POLITICS IN THE GILDED AGE

"The golden gleam of the gilded surface hides the cheapness of the metal underneath.“ Mark Twain

PopularNames1880

Rank Male name Female name1 John Mary2 William Anna3 James Emma4 Charles Elizabeth5 George Minnie6 Frank Margaret7 Joseph Ida8 Thomas Alice9 Henry Bertha

10 Robert Sarah11 Edward Annie12 Harry Clara13 Walter Ella14 Arthur Florence15 Fred Cora16 Albert Martha17 Samuel Laura18 David Nellie19 Louis Grace20 Joe Carrie

Popularity in 1880

Grant – Great General, Poor President

Lots of CorruptionIs he involved?Or too inept to notice?

Re-elected in 1872Decides not to seek 3rd

term in 1876

http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/ulyssessgrant

Grant – CorruptionCrédit Mobilier– Pacific Railroad

hires itself to build railroad, bribes lawmakers. - V.P. is involved

Whiskey Ring - steals excise taxes – Grant’s secretary

Bribes to Sec of War from suppliers to Indian Reservations

http://cprr.org/Museum/Credit_Mobilier_1873.html

As cities grew in the late 19th century, so did political machines

Political machines controlled the activities of a political party in a city

Ward bosses, precinct captains, and the city boss worked to ensure their candidate was elected

ROLE OF THE POLITICAL BOSSThe “Boss” (typically the

mayor) controlled jobs, business licenses, and influenced the courts

Precinct captains and ward bosses were often 1st or 2nd generation immigrants so they helped immigrants with naturalization, jobs, and housing in exchange for votes

Boss Tweed ran NYC

MUNICIPAL GRAFT AND SCANDALPolitical machines used

fake names and voted multiple times to ensure victory

“Vote early and often”Graft (bribes) common

among political bossesConstruction contracts

often resulted in “kick-backs”

Police forces were hired by the boss prevented close scrutiny

THE TWEED RING SCANDALBoss Tweed, (William M.

Tweed) - head of Tammany Hall, NYC’s powerful Democratic political machines

Between 1869-1871, led the Tweed Ring, defrauding the city

Indicted on 120 counts of fraud and extortion

Sentenced to 12 years in jail – released after one, arrested again, and escaped to Spain

CIVIL SERVICE REPLACES PATRONAGE

Some politicians pushed for reform in the hiring system

The system had been based on Patronage; giving jobs and favors to those who helped a candidate get elected

Reformers pushed for an adoption of a merit system of hiring the most qualified for jobs

The Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883 authorized a bipartisan commission to make appointments for federal jobs based on performance

Applicants for federal jobs are required to take a Civil Service Exam

What symbols do you see?What do they mean?What is the message about Boss Tweed?

The “Brains” that achieved the

Tammany Victory at the Rochester

Democratic Convention

http://cartoons.osu.edu/nast/images/the_brains100.jpg

http://cartoons.osu.edu/nast/images/tammany_tiger100.jpg

“What are you laughing at? To the victor belong the

spoils.”

http://cartoons.osu.edu/nast/images/what_are_you_laughing100.jpg

Nast’s most famous cartoon

1862Drew upon his

German heritage

http://cartoons.osu.edu/nast/santa_claus.htm

Election of 1876Hayes (R) v. Tilden (D)Tilden win popular vote, one vote shy of

electoral college victory, butFour states (20 votes) in doubt

Compromise of 1877, Hayes wins, if he ends reconstruction

SEGREGATION & DISCRIMINATION

After Reconstruction, Southern States adopted system of legal discrimination

VOTING RESTRICTIONS

Poll Tax

Literacy Tests – link

Grandfather Clause

JIM CROW LAWS

named after an old minstrel song

separate public and private facilities

PLESSY v. FERGUSON

Plessy arrested for sitting in whites-only train car

Supreme Court ruled segregation was legal and did not violate the 14th Amendment

“Separate, But Equal”

DISCRIMINATION IN THE NORTHMany blacks migrated to the North in

hopes of better jobs & equality

Still faced discrimination: low paying jobs and segregated neighborhoods

Chinese Exclusion Act

1882 – Immigration from China is ended

The “Forgettable Presidents” 1876-96

HayesGarfieldArthurClevelandHarrison ClevelandMcKinley

Voter Turnout

2008 - 56%

DemocraticBloc

RepublicanBloc

White southerners(preservation of white supremacy)

Catholics & Jews

Recent immigrants

Urban working poor (pro-labor)

Most farmers

Northern whites(pro-business)

African Americans

Northern Protestants

Old WASPs (supportfor anti-immigrant laws)

Most of the middle class

Well-Defined Voting Blocs

Farmers & the Populist Movement

Farmers Unite to Address ProblemsLate 1800 Economic ProblemsFalling pricesMortgaged farms / equipment buying on creditIncrease in bank foreclosuresIncrease in railroad shipping charges – Long haul v. Short

haul

Effects of Retiring the GreenbacksFarmers borrowed – Greenbacks not worth as muchGreenbacks retired - $ left in circulation worth moreFarmers had to pay back loans w/ crop prices down

less profitFarmers wanted more $ (silver) in circulation –

to cause inflation (good for borrowers)

Gold Bugs Silverites

Who they were Bankers and businessmen

Farmers and laborers

What they wanted

Gold standardLess $ in circulation

BimetallismMore $ in circulation

Why Loans would be repaid with stable $

Products would be sold at a higher $

Effects Deflation-Prices fall-value of $ increasesFewer people have $

Inflation-Prices rise-value of $ decreases-more people have $

The Grange (The Patrons of Husbandry)1867Social outlet for farmersEducational forumFight Railroads (high pricing / legislation)Established coops (cooperatives)

Farmers Alliance

Education of farmers (business & agriculture)Southern Alliance – white farmersColored Farmers’ National Alliance – black farmers

Populism

People’s Party (1892) Populist Party ConventionoIncrease in $ supply increasing prices oGraduated income tax oFederal loan programoPopular vote of U.S. SenatorsoTerm limits – President / Vice PresidentoSecret Balloto8 hour work dayoRestrictions on immigration

oAppealed to Farmers and Laborers

Panic of 1893CausesFarm debtRailroads decreasing markets railroad

bankruptcyDecrease in government supply of gold from

buying silverEffectsPeople panicked stock market prices dropPrice of silver falls silver mines closeIncrease national bankruptcy less investmentDecrease consumer spending, wages, prices

Election of 1896RepublicansIndustrial EastGold Standard

“Gold Bugs”William McKinleyEffects Deflation

Increase value of $ Decrease of prices Fewer people have $

Democrats / Populists

South + WestBimetalism -

“Silverites”William Jennings BryanEffects

Inflation Decrease in $ Increase in prices More people have $

Cross of Gold Speech

“You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind upon

a cross of gold.”

Election of 1896

Election ResultsMcKinley wins Industrial Midwest feared inflation McKinley

Effects of Populism

“Little guy” can organize and be effective in elections

Begins reform movement that will move into 20th Century