Ohio Idea Article Index for
Ohio
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Ohio Idea




The idea of poor midwesterners during the presidential race of 1868 to redeem federal war bonds in United States Dollar s, also known as Greenbacks , rather than gold. Agrarian Democrats hoped to keep more money in circulation to keep interest rates lower.

This "idea" started a bitter contest over monetary policy that shook the US until the century's end.

The Democratic candidate in 1868, Horatio Seymour , blew the Dems hope for the high office by repudiating the Ohio Idea plank.

Ulysses S. Grant won, with 214 electoral votes to 80 for Seymour.