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Commonwealth and Empire, 1870-1900. Chapter 20. Toward A National Governing Class.
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1. Bell Ringer Should the government be responsible for ensuring every American lives comfortably? Why or Why not?
2. Commonwealth and Empire, 1870-1900 Chapter 20
3. Toward A National Governing Class “The best government is the one that governs least” was the advise given by most political theorists in the late 19th c.
This advice would not be followed
Government expanded at a rapid pace
Prior to the Civil War government was not responsible for vital services such as fire and police protection
By 1900 only 9 of the 50 largest cities did not provide services
4. Toward A National Governing Class Expansion of government services meant:
Increase spending
Increase in taxes and debt
Increase in government jobs (in NY 1 out of 8 citizens worked for the government)
At the federal level spending went from $257M to $567M
Bureaucracy grew from 50,000 employees to 100,000 employees (1871-1900)
5. Toward A National Governing Class Growth of the government was seen in the creation of new offices
Department of Agriculture (1862)
Department of the Interior included the Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Geological Survey, and Bureau of Territorial and International Affairs
Department of the Treasury
Veterans Bureau (60K+ employees alone)
Creation of the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC)
Job was to approve RR rates, examine company records, and enforce transportation laws
Allowed for government intervention into private companies
6. Toward A National Governing Class Post Civil War, Republicans ran on a platform of “we reunited the nation”
Democrats wanted less governmental involvement, slash expenditures, and protect states’ rights
Republicans held on to constituents while Democrats gained new followers in white Southerners and naturalized citizens
The presidents elected from 1868-1892 let Congress control
Neither party had a strong majority in any house or election
Little legislation was passed during this time period
7. Toward A National Governing Class Republicans maintained high tariff rates to protect businesses
Democrats strongly opposed this since it hurt the Southern farmers
On other issues, to gain support, they would “steal” the other sides opinion
Candidates bombarded voters with slogans, buttons, and misc. items
Voters who were dead (or never lived) even voted in these elections
My how things have changed ?
8. Toward A National Governing Class It was not uncommon for winners of an election to receive “incentives” (stocks, payoffs) for supporting certain industries
This was not thought to be unethical by most politicians or business leaders
Bosses such as William Marcy Tweed (NYC) and “Hinky Dink” Kenna (Chicago) gave jobs to loyal voters, and holiday baskets to their families
Tweed also created large sporting events and expanded services for immigrant communities
9. Toward A National Governing Class James Garfield had been a Civil War leader who won a congressional seat in 1863
He introduced a bill to create the Department of Education because it was the best way to achieve equality
He fought against corruption in Grant’s administration and then moved to fight against the political machines
10. Toward A National Governing Class In order to get on the path to presidency, Garfield adopted more “conservative” roles and starting working with political machines
This resulted in his bid and election to the presidency
He was an indecisive, indifferent, and lackluster president who was killed by someone who didn’t get the position he “earned” through the political game
11. Toward A National Governing Class He (as well as other presidents of the time) believed that the president was the party leader who played only a ceremonial role
12. Toward A National Governing Class Civil Service reform had been proposed in 1865 with no success
When a group came together to create the Civil Service Reform Association they were led by Dem. George H. Pendleton
In `83 a bipartisan effort led to the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act
Created a set of standards for federal jobs and testing for the fitness of applicants for public service
Also barred candidates from soliciting campaign donations from government workers
13. Toward A National Governing Class Government jobs began to have regulatory practices such as doctors and lawyers with the American Medical Association and the American Bar Association
Congress passed the Circuit Courts of Appeals Act (1891) allowing the Supreme Court to review any state or federal case at will
14. Toward A National Governing Class Lawyers still dominated the field of politics and therefore knew the system well enough to do as they pleased
Edward Bellamy urged citizens to unite against such machines and gain control of government for themselves
15. Farmers and Workers Organize Their Communities The workers and farmers, short on funds, pulled together the biggest challenge to the two-party system ever: The Populist movement
The movement started with the Patrons of Husbandry
An organization to promote social, intellectual, and moral improvement
Was a secretive society with passwords etc
Became known as the Grange in farming communities
16. Farmers and Workers Organize Their Communities The Grange movement spread quickly due to economic hardship
Between infestations, competition, and weather many farmers began operating at a loss
They joined the Patrons of Husbandry to solve problems (1.5M members)
The Grangers blamed big business
RRs and banks kept higher fees while manufactures of equipment (Cyrus McCormick) charged twice as much to US farmers compared to European farmers
17. Farmers and Workers Organize Their Communities Banks charged rates too high with too short of loan terms for farmers to get ahead
RRs charged higher wages to regular farmers than to large companies
Granger laws were passed to establish maximum shipping rates
Price-fixing occurred on warehouses, etc which led to Ill creating a maximum rate law within their state
The law was challenged by firms in Chicago, but the Supreme Court upheld in Munn v. Illinois that the states have the right to regulate private property in public interest
18. Farmers and Workers Organize Their Communities Grange membership began to slide as legislation regulating RRs was overturned and a deepening depression in the 1870s wiped out most of their cooperative programs
19. Farmers and Workers Organize Their Communities Agrarian unrest spread throughout the South
Conservatives told farmers to diversify their crops beyond cotton
Considering household budgets fell from $50 to $10/year and transportation expenses went up, the farmers did not have this option
Out of this, the farmers united under the idea “Equal Rights to All, Special Privileges to None.”
