Politics in the Gilded Age 1869-1896 Pageant Chapter 23

The United States - 1870

1. Intro Reconstruction – a time of rebuilding the South Also a time of great political corruption New technology and industry is on the rise Civil War is over; which means the United States can now move forward into a new age Over the next 5 chapters, we’ll be answering a new set of questions: 1) How will a largely agrarian U.S. respond to the age of industry? 2) How will the U.S. socially and politically deal with massive economic change and growth? 3) With a new sense of confidence, how will the U.S. fare when it ventures out into international affairs?

2. Grant and Corruption The Election of 1868 Johnson retires after finishing Lincoln’s 2nd term; no one is surprised Republicans nominate Ulysses S. Grant – victorious Union general and one of the most popular men in the United States Using memories of the Civil War, Grant is easily elected (18th president) The black vote was crucial for Grant’s victory. Since the amendments 13, 14, and 15, all blacks were voting Republican. So, in order to stay in power, Republicans had to control the South. African-Americans would continue to vote largely Republican until President Franklin Roosevelt in the 1930s.

2. Grant and Corruption While Grant was an excellent general, he did not score as high as a politician and president CORRUPTION – it was everywhere during Grant’s administration Jay Gould Jim Fisk Boss Tweed – notorious for running New York through false elections and bribery Gould and Fisk worked for Grant Grant’s administration were full of dishonest, self-serving, incompetent workers Grant was never proven to be involved in scandal but was either too naïve or too stupid to see what was going on

2. Grant and Corruption The Credit Mobilier scandal was by far the most infamous during Grant’s presidency. What was it? Pacific RR “insiders” formed Credit Mobilier construction company, hired themselves, and made up to 348% profits. Then they paid off congressman to keep their mouths shut. Even the Vice-President of the U.S. took money. What is an “insider”? An insider is a businessperson who uses their knowledge of NON-public information to publicly trade and invest. This is unfair and dishonest and ILLEGAL.

President Ulysses S. Grant

3. 1873 Depression and Hard Money 1873 – The U.S. hits an economic depression. How? With the explosion of industry, the U.S. RR and mining businesses had built too much for the market to handle. Profits failed, loans went unpaid, credit dropped. Due to the depression, people in debt began calling for the U.S. government to print more money “Hard money” Why? Debtors for inflation – More $, means cheap $, and easy-to-pay debts. Creditors against inflation – They didn’t want loans repaid with cheap $

4. Death of Reconstruction and the Birth of “Jim Crow” Politics really didn’t get anywhere during what is called historically, the Gilded Age. The Gilded age is the thirty year period after the Civil War; basically 1865 – 1900. Not much was accomplished politically Republicans – Stressed strict moral codes and government regulation of economy Democrats – Tolerance of differences in people, opposed a great deal of government involvement.

4. Death of Reconstruction and the Birth of “Jim Crow” Grant serves two terms and retires The Election of 1876 Rutherford B. Hayes (R) vs. Samuel J. Tilden The election is too close to call (a margin of 20 electoral votes) and is disputed between Republicans and Democrats A good old fashioned compromise is needed – The Compromise of 1877 A deal is cut Republicans get their man Hayes as president Democrats get federal troops removed from the South This ends Reconstruction officially This had a huge effect on African-Americans in the southern states

4. Death of Reconstruction and the Birth of “Jim Crow” 1) Now that the troops have left the South, African-Americans would be freely subjected to “Jim Crow” laws. 2) The 14th amd. wouldn’t really provide relief, as it only stopped government violations, not individual violations. 3) The Supreme Court upholds and supports “separate but equal” as constitutional, a huge loss for civil rights.

President Rutherford B. Hayes

5. The Chinese Chinese immigrants flooded into the U.S. post-Civil War for the gold rush and to work on the RR The massive numbers agitated influential Californians like Denis Kearney Congress would get involved and pass the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882 Chinese would be barred from immigration until 1943

6. Politics of the 1880s Election of 1880 James Garfield – Republican; elected the 20th president From the swing state of Ohio Becomes the 2nd president to be assassinated when he is shot by a man who was angered over being refused a job His Vice-President, Chester Arthur takes over – 21st president President Arthur pushes through the Pendleton Act of 1883 The Pendleton Act was important in fighting the terrible spoils system Government jobs became classified and applicants would be tested – a system that continues today The Civil Service Commission is set up

James A. Garfield

Chester Arthur

6. Politics of the 1880s Election of 1884 Grover Cleveland (D) vs. James G. Blaine (R) One of the more nastier campaigns in U.S. history as far as two candidates attacking each others character and digging into each others pasts Cleveland wins due to receiving support from former Republicans who left and joined the Democrats – they came to be known as Mugwumps Cleveland liked small government and high tariffs and produced a government surplus! However Cleveland lost popularity when he tried to lower the tariffs He would lose the 1888 Election to Benjamin Harrison; grandson of William Henry Harrison, the former president who only served a month before dying in office

Benjamin Harrison

7. Populists and Politics of the 1890s The Election of 1892 Harrison is finished after a one-term presidency The People’s Party, or the “Populists” was a political party that started showing strong in 1892 The Populists backed their own presidential candidate – James B. Weaver The Populists wanted government ownership of RR, telegraphs and telephone lines, as well as more opportunities for the people to participate in government

7. Populists and Politics of the 1890s However, Grover Cleveland wins on the Democratic ticket and becomes the 24th president and the only president thus far to win a second inconsecutive term Unfortunately, where his first term he had a surplus, Cleveland faced an economic depression in his second In an effort to save money, Cleveland stopped the Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890 This angered the Populists, who wanted to purchase silver to coin for money With the United States increasingly falling further into debt, Cleveland turns to Wall Street banker J.P. Morgan to borrow gold. Though it angered many, as it put the government in debt of a private citizen, the loan from Morgan restored confidence in the U.S. finances and eased the crisis.