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