20. Farmers and Workers Organize Their Communities Charles Macune and William Lamb led the National Farmers’ Alliance and Industrial Union
3M white members
Black farmers joined the Colored Farmers’ Alliance and Cooperative Union (1M)
Members sought to restore democracy through “agitation, education, and cooperation”
21. Farmers and Workers Organize Their Communities Grangers had pushed for:
Limiting public officials’ salaries
Providing textbooks to students for little cost
Creating teacher certifications
They didn’t put up candidates though
Farmers’ Alliance joined races and fought for:
State ownership of RRs
Lower tariffs
Restrictions of land ownership (only citizens)
“free and unlimited coinage of silver”
22. Farmers and Workers Organize Their Communities Workers also sought to unite due to the depression of the 1870s
Unemployment was at 25% in most cities
10K workers marched in NYC to protest unemployment, homelessness
When turned back, the groups sought to get a permit to hold the rally but was denied
On Jan. 13, 1874 7K people showed up to protest and were attacked by the 1600 member police force leading to labor conflict and violence (Tompkins Square Riot)
23. Farmers and Workers Organize Their Communities Strikes became so common, yet often resulted in failure
It did show that the people were willing to stand up for their beliefs, and the merchants that depended on their labor often supported them
Despite warnings, the RR corporations were caught off guard in the Great Uprising of 1877
Starting in Martinsburg, WV and expanding quickly, RR employees uncoupled RR engines and refused to get things moving again
The strike got so bad that Pres. Hayes had to send in the Army to end the strike
24. Farmers and Workers Organize Their Communities The Army fired semi-automatic weapons into the crowds, killing more than 100 by the end of the strike
This uprising stayed with workers and government officials for decades
The creation of the National Guard arose out of these strikes, as well as community based armories
Workers put up people for election and strikes continued throughout the nation
25. Farmers and Workers Organize Their Communities Henry George, economist and land reformer put himself forward for mayor (NYC) on the United Labor Party ticket
He was backed by the Knights of Labor and the Central Labor Council
He called for large taxes to “help all Americans live comfortable” and called for “honest citizens” to take political action against the politicians who “corrupt the people whom they plunder”
He was supported by Irish and German immigrants
Many of the ballots voting for him were delivered to the Hudson River by the Tammany Hall machine
He came in second (Abram Stevens Hewitt came in 1st, Theodore Roosevelt came in 3rd)
26. Farmers and Workers Organize Their Communities Women campaigned for labor and agrarian causes as well as women’s suffrage
“government based on caste and class privilege cannot stand”
The Knights of Labor allowed for an investigator to review abuses by employers of women and children
They also ran day-cares and bakeries for working mothers
27. Farmers and Workers Organize Their Communities Agrarian women also fought for rights and defenses against governmental abuse
Mary E. Lease called for farmers to “raise less corn and more hell”; it was their duty to get rid of the monopoly of land, money, and transportation
One of the most famous women was Frances E. Willard
She proposed that as women are responsible for the physical and spiritual welfare of their families, this would spread throughout society if they were allowed to vote
She presided over the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) with the slogan “make the whole world HOMELIKE”
28. Farmers and Workers Organize Their Communities The WCTU preached abstinence from alcohol, prison reform, ending prostitution, and eliminating the wage system
Willard created a new government where all offices were shared by men and women
When the two main suffrage organizations (American Woman Suffrage Association, National Woman Suffrage Association) merged the WCTU had already pushed the fight for suffrage out to the plains states
Despite push for suffrage, CO and WY will be the only states to allow suffrage by 1891
29. Farmers and Workers Organize Their Communities In Dec. 1890 the Farmers’ Alliance met in Ocala, FL to push for a national party
From this effort rose the People’s (Populist) Party
Their platform included:
Government owned RRs, banks, telegraph lines
Prohibition of large landholding companies
Graduated income tax
8 hour workday
Restriction of immigrants
30. The Crisis of the 1890s Ignatius Donnelly, Populist, wrote in Caesar’s Column (1891):
“the rich, as a rule, hate the poor; and the poor are coming to hate the rich…society divides itself into two hostile camps…They wait only for the drum beat and the trumpet to summon them to armed conflict.”
