within politics. The presidents during the Gilded Age (1876-1896) were not very strong. Most of the power at the federal government level was focused in Congress. Americans still wanted a smaller, weak government. Here are the presidents of the Gilded Age, listed in order of their election and a little bit a bout them and their beliefs. 1876-1880: Rutherford B. Hayes (from Ohio) Republican Believed that presidents should be weak figures, and that Congress should hold the power of the national government. 1880: James Garfield Republican Assassinated by Charles Guiteau and died in September of 1881. Guiteau thought he would get a job in Garfield s administration. When he didn t, he killed the president. 1880-1884: Chester A. Arthur Republican Had never held an elected office before becoming vice president. One of the more active presidents during this period, and probably the most honest, serious figures in the presidency during the Gilded Age. While in office, he signed and passed the Pendleton Act in 1883. This was a law designed to reform the government and created the Civil Service Commission. The CSC was a permanent federal agency which ensured that people who took government jobs had the qualifications for those jobs. It administered tests for the people who were going up for election for government positions. With this law, Arthur was trying to end the process of people trying to get jobs without qualifications. 5
1884-1888: Steven Grover Cleveland (New York) Democrat Becomes the first president to win the presidency since before the Civil War. Honest man with integrity, but a weak leader. 1888-1892: Benjamin Harrison (Indiana) No, this isn t a typo. Cleveland s second election was the only time in the nation s history where a president was elected in two, non-consecutive terms. Regarded as being one of the most competent, intelligent figures in the White House during this era. He did not, however, have much charisma and didn t work well with Congress. Because of this, he didn t accomplish much during his presidency. Actually lost the popular vote, but won the Electoral College. 1892-1896: Steven Grover Cleveland Defeated Harrison 6
CHAPTER 4, SECTION 3 IN THIS SECTION, YOU WILL... Read about reform that came about in the agricultural industry in the U.S. during the Gilded Age. Learn how farmers struggled from an economic standpoint in the late 19th century. Recognize the rise of the Populist Party in 1892. Comprehend the Election of 1896 Farmer Protest and the Populists Toward the end of the Gilded Age, there was an impulse for liberal reform in America. Economically, farmers did not do as well as the rest of the country during the Gilded Age. As the country got richer, farmers were getting poorer. Their biggest issue was the deflation of prices due to overproduction. In 1865, a bushel of wheat sold for $1.50, and in 1895, it sold for just $0.60. Cost drops like that drastically decrease a person s wealth. Other issues farmers had to deal with included: 1. Higher tariffs. This made they pay more for manufactured goods, including things like their farming equipment. 2. In rural areas, farmers had to pay higher railroad rates to ship their products to markets around the country. 3. Farmers also had a shortage of credit. Banks did not take a lot of risks during this time, and they were reluctant to make loans to farmers. It seemed to farmers that there was almost a conspiracy against them, and as the years went by, they decided to try and do something about it. Enter the Populist Party. Also known as the people s party, Populists attempted to create an alliance between farmers and lower-class industrial workers. This party was based on the idea that there could be a political movement developed around social class lines. The people in this party were being exploited by big businessmen, and they wanted to have their voices heard. 7
In 1892, their candidate for the presidency was James B. Weaver (below). Their party platform was specifically designed to benefit their party members, and help the little guy. The Populist Party called for: A graduated individual income tax system. If you were rich, you d pay a higher percentage of taxes. If you were poorer, you d pay a lower percentage of taxes. The federal government to take control of certain industries in the country (railroads, telegraph/telephone) The establishment of an eight hour workday. By saying this, they hoped to attract union supporters. An unlimited (free) coinage of silver. If Congress increased the value of silver, the government would have to create more money. Farmers argued that there was not enough money in circulation, causing the deflation and lowering of prices. When Weaver ran as a third party candidate in 1892, he had absolutely no chance of winning. However, the party gave a voice to a discontented group in the country, and now politicians knew they would have to address the problems they brought up. Interestingly, some of the planks of their party platform would become important policy later on in our country s history. The goals and arguments of the Populists became a big part of the Election of 1896. During the few years leading up to the election, the country experienced an economic recession. Populist ideas, therefore, became very appealing. Heading into 1896, the issue of gold vs. silver, and inflation/deflation became the most important issues in the national dialogue. William McKinley (above) competed against William Jennings Bryan (right) in 1896. Early on, McKinley was the favorite to win the White House. Bryan was relatively inexperienced, and McKinley came from a very important state that could 8
potentially sway the Electoral College in his favor. McKinley took a huge risk by conducting a Front Porch Campaign in 1896. This means that he would give most of his speeches from the front porch of his home in Ohio, with the press coming over to listen to him. If you re a voter, and a guy running for 1896 campaign poster for McKinley and Hobart president barely left his house to give a speech, would you think he cared? Some people didn t, but fortunately for McKinley, that issue was irrelevant. His campaign worked, and McKinley was eventually elected, winning 271 electoral votes and 51% of the popular vote. McKinley governed during a transitional time in U.S. history. The movement for a government to become more proactive in solving problems was beginning to rise. The Populists embodied this belief. Although McKinley would govern more conservatively, Populists laid a foundation for others to come after them, mainly the progressives (which you ll read about a couple chapters from now). 9