A Party political position is one of the major factors in any presidential election. In the election of 1884, the Democratic and Republican parties were, as usual, the major parties. Thus, we will examine their positions on the major issues prior to the election. However, before we get into details of the election, it is important to mention that the Democratic Party has been struggling for last couple of decades. The last Democratic candidate to win the e

Either way we look there was mud-slinging, and both candidates were harassed not only by the vicious attacks of their enemies, but also by the spectacular clumsiness of friends trying to help. (Rosenberg 6,7)

Why do the great industrialists like John D. Rockefeller, J. P. Morgan, and Andrew Carnegie jump vividly from the pages of the past while presidents of that period remain so pallid? The answer rests in the relative weakness of the presidency and the federal government in the administrations between Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865) and Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909). After the Civil War, power shifted from the government in Washington to leaders in business and industry. (710)

The demographic analysis of the election helps us determine where the majority of the electorate came from and which party had support from what part of the country.

The Republican Party on the other hand had been an immense supporter of big corporations. They (Republicans) turned the protective tariff to political ends; it rewarded industrialists who wanted protection from foreign competition. This protection soon turned into enormous profit for the big businesses and the Republican Party as well. The small percentage of people who benefited from the tariff, were millionaire businessmen (Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, J.P. Morgan), and they firmly opposed any tariff reduction – proposed by Democrats. This of course led to Republican opposition of tariff reduction. Another important position the Republican Party took was opposing organized labor unions and antitrust legislation. During the 1880’s, big businesses found a powerful ally – the U.S. Supreme Court. The Supreme Court struck down many lawsuits against the businesses as unconstitutional, protecting them from state regulations, taxes, labor unions, and antitrust legislation. It (Supreme Court) also sided with the corporations on the issue that rights of property are higher than rights of people, which has generally been the Republican view. Finally, another issue rises in this election, that may not be relevant or as important at that time, but proves to be one of the major issues in the future – the military. The Republican Party in its Platform of 1884 stresses its support and importance of U.S. armed forces, specifically the Navy, “We demand the restoration of our navy to its old-time strength and efficiency, that it may in any sea protect the rights of American citizens and the interest of American commerce”(Hirsch 1590). Of course, Republicans would not be Republicans if they somehow did not connect the protection of profit to the whole issue (“interest of American commerce”).

Nation’s economy is an additional factor that helped determine the election results. The most important influence on the economy was the boom in the American industry and the rise of big businesses, especially in the northern states. Among the largest corporations were John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil and Andrew Carnegie’s Carnegie Steel. John D. Rockefeller made his fortune at a young age and expanded his business quickly. By the age of 45, he moved his office from Cleveland to New York City and started to integrate Standard Oil vertically as he expanded horizontally. He succeeded in controlling nine-tenths of the oil refining business through his company, and before he died at age of 98, he had become country’s first billionaire. Andrew Carnegie also became wealthy at an early age. He founded Carnegie Steel at 1872 and dominated steel industry for three decades, with his company as the largest steel producer in the world. (Roark and Johnson 696-701) The importance of the big businesses rising is the enormous support they gave to the Republican Party. As stated previously Republicans were closely allied with corporate leaders and the majority of the spending for the Republican campaign was financed, either by railroad company, steel industry or oil refinery executives. The Dem

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