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Progress leads to Problems and Change
Cities, Immigrants, and Farmers
CitiesAs industry continued to grow, cities experienced an increase in Urbanızatıon - the movement of population from the country to the city.
This increase lead to problems that cities were not ready to deal with.
These problems include:
Overcrowding and slums
Traffic congestion
Lack of garbage collection services and proper sewage
An increase in the separation between classes
City CorruptionCity residents not only faced harsh working conditions but they also struggled with the living conditions in the cities
Polıtıcal machınes - controlled the government; they used their influence and power to have officials elected and to further their own agenda
➔ The “Boss” and members would provide services to the poor and immigrants who were struggling.
➔ In return for their kindness these people were expected to vote for the “machines” candidate
➔ Those elected would charge excessive amounts on public contracts - kıckbacks - making them a fortune
What do you see?
Immigrants: New vs OldBefore 1880 most immigrants came from Great Britain, Ireland and Germany. These “Old immigrants” would speak English and work to assimilate into American culture
Between 1880 and 1924 - “New immigrants”
➔ came from Southern and Eastern Europe: Poland, Russia, Italy, Greece and Asia
➔ Most were Catholic, Jewish, or Greek Orthodox, spoke no English and were incredibly poor
➔ Would face prejudice and discrimination from “mainstream” Americans because of the vast differences in culture and tradition
Asian ImmigrantsChinese immigrants came into the U.S. during the Gold Rush and the process of building the transcontinental railroad.
They would be a target for nativists and receive poor treatment from citizens and the government.
The Naturalızatıon Law of 1870 would prevent them from becoming naturalized citizens and receiving the rights of citizens.
The Chınese Exclusıon Act would ban almost ALL immigrants from China; this is the first legislation to regulate and block immigration into the United States
The Japanese would also be targets of government legislation and in 1907 they would be banned from immigrating to the U.S. under the “Gentleman’s Agreement” signed by T. Roosevelt and the Japanese emperor
Living in America Getting to America became easier after the invention of the steamship; making the trip easier
1892 - poorer immigrants would be taken to Ellıs Island to be processed before entering the country; they could be sent back if they did not pass a health inspection
1910 - poor Asian immigrants would be similarly processed at Angel Island in San Francisco - entry here could take months of waiting
Once in the United States immigrants tended to group together in communities called ghettos, those living in these communities shared a nationality, language, or religious belief. Children living in the ghettos would normally be the first to Amerıcanıze - learning the English language, attending public schools, and learning American culture. This Americanization would lead to a divide in the generations and cause conflict.
Living in America The journey coming into America was not an easy trip and trying to assimilate (or not in many cases) to the culture continued to cause problems.
Many immigrants were coming to America for better opportunities, religious freedoms, and employment in the new factories that were being built across the country.
Their eagerness to work and settle into their new lives caused many problems with Americans who were also competing for factory, railroad, and shipping jobs. Immigrants were willing to work longer hours, work for less pay, and accept the “rules” of the job easier than Americans who also needed the employment.
Because of this divide a feeling of Natıvısm would sweep through the country. Natıvısm is the belief that white, Protestant native born Americans were superior to others and immigrants were undesirable. These feelings would lead to federal legislation limiting/stopping immigration from 1882 into the 1920s.
People v HallIn 1850 George Hall was convicted in California of murdering a Chinese resident. His conviction was based on the testimony of the witness - all of Chinese nationality.
The case was appealed in the Supreme Court and it was ruled that Chinese individuals could not testify in court and the evidence provided was inadmissible.
George Hall was set free.
Farming in AmericaFarmers Problems -
due to changes in the economy farmers were extremely vulnerable to changes in the market
● Overproduction - caused by more land and better machinery● International competition - railroads and steamships had created an international
market; consumers had options to buy American or buy foreign goods ● Money - there was not enough money in circulation to keep up with the demand; even
though prices and profits continued to drop the expenses attributed to farming continued to increase
● Middlemen - farmers did not sell directly to consumers of urban markets; these middlemen would buy at lower prices - hold the product until the market adjusted and then sell for a profit. In many cases farmers would use middlemen for storage and be charged large fees (grain elevators)
Problems continued● Shipping cost-due to railroad monopolies farmers had little negotiating power;
no federal regulation● High costs - on manufactured products and equipment● Farm Debt -
○ Cheap money- favored by farmers; inflation of currency would make the loan debt less○ Inflation- prices increase○ Deflation- prices drop = hard to pay loan payments
Sherman Silver Purchase Act - Law required the government to purchase large amounts of silver each month; this would increase money in circulation; the Act fails in 1893 and the country falls into a depression
● Natural Disasters - droughts ● Isolation - psychological impact of being so far away from others; also could not
share techniques and ideas/innovation
Farming in AmericaGetting Organized - The Grange Movement
1867 - Oliver Hudson Kelley organized a national association of farmers’ social clubs.
