Politics in the Gilded AgePolitics in the Gilded Age

1865-19001865-1900

Immigration Immigration

Anti-foreign/Nativist MovementAnti-foreign/Nativist Movement Know-Nothing Party Know-Nothing Party Pre 1880Pre 1880

immigrants came from Germany, British Isles immigrants came from Germany, British Isles high literacyhigh literacy

Post 1880: “New Immigration”Post 1880: “New Immigration” Mediterranean, Slavic, Eastern EuropeanMediterranean, Slavic, Eastern European poor literacy, arrive impoverishedpoor literacy, arrive impoverished

Reasons for leavingReasons for leaving population explosionpopulation explosion PersecutionPersecution exaggerated letters – “streets paved with gold”exaggerated letters – “streets paved with gold”

Ellis IslandEllis Island

http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/immigration/immigrants-1906.jpg

http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/immigration/migrants-boat.jpg

http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/ellis-island/immigrants-1902.jpg

http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/immigration/human-cargo.jpg

http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/immigration/immigrants-ellis.jpg

City Problems City Problems

Waste disposal of packaged Waste disposal of packaged products, sewage products, sewage

CriminalsCriminals Homeless roaming the streetsHomeless roaming the streets SlumsSlums

dumbbell tenement – one toilet, poor dumbbell tenement – one toilet, poor ventilationventilation

disease spreadsdisease spreads

Machine Politics/Boss Machine Politics/Boss System System

““Political Machines” control Political Machines” control who gets electedwho gets elected

Boss Tweed Boss Tweed helped immigrants in helped immigrants in

exchange for votesexchange for votes government leaders then government leaders then

have to give them have to give them kickbacks/money from kickbacks/money from government projectsgovernment projects

Provides Provides services/infrastructure for services/infrastructure for citiescities above the law – controls above the law – controls

judges/politiciansjudges/politicians

PoliticsPolitics

Conservative Presidencies Conservative Presidencies 1876-1892 – “Forgettable Presidents”1876-1892 – “Forgettable Presidents” laissez faire policieslaissez faire policies PresidenciesPresidencies

““Rutherfraud” B. Hayes (Election of 1876)Rutherfraud” B. Hayes (Election of 1876) ended Reconstruction in exchange for voteended Reconstruction in exchange for vote

GarfieldGarfield Killed by civil servant – eventually led to civil Killed by civil servant – eventually led to civil

service reform – who gets what background jobsservice reform – who gets what background jobs Pendleton ActPendleton Act

Chester ArthurChester Arthur elected due to strong boss system of New Yorkelected due to strong boss system of New York

Tariff ControversyTariff Controversy

$145 million budget surplus per year $145 million budget surplus per year due to high tariffsdue to high tariffs

SolutionsSolutions pork-barrel billspork-barrel bills lower tariffslower tariffs

Railroad regulation Railroad regulation

Hesitant to interveneHesitant to intervene Wabash Case Wabash Case

18861886 states can’t regulate interstate railroadsstates can’t regulate interstate railroads

Interstate Commerce ActInterstate Commerce Act creates Interstate Commerce Commissioncreates Interstate Commerce Commission supposed to regulate commerce, but hard to supposed to regulate commerce, but hard to

enforceenforce

TrustsTrusts

competition hurts prices so companies unite to competition hurts prices so companies unite to control prices/earningscontrol prices/earnings

hurts customerhurts customer Vertical IntegrationVertical Integration

control all areas of production control all areas of production oil from ground to gas stationoil from ground to gas station

Horizontal IntegrationHorizontal Integration competitive companies from same industry form a trustcompetitive companies from same industry form a trust Monopolize industryMonopolize industry Rockefeller’s “One-Two Punch”Rockefeller’s “One-Two Punch”

Agrarian Discontent Agrarian Discontent

Land not as productiveLand not as productive grasshoppers, overused soil, droughtsgrasshoppers, overused soil, droughts

Land easy to taxLand easy to tax TrustsTrusts

barbed wire, fertilizer, harvester trusts push prices too high barbed wire, fertilizer, harvester trusts push prices too high Railroads control price of transportationRailroads control price of transportation ½ population farmers, but can’t organize – ½ population farmers, but can’t organize –

consolidation not part of American independence consolidation not part of American independence ethosethos

Rising expenses plus lower prices for goodsRising expenses plus lower prices for goods can’t pay back debts can’t pay back debts want free silverwant free silver

Crisis of 1890s: The common Crisis of 1890s: The common man fights backman fights back

PopulismPopulism People’s Party (Populists) came from People’s Party (Populists) came from

Farmer’s Alliance Farmer’s Alliance Big gains in 1892 election Big gains in 1892 election

Populist GoalsPopulist Goals

Free coinage silverFree coinage silver Graduated income tax based on wealthGraduated income tax based on wealth Government ownership of utilities – railroad, Government ownership of utilities – railroad,

telephone, telegraphtelephone, telegraph Direct election of Senators/ One term presidentsDirect election of Senators/ One term presidents Initiatives and Referendums Initiatives and Referendums Shorter workdayShorter workday Immigration RestrictionsImmigration Restrictions Solicited black voteSolicited black vote

black participation only increased anti-voting laws in black participation only increased anti-voting laws in SouthSouth

Election of 1896Election of 1896

Election of 1896Election of 1896

free silverfree silver William Jennings BryanWilliam Jennings Bryan

MessiahMessiah Democrat Democrat Cross of Gold speechCross of Gold speech

Populists have no party since Bryan’s silver views are theirsPopulists have no party since Bryan’s silver views are theirs Republicans create massive war chest from all Republicans create massive war chest from all

industrialists/bankers who fear free silverindustrialists/bankers who fear free silver Millions show up to voteMillions show up to vote William McKinley winsWilliam McKinley wins

Beginning of modern politicsBeginning of modern politics Isolationism to internationalismIsolationism to internationalism

Shift in politics – next 30 years, people become apathetic Shift in politics – next 30 years, people become apathetic politically, Republicans dominatepolitically, Republicans dominate