The 1870s and today

There are 5 parallels between the 1870s and today Parallel Number One: A Plague of Drugs Parallel Number One: A Plague of Drugs Largely the result of the Civil WarLargely the result of the Civil War Cocaine comes into vogueCocaine comes into vogue Distinctive characteristic of the first drug epidemic was that people believed drugs had benefits and no side effects.Distinctive characteristic of the first drug epidemic was that people believed drugs had benefits and no side effects.

Parallel Number Two: A Purity Crusade Parallel Number Two: A Purity Crusade KS – passed law giving statutory force to the 10 CommandmentsKS – passed law giving statutory force to the 10 Commandments NH Constitutional Amendment: the US was founded upon Christian principles, and thus Christianity’s tenets may be enforced as law.NH Constitutional Amendment: the US was founded upon Christian principles, and thus Christianity’s tenets may be enforced as law. Blue LawsBlue Laws Made it illegal to conduct most forms of business on Sunday. Made it illegal to conduct most forms of business on Sunday. Most states banned lotteries and horse racing.Most states banned lotteries and horse racing. TN banned the sale and manufacture of cigarettes – a ban upheld by the courts.TN banned the sale and manufacture of cigarettes – a ban upheld by the courts.

Temperance Women’s Christian Temperance Union Women’s Christian Temperance Union Blamed alcohol for crime, poverty, wife beating.Blamed alcohol for crime, poverty, wife beating. Wanted a ban on the sale and manufacture of all alcohol.Wanted a ban on the sale and manufacture of all alcohol. Sought limits on immigration.Sought limits on immigration.

Sexual Prudery Comstock Act Comstock Act The Act for the Suppression of Trade in, and Circulation of Obscene Literature and Articles for Immoral UseThe Act for the Suppression of Trade in, and Circulation of Obscene Literature and Articles for Immoral Use 500,000+ pieces of art destroyed500,000+ pieces of art destroyed Assault on birth controlAssault on birth control

Parallel Number 3: Government Retrenchment Government spent nothing unless absolutely necessary. Government spent nothing unless absolutely necessary. Federal government cut salaries of every employee, some up to 50%.Federal government cut salaries of every employee, some up to 50%. Texas: paid legislators $2/day if they met more than 60 days, $5/day if they met less than 60 days.Texas: paid legislators $2/day if they met more than 60 days, $5/day if they met less than 60 days. VA – governor declared “education should be paid for by those who use it.”VA – governor declared “education should be paid for by those who use it.” Most Southern schools cut the school year by 20%Most Southern schools cut the school year by 20% Southern children on average attended school less than 100 days per year. Southern children on average attended school less than 100 days per year. Schools spent an average of $6 per child per year. Schools spent an average of $6 per child per year.

Government retrenchment almost always equals a rise in corruption. State funds stolen by state treasurers: State funds stolen by state treasurers: TN - $400,000TN - $400,000 AR - $215,000AR - $215,000 KY - $229,000KY - $229,000 MI - $316,000MI - $316,000 LA - $777,000LA - $777,000 Mississippi – the entire state’s expenditure less than $100,000 – the education secretary stole $40,000. Mississippi – the entire state’s expenditure less than $100,000 – the education secretary stole $40,000.

Building projects Iowa State Capital Iowa State Capital Foundation collapsedFoundation collapsed New York City New York City Tweed Courthouse.Tweed Courthouse. Cost $10 millionCost $10 million One table/chair setOne table/chair set cost $100,000 Paid a plasterer $137,000 for 2 days’ work.Paid a plasterer $137,000 for 2 days’ work.

Parallel Number Four: A Retreat From Civil Rights. Goal is to restrict African Americans’ access to the vote, but were used against poor whites as well. Goal is to restrict African Americans’ access to the vote, but were used against poor whites as well. Legal Measures Voter Registration – did not exist prior to the 1870s.Voter Registration – did not exist prior to the 1870s. Requirement that voter registration card be presented to vote.Requirement that voter registration card be presented to vote. Barring of all criminals from voting - including those convicted of misdemeanors.Barring of all criminals from voting - including those convicted of misdemeanors. Change to the “Australian Ballot” – no party symbols may be present.Change to the “Australian Ballot” – no party symbols may be present. Institution of time-limits.Institution of time-limits.

Extralegal measures False bottom ballot boxFalse bottom ballot box Moving the polling location without notice.Moving the polling location without notice. Tampering with voter registration rolls.Tampering with voter registration rolls. ViolenceViolence Louisiana – 40 African Americans killed for attempting to vote. Louisiana – 40 African Americans killed for attempting to vote.

Parallel Number Five: A disputed presidential election. Samuel J. Tilden – Gov. of NY. Samuel J. Tilden – Gov. of NY. Rutherford B. Hayes – Gov. of Ohio Rutherford B. Hayes – Gov. of Ohio Popular VotePopular Vote Tilden: 4,288,546 Tilden: 4,288,546 Hayes: 4,034,311 Hayes: 4,034,311 Electoral VoteElectoral Vote Tilden – 204 Tilden – 204 Hayes – 165 Hayes – 165BUT

Republicans challenge the results in South Carolina, Louisiana, Oregon, and Florida. Republicans challenge the results in South Carolina, Louisiana, Oregon, and Florida. Congress appoints a committee Congress appoints a committee 7 Democrats7 Democrats 7 Republicans7 Republicans 1 Independent, a Supreme Court Justice1 Independent, a Supreme Court Justice The justice ended up resigning and a Republican named to replace him. The committee voted 8-7 to give Hayes the disputed votes, and Hayes appeared to win.The justice ended up resigning and a Republican named to replace him. The committee voted 8-7 to give Hayes the disputed votes, and Hayes appeared to win.

