Partisanship in the United States Senate: 1869-1901

Abstract

Partisanship in United States Senate: I869-I9oi Increasingly, historians of all ideological persuasions speak of what Wiebe so aptly termed search for order which preoccupied Americans around turn of century.' Between I880 and I920, these historians argue, United States underwent an organizational revolution that transformed all elements of social order. Businessmen, workers, and farmers all saw that they must organize or perish.2 In Politics and Power: The United States Senate, 1869-1901, Rothman presented a case study of impact of professionalization and bureaucratization on development of political institutions. For Rothman, dramatic changes taking place within larger society forced rationalization of political structures under leadership of professional politicians who recognized the value of united action and effective leadership. In general, he found that by end of century American institutions ... [had] proved equal to challenge. During years between 1869 and I9go party organization emerged to dominate business of Senate and impose unprecedented discipline on roll calls. 3 Rothman viewed partisanship as a product of party organization that emerged in response