Presidents and Politics, 1881-1900

Politics: Local, State, and National

Issues

Political Parties

Elections

POLITICAL ISSUES: Education and Religion

• Schools: what language should classes be taught in?

• Should religious schools (Catholic, Lutheran, or Jewish) be regulated by the government?

• Should religious schools receive government support?

LOCAL POLITICS:City Governments

• Machine politics dominated

– Bosses provided jobs for votes

– The “Machine” also provided social services for immigrants and the poor

– Machine bosses also noted for corruption, bribery, and vice (gambling and alcohol)

THE POLITICAL PARTIES

• REPUBLICANS

– The Grand Old Party (GOP)

– Supported by big business, Civil War veterans, Protestants

– 3 Factions: Stalwarts, Halfbreeds, and Mugwumps

• DEMOCRATS

– Supported by: Southern whites, northern immigrants, and Catholics

– 2 factions: rural whites and big city machines

JAMES GARFIELD: 1831-1881

• President, 1881; Republican from Ohio

– Defeated Winfield Scott Hancock

– Garfield supported: Civil Service Reform, a protective tariff, and Chinese restriction

– In elections, Republicans gain control of Senate and House

– On July 2, 1881--Garfield shot by Charles J. Guiteau; Garfield lives until Sept 20

The Presidency of Chester Alan Arthur (1830-1886)

• Republican from New York; Vice President under Garfield

– A reputation as a machine politician; had once been fired for corruption

– Supported Civil Service Reform; signed it into law in 1883, created Civil Service Commission

– Performed job of president honestly and with great dignity; supported naval expansion

The Presidency of Stephen Grover Cleveland (1837-1908)

• Democrat from New York; former mayor of Buffalo; fought corruption

– Defeated James Blaine in 1884 and Ben Harrison in 1892

– In 1884: Cleveland admitted fathering child out-of-wedlock—Religion an issue.

– Supported lower tariffs, railroad regulation, and the gold standard

– Conservative on economic issues

THE PRESIDENCY OF BENJAMIN HARRISON

• Republican from Indiana; grandson of William Henry Harrison (president in 1841)

– Defeated Cleveland in 1888 (though Cleveland had won the popular vote); the tariff a key issue

– Harrison noted for honesty and integrity but the job of president seemed too much for him

– Threatened war with Chile in 1889; signed the Sherman Antitrust Act; raised tariff in 1890

GROVER CLEVELAND, 1892-1896

• Defeated Benjamin Harrison in 1892

– The People’s Party (Populists) ran a third candidate, James Weaver of Iowa

– Populists Platform: free silver, a graduated income tax, direct election of US senators, and regulation of banks and public utilities; and the secret ballot for voters

WILLIAM MCKINLEY, (1843-1901)

• Election of 1896

– Cleveland’s second term marked by worst depression in American history (1893-1897)

– 1896 election a “turning point” in American politics—Big Business candidate victorious

– McKinley defeated William Jennings Bryan

• Bryan condemned trusts, high tariffs, labor injunctions, and gold standard

• Republicans call for gold and higher tariffs

McKinley as President, 1897-1901

• Republicans win Congress and Presidency; a victory for “corporate America”

– A gold strike in Alaska helps restore prosperity

– Spanish-American War of 1898 a US victory

– Hawaii annexed in 1898; Cuba becomes a protectorate, and Philippine Islands become a territory (along with Puerto Rico and Guam)

– In 1900 defeats Bryan again; assassinated Sept 6, 1901