Chapter 20

The Populist Era and Gilded Age Politics1877-1900

Discussion – Segregated South: Discrimination and Responses – 522-

524/526 (522-523) The conclusion of the Civil War did not quite mean equality

for African Americans. Give specific examples from the assigned pages that demonstrates the inequality of blacks in the South.

(523) What was the Civil Rights Act of 1875? What did the supreme court say about this act and the 14th Amendment in 1883? How did this affect African Americans and their Rights?

(523) Discuss the case of Plessey v Ferguson. What happened to prompt this case? What was the outcome and what was this historical significance of this case?

(526) What is sharecropping? What is crop lien? Discuss these concepts in detail.

(In class) Think about the human condition. Why would southerners be so motivated to stop African Americans from participating in government following reconstruction and the civil war? Given that the law was clearly written to give African Americans rights, why do you think southerners would have fought this so fervently?

Blacks in the South Southern Life - Disadvantage

Restricted and oppressed by law Share cropping / Crop lien Labor Unions Exclude Blacks Some success south

Upper South - Working in Mines, Iron works, tobacco farming

Deep South – Disrepair and loss of large plantations allowed some cheep land

Growth of Middle Class – Teachers, Doctors, Shopkeepers for black community and black urban class

Decline of Black Politics Gerrymandering – Redrawing of District

lines Helps democrats control the south and hold back

black vote Blacks still continue to hold some office and

maintain power in some areas Continue to vote despite fraud and violence

Southern democrats begin to push for segregation and the end to black voting

End to Voting and Start of Segregation

Push to End Black Vote Poll Tax Literacy Tests Grandfather Clause

Declared Unconstitutional in 1915 – All others upheld by Supreme Court

Attempts by north to stop – defeated in senate

Segregation Exclusion or Separation of Blacks and

Whites in South Railcars, Schools, theaters, hotels

Supreme Court invalidates Civil Rights Acts in 1883

Prevented discrimination by hotels – Opens doors to segregation

Plessy v Ferguson (Louisiana) Supreme court upholds separate but

equal.

Discussion – Immigration and Minorities524-526

(Research) As new immigrants arrived in the United States throughout time Americans have always had a similar reaction. Compare and contrast the treatment of immigrants to the United States in the various eras. Give specific examples as to how these people were treated

Irish (1845) Eastern Europeans (Late 1890-1940) Chinese Immigrants (Later 1800’s) – See California Latin(o) (a) Immigration (1990-2011)

(524-525) What was the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and what did they believe was causing all of the evil in the United States?

What other issues did the WCTU stand for? What did the beginnings of the WCTU Spark nationwide for women?

Who are Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony?

New Immigrants Shifts in Immigration – 3.5 Million

From New Places Eastern Europe (Italy, Russia, Austria-Hungary) China

Seen as subhuman and substandard to Americans

“beaten men of beaten races” “worst failures in the struggle for existence”

Restrictions placed on Chinese Immigration No women and Children Later restricted and prevented Chinese

immigration all together.

Nativism Immigration Restriction League

Called for limitations and restrictions on immigration

Laws Restrict immigration of illiterate – Vetoed by President Cleveland

Attempts at disenfranchisement Anti Chinese

Restrictions on schooling Mob violence

The Rise of the AFL and Women

End of the Knights of Labor Ineffective strikes, mismanagement

and corruption Replaced by the AFL (American

Federation of Labor)

AFL 1890’s Strikes – Direct confrontation

with corporate giants was ‘suicidal.” Led by Samuel Gompers

Championed a “cooperative commonwealth”

Negotiate with employers for working conditions and pay

Skilled Workers Only (White Men Only)

The Women’s Era Women’s Christian Temperance Union

Favored prohibition (believed alcohol caused men to squander money and abuse their wives)

New Pushes for Women’s Suffrage

Discussion – Populist Challenge: 528-534 (528) What was the Farmers Alliance and what did they stand for?

Where did this organization start and what was their original purpose? How did this organization evolve over time and what political changes did they begin

to demand? (529) What issues did the Alliance face?

(529) By 1890 what new political party did the Farmers Alliance evolve into? Discuss the platform and stance of this party. What were their goals/ principles/

plans? (519/ 531-532) What was the Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890 and why

was this act originally passed? Due to an Economic Depression in the 1890’s what happened to the gold reserves of

the United States as well as the Silver Purchase Act? / What were the long term economic fears of this issue?

Did the new changes and laws really make much of an impact on the depression? What happened?

What Eventually ended the depression of 1890? (Think (533)) Read the Section on Socialists and do some research

What is the difference between communism/socialism/ and capitalism? (be careful of where you get your information)

What are your opinions on communism and socialism? Why? Ensure you have evidence to back up your answers.

The Roots of Populism (The People’s Party)

Farming Problems In Central and Southern US

Tenant Farming – Crop Lien System Falling of Cotton Prices

Civil War Production in India Creates Debt for Farmers

Formation of Farmers’ Alliance Hoped to cooperate to market crops and finance

farms Banks Wouldn’t give in Movement into Politics to make changes

Formation of the People’s Party Evolution of the Farmers’ Alliance

Fought for the rights of “producing classes” farmers and others

Gains considerable support all throughout nation Believed corruption and politics had been built on

the backs of the laborer. Some efforts to united black and white Ideas:

Direct election of US Senators Government control over currency Graduated Income tax system Low public financing for land for farmers Public ownership of railroads

Government and Labor Populism Successes

Some success in government Southern States (NC) took control for short time

Southern Whites rally at fear of black supremacy

Endorsement of Women’s suffrage – Doesn’t take hold

Government and Labor Populists Gaining Strength in Politics

1893 – Depression = increased populist support State and Federal governments

Putting down strikes

The Pullman Strike Wage Reductions at Pullman Rail Car

Company Protest against wage reduction and go on strike Cripple American Rail Industry

Court orders workers back to jobs Strikers defy court order - Arrested

Supreme Court Case Eugene v Debs (In re Debs) – Upholds

convictions and injunctions to stop strikes – Debs Jailed (Growth of the Socialist Party)

Discussion Government in the Populist Era: 534-536

(534) What is the “Free Silver” Debate? How did the populists view the issue of Silver coinage in America?

What decision did the populists face in the election of 1896? (534-535) Who Was William McKinley and who was

William Jennings Bryan? How does Bryan represent the strength of the populist party

and how does Bryan also guarantee the election of McKinley? (535-36)

(536) Discuss the McKinley years. What laws / issues does McKinley pass while in office?

(Think) Think about the chapter as a whole. Why do you think socialism had such appeal in the United States in the later 1890’s yet failed to take hold as a mainstream political belief system?