Politics and Government 1877 1900 Nature of Politics

Politics and Government 1877 -1900

Nature of Politics • Parties ran elections (no secret ballot) • Solid voting blocks • Few “swing states” • Party bosses ran “political machines” Boss Tweed ran Tammany Hall

Party Changes Republicans (GOP: Grand Old Party) • North, Midwest • Scandinavian, German = skilled immigrants • Blacks • “Bloody shirt” appeal against immigrants Democrats • South • Urban NE (unskilled immigrants) • Catholics • “personal liberties” (except for Blacks, Chinese, Indians)

Election of 1876 Compromise of 1877 • Tilden (Dem) anti-Tammany Hall vs. Hayes (Rep) bureaucratic reform • Tilden won popular vote • Election disputed • Compromise of 1877: Withdraw federal troops, South would not dispute elections = ended Reconstruction • Only election settled by federal commission

Limitations to Effective Government

• Weak Presidency Rep Dem – Andrew Johnson (impeachment) – Ulysses Grant (corruption) – Rutherford B. Hayes (1877 -1881) – James A. Garfield (1881) – Chester A. Arthur (1881 -1885) – Grover Cleveland (1885 -1889) = most aggressive veto (2/3 of all bills) – Benjamin Harrison (1889 -1893) – Grover Cleveland (1893 -1897)

• Inefficient Congress – Chaotic atmosphere: ex. : vendors in the halls of Congress, ignored speakers – Required voting quorum (could hold up legislation by refusing to vote) – Congress overloaded with expanded role • Federal Bureaucracy/Spoils System – 1871 only 50, 000 (3/4 local postmaster) – Spoils System: “to the victor goes the spoils” + kickbacks – Supporters: loyal workers – Detractors: corruption

Public Policies 1. Civil Service Reform (Under Hayes, Mugwumps campaigned for reform) – Garfield assassinated (crazed office seeker, Guiteau, during speech at train station, 2 nd shortest time in office, 2 nd Pres. Assass. ) = Arthur becomes President • Led to passage of 1883 Pendleton Civil Service Act (gov’t. jobs awarded based on merit)

2. Tariff – Purpose: provide federal revenue + protect domestic industry • 1888 election to Benjamin Harrison: • Passed Mc. Kinley Tariff Act of 1890 (highest in U. S. history) = 48. 4%

3. Federal Regulations ICC (Interstate Commerce Commission Act , 1887) • 1 st regulatory agency • Prohibited RR “pooling”, discriminatory rates, rebates • 1886 Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific RR Comm. V. Illinois (ended state regulation of interstate commerce) Sherman Anti-Trust Act , 1890 • 1 st federal anti-trust measure • Prohibited business combinations which restrained trade, commerce

MONEY Sound Money Inflationary Money (Strict Gold Standard) • Restricted money supply • Retain property values, stabilize money, investor confidence • Business (NE) • • • Inflated money supply Raise crop prices, open econ. opp. reduce debt burden Farmers (South, West)

Greenbacks • 1875 Congress enacted deflationary policy & withdrew from market • Inflationists formed Greenback Party • “Crime of ’ 73: Congress instituted GOLD STANDARD • FREE SILVER demanded by So. , West Depression of 1893 • 20% unemployment • Coxey’s Army: grass roots protest to DC

Reactions • 1894 = 1400 industrial strikes • 1895 = U. S. vs E. C. Knight Co. =gutted Sherman Anti-Trust Act (exempted manufacturers) Election of 1896 (Silver) • Mc. Kinley (R): Gold standard, high tariffs • William Jennings Bryan (D): free silver, income tax, fed. Reg. = “Cross of Gold” • Bryan (P): split party