Compromise of 1877 Election of Hayes is certified. Election of Hayes is certified. Hayes must appoint a Democrat to his cabinet. Hayes must appoint a Democrat to his cabinet. Hayes will support federal aid for railroad construction in the South. Hayes will support federal aid for railroad construction in the South. All federal troops, who are enforcing the rights of African Americans, are to be removed from the South. All federal troops, who are enforcing the rights of African Americans, are to be removed from the South.

Historical Significance The parties essentially agreed that Southerners would handle their own racial affairs without interference, while the North would dominate the nation’s economy. The parties essentially agreed that Southerners would handle their own racial affairs without interference, while the North would dominate the nation’s economy. Created a new political coalition – Southern Democrats and Northern Republicans – that would last into the 1980s. Created a new political coalition – Southern Democrats and Northern Republicans – that would last into the 1980s.

The South in the 1880s “The south was crushed, wretched, and licking its wounds.” “The south was crushed, wretched, and licking its wounds.” Public Health Crises. Public Health Crises. Yellow fever killed 1100 in Vicksburg, TN; 3900 in New Orleans.Yellow fever killed 1100 in Vicksburg, TN; 3900 in New Orleans. Railroads traveled at mph. Railroads traveled at mph. Average income of Southerners was 27% of that of Northerners. Average income of Southerners was 27% of that of Northerners.

How to Get Rich Quick in the South. Northerners bought all resources they could Northerners bought all resources they could 1 congressman bought 186,000 acres in LA.1 congressman bought 186,000 acres in LA. 41 Northerners owned 1.37 million acres of LA.41 Northerners owned 1.37 million acres of LA. States even gave away their land TX gave away 32 million acres.TX gave away 32 million acres. By 1890, 12 men own ½ of all the railroad track mileage in the South. By 1890, 12 men own ½ of all the railroad track mileage in the South. Within five years one man, JP Morgan, bought all of them out.Within five years one man, JP Morgan, bought all of them out.

Control of Natural Resources The South is rapidly becoming an economic colony The South is rapidly becoming an economic colony 1907 – Morgan bought all of the coal and iron resources for $35 million – Morgan bought all of the coal and iron resources for $35 million. Mellon family purchased steel producing resources, valued at $1 billion. Mellon family purchased steel producing resources, valued at $1 billion.Results: Morgan increased shipping rates: Morgan increased shipping rates: South of Washington DC pays 35% extra.South of Washington DC pays 35% extra. West of the Mississippi pays 75% extra.West of the Mississippi pays 75% extra. Mellon introduced “Pittsburgh Plus” pricing for steel: a base point for steel produced in Pittsburgh, plus whatever the shipping costs would be. Mellon introduced “Pittsburgh Plus” pricing for steel: a base point for steel produced in Pittsburgh, plus whatever the shipping costs would be.

Oil – the best example of Northern economic domination Oil boom begins in 1901 at Spindletop (TX). Oil boom begins in 1901 at Spindletop (TX). Large wells produced 3-4 barrels/day.Large wells produced 3-4 barrels/day. Spindletop – 100,000 in 9 days. In 2 nd year it produced 17 million barrels.Spindletop – 100,000 in 9 days. In 2 nd year it produced 17 million barrels. Texans did NOT get rich though. Texans did NOT get rich though.

Making money in oil Requires transportation and refining. Requires transportation and refining. Could pay whatever they wanted for the oil – and what they wanted to pay was 1¢/barrel Could pay whatever they wanted for the oil – and what they wanted to pay was 1¢/barrel

So what is left for the South The industries left to the South were so- called extractive – low wage and low value. The industries left to the South were so- called extractive – low wage and low value. CigarettesCigarettes BourbonBourbon Profits are not large (in 1870s-80s) so no reinvestment and industrialization. Profits are not large (in 1870s-80s) so no reinvestment and industrialization. Average wealth in North is $1100; in South it is $500. Average wealth in North is $1100; in South it is $500.

How People Dealt with these conditions Options for farmers (especially Southern) dwindled. Options for farmers (especially Southern) dwindled. Average size of farm 1861 – 350 acresAverage size of farm 1861 – 350 acres Average size 1870 – 150 acres.Average size 1870 – 150 acres – ½ of all Southern land owned by Northerners.1880 – ½ of all Southern land owned by Northerners. Southerners are forced into crop-lien and sharecropping systems. Southerners are forced into crop-lien and sharecropping systems.

Sharecropping – how it develops Farmers need money – for seed, equipment, household goods. They have no collateral – they don’t own their land Farmers need money – for seed, equipment, household goods. They have no collateral – they don’t own their land Banks? Banks? In US generally, 1 bank per 16,000 people.In US generally, 1 bank per 16,000 people. In the South, 1 bank per 80,000.In the South, 1 bank per 80,000. Most counties in the South had no banks period.Most counties in the South had no banks period.

Sharecropping Landowners provide loans in exchange for a pledge of the crop – usually 50%. Landowners provide loans in exchange for a pledge of the crop – usually 50%. Crop lien: Crop lien: If the farmers needs more, no problem. The lender will place a lien on the remainder of the crop – typically at a rate of 30-70%.If the farmers needs more, no problem. The lender will place a lien on the remainder of the crop – typically at a rate of 30-70%. The result is debt peonage – the farmers owe more than they could ever possibly pay back.

Southern Agriculture The mindset of farmers makes it worse. The mindset of farmers makes it worse. All are growing the same thing – cotton.All are growing the same thing – cotton. Result is dropping prices.Result is dropping prices.Solution? Grow MORE.Grow MORE.Result? Prices drop even more.Prices drop even more – farmers grew cotton on 9 million acres 1860 – farmers grew cotton on 9 million acres 1885 – farmers grew cotton on 25 million acres – farmers grew cotton on 25 million acres farmers made far more money than 1885 farmers.