As the depression of the 1890s controlled the nation, many feared that the political system would topple
31. The Crisis of the 1890s The RRs were the center of the economy, so when they all (but one) went bankrupt in 1893, economic growth came to a halt
When Philadelphia and Reading RR went under as well as National Cordage Company, stocks plummeted
This created a panic resulting in hundreds of banks closing, 200 RRs and 15,000 businesses declaring bankruptcy
Agricultural prices dropped and more stocks fell
It wasn’t until 1897 that a turnaround was in sight, a full recovery didn’t come around until after the turn of the century
32. The Crisis of the 1890s With unemployment at 25%, people faced hardship
Lines for free bread and clothing occurred
People “rode the rails” to try luck in different city
Cities blamed increasing crime rate on “menacing” homeless populations
Populist Jacob Sechler Coxey rounded up the homeless and led a march on Washington, D.C.
Only 600 of thousands would reach the capital for US Attorney General Richard Olney worked with the states to stop these people from advancing on D.C.
Those who made it forced the public to see their problem and showed the impatience with government apathy
33. The Crisis of the 1890s Strikes were seen across the country
George Pullman had created a company with a self-contained community
The employees not only worked for Pullman, but also rented homes, bought food, when to church, and even was buried in Pullman graves
34. The Crisis of the 1890s When Pullman reduced wages but kept prices the same on store goods strike talk began
Eugene V. Debs formed the American Railway Union (ARU) to unite all the RR workers
While he said to exercise caution, the other members sought boycotts of Pullman to aid strikers
35. The Crisis of the 1890s The strike started out peaceful, but turned violent when Pres. Cleveland ordered federal troops to go in (despite the governor’s objection)
The strike ended after spreading to 26 other states and 25 people dying
Debs was arrested
Once released him committed himself to being a socialist and attempted to create a utopian society (it failed)
36. The Crisis of the 1890s Many Christian leaders began noting the discrepancies between their beliefs and how the poor were being treated
Clergymen began pushing for reform
W.D.P. Bliss, charter member of Boston’s Bellamy Nationalist club, said “He works for God who works for man.”
Business leaders were warned to return to Christ’s teachings
Charles Sheldon told people to think in terms of “What would Jesus do?”
Women also pushed this agenda leading Frances Willard to say “the time will come when the human heart will be so much alive that no one could sleep in any given community, if any of that group of human beings were cold, hungry, or miserable.
37. Politics of Reform, Politics of Order The economic troubles in the of the 1890s led to a turning point in American politics
Democrats and Republicans still had loyal followers, but the Populists found ways to break off some of the voters
Grover Cleveland gained the Presidency because the Democrats of the South supported him as well as the states of IL and WI due to large immigrant populations
The Republicans were becoming more Nativist
38. Politics of Reform, Politics of Order Cleveland immediately faced issues with the economy
He called a special session of Congress to reform the nation’s currency
Some called for “soft currency”-easy to increase supply forcing it to loose value and allowing farmers to use “cheaper” money to repay loans (this is inflation)
“Hard currency” was preferred by conservatives to avoid financial chaos
In 1873 Congress passed the Coinage Act allowing silver to be used as a precious metal base for currency, therefore adding to the supply
39. Politics of Reform, Politics of Order Many conservatives called this the Crime of ‘73 saying that the law harmed the value of money
The Compromise was the Sherman Silver Purchase Act
It directed the Treasury to put more coined silver in rotation and print paper currency backed by silver
In return, the Westerners who wanted silver to be used would support the McKinley Tariff which imposed the highest tariffs yet
40. Politics of Reform, Politics of Order Cleveland took desperate measures by forcing the repeal of the Sherman Act believing that gold was the only way to fix the depression
He would not be nominated for the Democrats in the 1896 election
The Republicans would gain 117 seats in Congress (largest shift in history)
The presidential election of `86 became the “battle of the standards”
41. Politics of Reform, Politics of Order Populists worried that despite the increased interest in their party, a very popular Democrat, William Jennings Bryan, would overshadow them
Bryan advocated for free silver because that is what the people wanted
He brought new life to the Democrats by united old members with the Silver Democrats (converted Populists)
He was the first presidential candidate to travel to all states in the nation
He confronted the gold standard republicans by saying “You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon the cross of gold.”