The Grange was an attempt to break rural isolation of farmers and spread information needed by farmers. (Techniques, innovations, etc)
Within 10 years, the Grange had 1.5 million members
In an attempt to eliminate the middleman they established farming cooperatives to sell goods to markets/the consumer; lack of experience would cause most cooperatives to fail
Farming in AmericaGranger Laws - tried to compete and regulate railroads and grain storage (elevators)
New regulations would lead to:
Munn v Illinois 1877 - Supreme Court will uphold Granger Law that regulated grain elevators. Ruling this law was constitutional. States can regulate private property/utilities if that utility was serving public interests
9 years later Wabash, St. Louis, and Pacific Railroad v Illinois will limit the previous ruling. Stating that states can not regulate railroads running through more than one state. This right was given to Congress in the Constitution. This ruling will invalidate many Granger Laws
Interstate Commerce1887 - Congress passed the ICA in response to Wabash ruling
This was the first step in regulating unfair business practices
Stated: companies could not give different hauling rates to different customers hauling the same freight the same distance
Banned price fixing agreements AKA pooling, Railroads must publish “fair and reasonable rates” for all customers
A formal Commission was created to investigate complaints and enforce the act, first regulatory agency created to watch over an industry.
The Populist PartyThe Populist Party - started by the “Farmers Allıances” (regional political groups) this national political party would work for change for the people.
The “People’s Party” believed that rich industrialist and bankers were controlling the government and that the Rep. and Demo. had sold out and were no longer representing the people.
They also believed that government officials were restricting the money supply to make their own gold more valuable; they only way to fight back was to unite farmers and industrialists.
Populist Party - The Election of 1892The Populist national convention would be held in Omaha, Nebraska in 1892.
Many of the ideas proposed at this convention would eventually become law.
In the election, Populists would elect 5 senators and receive more than a million votes for their Presidential candidate.
The Election of 1892Omaha Platform:
➔ Free and unlimited coinage of silver (1oz of gold = 16 oz of silver)➔ Direct Election of Senators➔ Gov’t ownership of railroads, telegraphs, and telephones➔ Secret ballot elections➔ Graduated Income Tax➔ Postal savings bank➔ “Initiative” and “referendum” to call for accountability in the gov’t➔ Restrictions on immigration➔ 8 hour work day➔ 1 term Presidency ➔ Gov’t warehouses for storage of farm goods and food prices.
Election of 1896The Depression of 1893 began shortly after the election in 1892.
Populist believed that bımetallısm was the answer to the financial crisis; basing money on both silver and gold would raise farm prices and make farm loans easier to repay.
This idea would become the platform for the 1896 election.
President Cleveland - Democrat had decreased the purchase of silver, used federal troops to end the Pullman Strike and failed to lower tariffs.
His track record in office had split the Democratic Party. These “free silver” Democrats would support the Populist candidate William Jennings Bryan.
Election of 1896William Jennings Bryan won the Democratic nomination following the delivery of his “Cross of Gold Speech”.
This speech praised the farmer and denounced banking interest; accusing them of attempting to “crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.”
His nomination for the Democratic Party put the Populist Party in a awkward position. They decided to also nominate Bryan and avoid splitting “free silver” supporters. This caused the party to lose their independence and became under the control of the Democratic Party.
Election of 1896The election would put:
W.J. Bryan against Republican William McKinley
Bimetallism against the Gold Standard
Gov’t regulation v noninterference
Lower tariffs v high tariffs
Election of 1896McKinley would be backed by Ohio businessman Marcus Hanna.
McKinley was a “Big Business” candidate; backed by wealthy businessman including Carnegie, Rockefeller and Morgan.
Because of Cleveland’s record many people thought Bryan was a lunatic and would leave the country in ruins. Hanna used these fears and propaganda to sway voters
Results of the Election
Bryan would sweep the South, Great Plains, and Rocky Mountains = 6.5 Million voters
McKinley won the Northeast, Midwest, CA and OR = 7 million votes and the majority of the electoral votes
Bryan would run again in 1900, and 1908 but lose each time.
