APUSHch19 Flashcards
Gilded Age
A name for the late 1800s, coined by Mark Twain to describe the tremendous increase in wealth caused by the industrial age and the ostentatious lifestyles it allowed the very rich. The great industrial success of the U.S. and the fabulous lifestyles of the wealthy hid the many social problems of the time, including a high poverty rate, a high crime rate, and corruption in the government.
Stalwarts
A faction of the Republican party led by Conkling in the end of the 1800s. Supported the political machine and patronage. Conservatives who opposed civil service reform.
Halfbreeds
Opposed the Stalwarts, Members of the republican party who favored reform-especially civil service reform. Led by James G. Blaine of Maine, a congressman
Mugwumps
Republicans who did not play the patronage game were ridiculed for “sitting on the fence.” They had their “mugs” on one side of the fence and their “wumps” on the other.
Pendleton Act
Passed in 1883, an Act that created the Civil Service Commission so that hiring and promotion would be based on merit rather than patronage.
Greenback Party
Formed in 1876 in reaction to economic depression, this party favored insurance of unsecured paper money to help farmers repay debts, the movement for free coinage of silver took the place of the greenback movement by the 1880’s
Crime of 1873
The term used to refer to the passage of the Coinage Act of 1873. It fully embraced the Gold Standard. Western mining interests and others who wanted silver in circulation called the Act the “Crime of ‘73”
Bland-Allison Act
1878 - Authorized coinage of a limited number of silver dollars and “silver certificate” paper money. First of several government subsidies to silver producers in depression periods. Required government to buy between $2 and $4 million worth of silver. Created a partial dual coinage system referred to as “limping bimetallism.” Repealed in 1900.
billion-dollar Congress
Republican congress of 1890. Gave pensions to Civil War veterans, increased government silver purchases, and passed McKinley Tariff Act of 1890. First billion dollar budget.
McKinley Tariff
1890-Protective tariff which raised the tax on foreign products to a peacetime high of over 48%
Sherman Silver Purchase Act
In 1890, an act was passed so that the treasury would by 4.5 million ounces of silver monthly and pay those who mined it in notes that were redeemable in either gold or silver. This law doubled the amount of silver that could be purchased under the Bland-Allison Law of 1878.
Populist (People’s) Party
Founded in 1892, advocated variety of reform issues, including free coinage of silver, income tax, postal savings, regulation of railroads, direct election of U.S. senators, referendums, initiatives, loans and warehouses for farmers and an 8 hr workday for workers
Omaha Platform
Political agenda adopted by the populist party in 1892 at their Omaha, Nebraska convention. Called for unlimited coinage of silver (bimetallism), government regulation of railroads and industry, graduated income tax, and a number of election reforms.
Panic of 1893
Economic crisis that began when the RR industry faltered during the early 1890s, sparking the collapse of many related industries; confidence in the US dollar plunged and the depression lasted about four years. Unemployment reached 20%.
Coxey’s Army
1893 - Group of unemployed workers led by Jacob Coxey who marched from Ohio to Washington to draw attention to the plight of workers and to ask for government relief (500 mil to create jobs). Government arrested the leaders and broke up the march in Washington.
