Political Issues of the Gilded Political Issues of the Gilded AgeAge
Political MachinesPolitical Machines
Organized group that controlled a Organized group that controlled a political party in a citypolitical party in a city
Provided political favors in exchange Provided political favors in exchange for supportfor support
Promise of jobs and other help was Promise of jobs and other help was very appealing to immigrantsvery appealing to immigrants
Voter FraudVoter Fraud GraftGraft KickbacksKickbacks
One Man One One Man One Vote?Vote?
Tammany HallTammany Hall
New York CityNew York City ““Boss” TweedBoss” Tweed
Politics in the “Gilded Age”Politics in the “Gilded Age”
Enormous wealth, political Enormous wealth, political corruption, widespread povertycorruption, widespread poverty
Reformers Reformers (mugwumps, (mugwumps, halfbreeds) halfbreeds) wanted:wanted:– Merit system for Merit system for
government jobsgovernment jobs– End of patronageEnd of patronage– Australian ballotAustralian ballot
““Stalwarts” Stalwarts” wanted:wanted:– Spoils system to Spoils system to
continuecontinue
1880 James Garfield (R) is 1880 James Garfield (R) is elected Presidentelected President
ReformerReformer V.P. is Chester A. ArthurV.P. is Chester A. Arthur 1881 – Garfield is assassinated by 1881 – Garfield is assassinated by
the “stalwart of the stalwarts”the “stalwart of the stalwarts” Arthur becomes PresidentArthur becomes President
1883 – Pendleton Act1883 – Pendleton Act
Most govt. jobs earned on merit by Most govt. jobs earned on merit by passing an exampassing an exam
How would politicians now get funds How would politicians now get funds that they used to get from public that they used to get from public employees?employees?
““Assassination can be no more Assassination can be no more guarded against than death by guarded against than death by
lightning” - Garfieldlightning” - Garfield
Elections of ’84, ’88, ‘92Elections of ’84, ’88, ‘92
’’84 – Cleveland (D) defeats Blaine (R)84 – Cleveland (D) defeats Blaine (R) ’’88 – Harrison (R) defeats Cleveland88 – Harrison (R) defeats Cleveland ’’92 – Cleveland defeats Harrison92 – Cleveland defeats Harrison
Issues of the Gilded AgeIssues of the Gilded Age
16-1 Segregation and Social 16-1 Segregation and Social TensionsTensions
Loss of African – American Loss of African – American Voting RightsVoting Rights
Poll TaxPoll Tax Literacy TestsLiteracy Tests Grandfather ClauseGrandfather Clause
Jim Crow LawsJim Crow Laws
Plessy vs. FergusonPlessy vs. Ferguson
Booker T. WashingtonBooker T. Washington
Live with Live with segregationsegregation
Tuskegee InstituteTuskegee Institute– VocationsVocations
W.E.B. Du BoisW.E.B. Du Bois
End segregation End segregation NOWNOW
Access to Access to educationeducation
Ida WellsIda Wells
Anti-lynching Anti-lynching editorialseditorials
Chinese Exclusion ActChinese Exclusion Act
Prevented Chinese laborers from entering Prevented Chinese laborers from entering U.S.U.S.
Mexican AmericansMexican Americans
Many lost land Many lost land following Treaty of following Treaty of Guadalupe - Guadalupe - HidalgoHidalgo
WomenWomen
Denied the right to Denied the right to vote despite the vote despite the 1414thth and 15 and 15thth AmendmentsAmendments
Farmers and the Populist Farmers and the Populist MovementMovement
Enemies of the farmer:Enemies of the farmer:
Mother NatureMother Nature– droughtdrought
The BanksThe Banks– High interest on their debtsHigh interest on their debts
The RailroadsThe Railroads– High prices to ship their productsHigh prices to ship their products
Farmers Unite!Farmers Unite!
The GrangeThe Grange Farmer’s AlliancesFarmer’s Alliances ““Strength in numbers”Strength in numbers” Voting blocVoting bloc
Farmers see a solution – Farmers see a solution – “cheap money”“cheap money”
Increased currency would make it easier to Increased currency would make it easier to repay their debts - inflationrepay their debts - inflation
Gold Standard vs. Free Gold Standard vs. Free SilverSilver
Farmers wanted Farmers wanted our currency to be our currency to be shifted from the shifted from the gold standard to gold standard to bimetallism – a bimetallism – a combination of combination of gold and silvergold and silver
The Populist PartyThe Populist Party
Created in 1892Created in 1892 Goals:Goals:
– cheap moneycheap money– graduated income taxgraduated income tax– direct election of senatorsdirect election of senators– 8 hour workday8 hour workday– limit immigrationlimit immigration
William Jennings BryanWilliam Jennings Bryan
““Cross of Gold” speechCross of Gold” speech Nominated by Populists for President Nominated by Populists for President
in 1896in 1896 Also ran in 1900, 1908Also ran in 1900, 1908
Legacy of PopulismLegacy of Populism
Common people can wield political Common people can wield political powerpower
Many reforms enacted by Democratic Many reforms enacted by Democratic party in the 20party in the 20thth century century