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Political Party Positions
Democrats were in favor of lower tariffs and the removal of the spoils system, Republicans wanted higher tariffs, pro-business ideals, and support for veterans, like women’s pensions.
Connection between Economic Policy, Family Values, and Politics
Both national parties, while mostly focused on economic, laissez-faire policies, also focused on improving family life using those policies, allowing women to gain more political ground as a result.
Women’s Christian Temperance Union
A union created by Francis Willard where they helped create a Prohibition and Home Protection party in the 1880s.
Grand Army of the Republic
A group for Union veterans that had their own opinions on political issues, usually Republican
Rutherford B. Hayes
The 19th U.S. President who was a Republican that one the Election of 1876 because of the Compromise of 1877
Greenback Party
An entire party that operates on the support of soft money
James B. Weaver
The nominee for the Greenback party in the Election of 1880
Silver’s Position in the Money Supply 1870s-1890s
At the time, it was considered a much cheaper alternative to the Gold Standard, which would allow more money to circulate and more silver coins to exist.
Sherman Silver Purchase Act
An act passed by Benjamin Harrison where the treasury has to by 4.5 million ounces of silver every month to back up paper or make coins
Stalwarts
A Republican sub-group spurned by the election of James Garfield that wants to keep the Spoils System, including Grant, Chester B. Arthur, and Roscoe Conking
Half-Breeds
A Republican sub-group spurned by the election of Garfield that challenges the spoils system, including Garfield and James Blaine
James Garfield
The 20th U.S. President, a Republican elected in 1880, that was killed by Charles Guiteau after he denied him a political position from the Spoils System because of his opposition to it
Chester B. Arthur
Garfield’s Vice President and the 21st U.S. President, was initially a Republican stalwart but changed his mind after Garfield’s assassination and ended the spoils system
Spoils System/Patronage
The system of giving people who bribe or are loyal to high ranking political figures notable political positions
Merit System for Civil Service
The opposing idea to the spoils system where positions are granted based upon who is deemed best for the job
Pendleton Act
An act passed by Chester B. Arthur that ends the spoils system
Grover Cleveland
The 22nd U.S. President who was a Democrat elected in 1884 and again in 1892
Benjamin Harrison
The 23rd U.S. President who opposed Grover Cleveland as the Republican in 1888
James Blaine
The Republican candidate in 1884 that was stained by his involvement in the Credit Mobilier scandal and caused him to lose
Mugwumps
Republicans who broke from the Republican party to vote for Cleveland because of Blaine’s corruption
Texas Seed Bill
A bill that would have helped relieve a drought affecting Texan farmers through subsidies, vetoed by Cleveland because he thought it was a state issue instead of a federal one, angers farmers
Cleveland and Tariffs
Cleveland, because of being in the Democratic Party, reduces tariffs a small amount upon his election
Veto of Pensions
Congress tries to pass the Dependent Pension Bill to give pensions to veterans, it was vetoed by Cleveland and it angered the GAR
Campaign Donations Change
Because of the end of the spoils system, the rich have no incentive to pour money into campaigns, which meant that businesses funded campaigns instead to protect their policies
Social Darwinism
The applying of Darwinian ideals, such as natural selection, to business and people
Gospel of Wealth
A system created by Andrew Carnegie that said that the rich has an obligation to fund institutions that will better society as a whole, promoting philanthropy
McKinley Tariff
A tariff implemented by Benjamin Harrison that put a 50% tax on imported goods
Populists
A third party for the people who feel overlooked and oppressed and that the government has done nothing to help (laborers, farmers, reformers, women, pro-temperance), pushes for silver back currency, progressive social reform ideas, and the support of immigration restrictions
Omaha Platform
A political platform for the Populists that wanted to end injustice and poverty for the lower class by implementing a graduated income tax, more non-gold backed national currency, tighter control on certain industries, and prohibition
Causes of Panic of 1893
The overspeculation of railroad companies, mostly because of their stock prices plummeting as the industry fizzles out
Depression of 1893-97
An economic recession that caused several money debates over hard and soft money and led to economic turmoil for many
Coxey’s Army
Jacob Coxey was a populist money expert from Ohio that pushed for a $500 million public work program to give jobs funded by soft money, earned enough momentum to create his Coxey’s Army group and protest at Washington, but they get arrested and his plan fails
Cleveland’s Response to Depression
Cleveland, being more conservative in his second term, retreats to a total laissez-faire approach and goes completely gold standard
JP Morgan’s Importance to Government and Politics
Morgan donated $62 mil to the government during the Panic of 1893 to keep them afloat
Gold Position
Largely supported by the rich, Republicans, and gold bug democrats led by Cleveland, these people wanted hard money because of a fear of inflation and devaluation once silver is used
Silver Position
Largely supported by the poor, workers, farmers, Populists, and some democrats, these people wanted soft money because the gold standard was believed to be a conspiracy to keep the poor poor, and that expanding the money supply would fix problems created by the depression
William Jennings Bryan
A Democrat who ran against McKinley in 1896, was very passionate about agrarian issues and despised the gold standard, endorsed by Eugene V. Debs
Cross of Gold Speech
A speech delivered by William Jennings Bryan that said that the “U.S. will not crucify us on a cross of gold”
William McKinley
The 24th U.S. President, a Republican elected in 1896, who caters to big business and the wealthy and loves the gold standard, Morgan donated $10 mil into his campaign, largely credited with the ending of the Panic of 1893 and the strength of the Republican party
Front-Porch Campaign
A campaign tactic where candidates stay at or close to their home and make speeches to whoever comes to visit
Dingley Tariff
A tariff implemented by William McKinley that was almost exactly like the McKinley tariff, taxed imported goods by 48%
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