Protest and Reform

Growing agricultural problems for the nation’s farmers created the

conditions for discontent and political turmoil.

I. Hard Times Down on the Farm

• Last 30 years of the 19th century were not good ones for farmers

• American farmer was losing economic, political and social power

• Major shifts occurring in the way Americans made money

II. Reasons for these Agricultural Troubles

• Drop in Farm Prices• Increasing Costs• High Tariffs• Inadequate Currency

--The “Crime of ’73”• Gradual erosion of

political power and leadership

II. Reasons for Agricultural Troubles (cont.)

• Gradual erosion of social power and leadership

• New Business practices

• National recessions

• Problems with “middlemen”

• Unforgiving environment

• Ingrained tradition of rugged individualism and physical isolation

III. Agricultural Organization to Deal with Discontent

• The Grange (1867)-- “cost-side” solutions

• The Greenback Party (1877)-- “price-side” solutions

• The Alliance Movement (1880’s)--Mary Elizabeth Lease

• The national Populist Party (1892)

IV. The Omaha Platform (1892)

• Government ownership of railroads

• Graduated income tax• Direct Election of

Senators• The Secret Ballot• Sub-treasury to secure

cheap loans• Expansion of currency• Shorter industrial work

week

IV. Omaha Platform (cont.)

• Free and Unlimited Coinage of Silver

• William Harvey’s Coin’s Financial School (1894)

• Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900)

V. The Politics of “The Gilded Age”

• “Gilded Age” politics

• Major campaign issues

• Even division of power between the parties

• Ideal presidential candidate

• Alliances between government and businessmen were common

V. “Gilded Age” Politics (cont.)

• High voter turnout during the late 19th century

• The typical late 19th century Republican

• The typical late 19th century Democrat

VI. Reform and Presidential Politics

A. The Election of 1880

• Garfield (R-Ohio) vs. Winfield Scott Hancock (D-Pa)

• Garfield’s assassination

• Arthur = better than expected

• Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883)

B. The Election of 1884

• Republicans nominated James G. Blaine (Maine)

• The rise of the “Mugwumps”

• Democrats nominated Grover Cleveland (NY)

• The 1884 Campaign

• Cleveland’s First Term in Office

• Called for Tariff Reform

C. The Election of 1888

• Cleveland (D-NY) vs. Benjamin Harrison (R-IN)

• The Campaign and the Results of the Election

• Harrison’s Presidency• “Billion Dollar”

Congress of 1890• McKinley Tariff

D. The Election of 1892

• Cleveland vs. Harrison again

• Strong Populist showing by James Weaver (Iowa)

• Problems for Populists

• Cleveland’s Second Administration

• The Panic of 1893

• Coxey’s Army

E. The Election of 1896

• Currency = major issue of the campaign

• Democrats nominated William Jennings Bryan of Nebraska-- “Cross of Gold” Speech at Chicago convention

• The Populist Dilemma

E. The Election of 1896 (cont.)

• Republicans nominated William McKinley (Ohio)

• Reasons for Election Results

• Political Significance of this election

• McKinley’s Presidency• The Currency Act of 1900• Currency and Tariff

reform swallowed up by calls for war