42. Politics of Reform, Politics of Order The Populists knew that if they put up their own candidate, it would split the silver vote
They went with Bryan and put up one of their own for VP, Tom Watson
The Democrats refused the “hybrid” ticket and chose Arthur Sewall for the VP slot
The Republicans put up William McKinley, was Civil War Veteran
His campaign outspent Bryan 10:1 and ran a ruthless campaign saying that Bryan was too radical and would cost voters their jobs
43. Characters of Wizard of Oz Dorothy—everyman
Scarecrow—Midwest farmers
Tin man—industrial workers
Cowardly Lion—William Jennings Bryan
Emerald city—Capitol
Yellow Brick Road—Gold standard
Dorothy’s silver shoes—the silver standard
The Wicked Witch of the East—Eastern industries
The Wizard—The President
OZ is the molecular symbol for Gold
Winged monkeys—Native Americans
44. Meaning behind The Wizard of Oz The Tin Man had become a machine (working in the factories) and couldn’t love anymore (needed a heart)
The Scarecrow needed a brain (obvious connection)
The Lion (Bryan) ran against McKinley and lost (as did the silver standard)
The Wizard (President) can only maintain power through deception and the people’s ignorance
Winged monkeys talk about the simply life before OZ came and took their land
When the Wizard is dethroned, the Scarecrow gains political power, the Tin Man can move West and the Lion can protect the forest (Bryan can go back to Congress)
45. Politics of Reform, Politics of Order McKinley handily won the electoral vote
He carried traditionally democratic party voters such as the blue-collar and the upper-South
These groups, and others, feared the Bryan’s plan was too radical and wouldn’t help them
The Populists dwindled away after the election
The next 16 years would see the Democrats only controlling the South, and the inevitability of Republican wins led to voter apathy in the Democratic party
46. Politics of Reform, Politics of Order McKinley as president:
He supported the Dingley tariff of 1897 (raised tariffs to another all-time high)
Favored the Gold Standard Act of 1900
Congress created the US Industrial Commission to plan business regulation
Eased the financial situation for small businesses with the bankruptcy act
Proposed the Erdman Act to create arbitration between RR employees and employers
Was supported by the Supreme Court
Due to increased prosperity and his slogan “a full dinner pail” McKinley would be re-elected in 1900
47. Politics of Reform, Politics of Order Both candidates held the belief of white supremacy
Many citizens had become increasingly nationalistic and anti-foreign
Even Samuel Gompers (a German immigrant) sought to restrict immigration
A conspiracy theory of the Pope trying to gain control of the US caused people to fear Catholics
The American Protective Association was created to defend American institutions
48. Politics of Reform, Politics of Order Black people saw an increase in violence and racism
Laws known as Jim Crow Laws allowed for the discrimination and segregation of blacks
The Supreme Court overturned the Civil Rights Act of 1896
It also upheld LA law that created the “separate but equal” doctrine in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
The Court also allowed for separate schools even when facilities were not available for black students in Cumming v. Richmond County Board of Eudcation
49. Politics of Reform, Politics of Order Ida B. Wells spoke out against the lynchings that occurred
Her business was destroyed and she was forced out of town
She took her cause internationally proving that the lynchings in the US were not based on punishment for crimes committed but rather because these people had become too prosperous for white competitors liking
50. Imperialism of Righteousness Frederick Jackson Turner wrote “The Significance of the Frontier in American History”
In this, he explains the importance of America moving on to new frontiers to ensure the survival of democracy
This ideology lead Americans into foreign expansion
Expansion for missionary purposes
Business and political leaders also eyed distant lands
Due to shrinking European markets, American businesses looked to Asia for expansion
Americans believed that nearby nations were destined to be claimed by the US as opportunity allowed
51. Imperialism of Righteousness The imperialistic ideal lead William Seward, Secretary of State under Lincoln and Johnson, to negotiate the purchase of Alaska in 1867
The US paid 7.2M for what was known as “Seward’s Icebox”
It was hoped that, one day, the US would also own Canada and Mexico
While European nations began to claim parts of Asia and Africa, America laid claim to the Caribbean
The US did not acquire Canada because Great Britain was unwilling to cede that territory
52. Imperialism of Righteousness James Blaine, Secretary of State under Garfield and Harrison, created a Good Neighbor policy
The policy was designed to create an economic relationship between the US and Latin/South America, creating a $400M market
Under this policy, American businesses would often overshadow partner nations’ business class
It also established that Europe was not to intervene in revolts; the US Navy would support these governments if need be
53. Imperialism of Righteousness To continue imperialistic expansion, Congress funded the building of a large navy, which becomes known as The Great White Fleet
Congress also established the Naval War College in Newport, RI
Capt. Alfred Thayer Mahan was president of the College and wrote “The Influence of Sea Power Upon American History, 1660-1873”
This book defined American foreign policy
54. Homework Please see the “Annexation of Hawaii, 1898,” “Spanish American War, 1898,” and “Sec. of State John Hay and the Open Door in China, 1899-1900” handout from the US Department of State
Please read VERY closely this weekend
You will have a multiple choice quiz over this handout on Monday!