HIST 1351 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Direct Election, Reall, William Jennings Bryan
Document Summary
The west could go either way: religious and ethnic differences, voter turnout. 70% of all eligible voters would turn out to vote. Today only about 50% of all eligible voters turn out to vote. Presidential power from 1877-1900: presidential power during this time was weak. Federal government and business prior to and up to 1900: laissez-faire. For e(cid:454)a(cid:373)ple, the go(cid:448)er(cid:374)(cid:373)e(cid:374)t ga(cid:448)e the railroads la(cid:374)d a(cid:374)d they accepted it but as soon as the government wanted to regulate the railroad it (cid:449)as(cid:374)"t a(cid:272)(cid:272)epta(cid:271)le. Creates an interstate commerce commission that could look at the railroad rates that these companies charge. The commission could only look, not make the railroad company change their rates. It required the railroad companies to publish their rates rather than just quoting anyone any rate they wanted. This act will be strengthened in 1906 by the hepburn act: sherman antitrust act, 1888.
