Populism and Segregation Politics, Racism, and How the US Coped
Gilded Age Problems with Social issues (poverty, immigration, child labor etc) Political Problems (grafting, corruption, political machines etc) Economic issues (monopolies, laissez-faire economics, economic inequality) Unrest in rural America
Social Problems For every problem there will be a proposed solution (mainly called the progressive movement) Poor immigrants—Hull House (Jane Addams) Lack of National identity/education?—Americanization Social Darwinism Philanthropy etc
SAQ Practice Provide one example of a social problem AND an attempt to fix that social problem.
Political Problems Party Bosses (ie Boss Tweed) Stalwarts: people that supported political machines (Republicans) Half-Breeds: Republicans that wanted to reform politics Urban unrest: leads to growth of Populism (people’s party, The Grange). Farmers
SAQ Practice Identify and explain one political problem.
Election of 1884 Eerily similar to 2016 Many upset with career politicians who they view as all corrupt Becomes an election on who is most trustworthy…not necessarily who is most experienced. Blaine (career politician) v. Grover Cleveland NY gov. who went after Tammany Hall.
Results of 1884 and 1888 Republicans control both houses of congress and White house in 1888 McKinley Tariff Sherman Anti-Trust Act
Election of 1896 William Jennings Bryan William McKinley Republican Democrats “Front Porch Campaign” Silver backed $$ Backed by populists Blamed Democrat President on all economic issues “Gold Cross Speech”
Populism Politics focused so much on the political machines which were located in cities to garner votes. Rural farmers got screwed over. They look for a voice as a third party…what happens is both major parties adopt parts of the platform and draw voters from populists
Result Shift in Republican and Democrats Democrats become more focused on supporting big government (partly because big government is going after big business) Republicans focus on big business/economy. Shift caused in part by William Jennings Bryan
Segregation Racist policies put in place in south to marginalize African American Vote Poll Tax Grandfather Clause Jim Crow Laws: Enforced Segregation Plessy v. Ferguson: “Separate but Equal” doctrine established…makes segregation legal
African American’s Response Ida B. Wells: Proposes anti-lynching law…does not get passed until civil rights movement…almost 100 years later WEB DuBois: Demanded complete equality NOW. Booker T. Washington: suggested that education was a key for African Americans to earn respect from whites…which would result in political equality.