In Foner, it states “Republicans strongly supported a high tariff to protect American industry…Democrats opposed the high tariffs” (page 632). Democrats helped promote the idea of Labor contracts which was for eight-hour work days and relief for the unemployed. The Democrats controlled most of the southern states. The Democratic party consisted of anti-tax businessmen, merchants and several other businessmen. Irish immigrants were most likely to be democrats. The northern wing of the Democratic Party relied on the working classes, which included Roman Catholics (German and Irish descent), white Southern Baptists, and the working-class immigrants after they could vote. Democratic machines in the cities such as Tammany Hall in New York worked desperately to get them registered and active in politics. Social Darwinists believed businesses should be expected to do whatever was needed to survive. Only by overpowering their competitors could they anticipate flourishing. (Politics in the Gilded …show more content…
Republicans were largely located in the North. They played a part in the Great Railway Strike, which is when the workers protested a pay cut. President Rutherford B Hayes stated; “Can’t somebody do something for these workers?”. Regardless of his plead, the strikes turned violent, so he sent out federal troops to overturn the riots, which resulted in several deaths. He also signed an executive order eliminating office holders from partaking in political party activities and suspended political contributions to office holders. The Republicans included; The knights of Labor, middle class (Henry George, Laurence Gronlund, and Edward Bellamy) the Protestants, African Americans, Americans, and Scandinavians, German Lutherans, English Methodists, Anglicans, Prohibitionists, Union Army vets, and the working-class (businessmen, craftsmen, farmers, Catholics of German or Irish descent, and white Southern Baptists). The Knights of Labor were a group who organized all types of workers to strike and boycott among other things. The Middle class, such as, Henry George wanted a single tax, which “would replace other taxes with levy on increases in the value of real estate” (Foner 642). This tax would be high. Protestants worked with the Knights of Labor, they wanted the church to lend its support in Labor movements. They were involved in the