Honors Blog

The Election of 1896 was the turning point of our country; it was the begging of a new way of thinking. It was advancements and changing political views that brought these gears in motion forcing this election to be very important. This turning point was brought about because of the United States struggling economy, the populist part and military ventures across the seas.

At the time when the gears of change were happening the economy was not in the best condition. People were losing their jobs and overall people felt there was no way to prevent it, and it was true. The economy wasn’t the only thing that was struggling, the government, and the corruption that comes with it, was at an all time high. A quote from Nation of Nations shows how these men who are elected to office are not only a benefit to there country but also to their parties. “But dismantling the reigning “spoils system” proved difficult for politicians who rewarded faithful supporters with government jobs regardless of their qualifications.” As the United States went through countless presidents who fought for their party rather than their nation and as years past the United States longed for a man that would lead them into the new century.

Populism, the response of countless years of farmers being put down whether it be from tariffs, agricultural price drops and loss of land. For many years farmers struggled and felt that companies and factories were being given benefits at the cost of the farmers so they tried whatever they could to get equal rights. These farmers formed organizations that sponsored picnics dances lectures to break the bleakness of farm life. The organizations then formed into what the press called the “Alliance Movement.” These alliances met and formed a national alliance; with this national power they issued the “Ocala Demands.” This quote talks about what the Ocala Demands said. “The manifesto reflected their deep distrust of “the money power” large corporations and banks whose financial power gave them the ability to manipulate the “free” market. The populist party was very successful being a third party, they were happy with the democrat president Grover Cleveland becoming president and for the first time ever Weaver polled over a million votes the first time a third party candidate has ever done that.

Imperialism was very popular in the late 1800s. Many countries were racing to see who could have the most colonies such as Spain, England and Portugal. Since everyone else was doing it, the why not the U.S? It would allow people to see them as a super power and allowed admirals to strengthen their decrepit and dwindling navy. This phrase “Manifest Destiny” has been tossed for the last 500 years. It was said when the English came to North America and now North America is using it to spread its influence on other countries, whether they ant it or not. These ventures were thought of as a way to get out of their depression and to thrust themselves into a world super power. Such places of interest were Cuba, Pacific Islands, Alaska and countries in South America. One of these wars was the Spanish American War over Cuba. This quote talks about how the war turned out, “The Navy, under Admiral William Sampson, blockaded the island, expecting the Spanish to flee under the cover of darkness. Instead, on July 3, the Spanish fleet made a desperate dash for the open seas in broad daylight. So startled were the Americans that several of their ships nearly collided was they rushed to attack their exposed foes. All seven Spanish ships were sunk, with 474 casualties. This was a fine display of United State will power and military might, and was a show of force that led presidents to see that war is always an option.

The election of 1896 was a big one due to the changes that were being made both politically, economically and ideologically. They caused a lot of different events to happen and forced people to stick up for what they believe in no matter the odds. In the end it was the economy, the populists and foreign expansion that brought the election of 1896 to be such a change of thought and a window to the true power that the United States can attain.