The “Forgotten” Presidents Mrs. Carter

Chinese Immigration Arrived on the West coast- San Francisco Began arriving in 1840s&50s- WHY? Faced greater difficulties when immigrating during the 1870s- WHY?

Discrimination Americans were concerned about their own unemployment Didn’t want jobs going to minorities Chinese (Asians, in general) were visibly different- easily targeted and discriminated against

Chinese Exclusion Act Passed in 1882 by President Chester Arthur Prohibited Chinese immigration Prohibited Chinese from becoming citizens Extended 10 more years in 1892 and became permanent in 1902 Repealed in 1943

Election of 1880 Republican ticket = Garfield and Arthur Democratic ticket = Winfield Scott Hancock Garfield wins Shot and killed by a “fan” who expected to receive a place in office Replaced by Arthur

Reform in Politics Pendleton Act of Civil Service reform ▫Created the Civil Service Commission to make “appointments to federal jobs on the basis of competitive examinations” instead of patronage and the spoils systems. ▫Made it illegal to require campaign contributions from federal employees ▫Intention was to end the spoils system/patronage

Response Shocked those expecting to be given a job Party did not choose to re-elect him Some believed reform was necessary after Garfield’s death Unintended Consequences: Created a financial dependence between politicians and big business.

Part I:

Election of 1884 Republicans- James G. Blaine Democrats- Grover Cleveland Issues: Mudslinging ▫Blaine- history of corruption, “Mulligan letters” ▫Mugwumps- Republicans who couldn’t stomach the thought of Blaine as their candidate and decided to support the Democratic party ▫Cleveland- affair, illegitimate child

Cleveland won! Questions over the ability of the Democratic party to run the nation after the Civil War Laissez-faire policies Major issue: tariff- wanted to lower the tariff US had an annual surplus- Cleveland believed it was unnecessary and the tariff should be reduced

Why lower the tariff? 1.Lower prices for consumers 2.Less protection for monopolies 3.End to the Treasury suplus

Result? Republican party garnered support from businesses to defeat Cleveland in the election of 1888 ▫Raised a $3 million campaign fund WHY? William Henry Harrison (Rep) became president

McKinley Tariff Act of 1890 Raised the tariff to the highest rate- 48% Hurt farmers the most ▫Had to purchase expensive manufactured goods ▫Sold agr products to world markets ▫New 3 rd party- Farmer’s Alliance- gained Congressional seats  Followed by the Populist (People’s Party)

Part 2:

Depression of 1893 CAUSESEFFECTS Speculation Labor problems Agricultural depression Free-silver issue Poor credit abroad Collapse of American businesses Unemployment Homelessness Local charaties

The SILVER ISSUE Sherman Silver Purchase Act (1890)- was part of the agreement that led to the passage of the McKinley Tariff. Dems voted for the tariff in return the Reps voted for silver. Act stated that the Treasury would purchase a set amount of silver each month at market rates AND the Treasury would issue notes redeemable in gold or silver.

Government purchase will equal the output by silver mines. Increased supply of silver led to a decrease in value Mine owners tried to cut costs by cutting wages- led to labor disputes and violence Silver value decreased = people redeemed government notes for gold = depletion of gold in Treasury = repeal of Silver Purchase Act

How did this impact Cleveland? Gold reserve in the Treasury was dropping rapidly Foreign governments were losing faith in American money Cleveland borrowed money from JP Morgan (NY financier) Americans concerned about the connection between big business and the federal government

Wilson-Gorman Tariff Planned to lower the tariff Special interest protections were added to the bill in Congress Did not change the McKinley Tariff by much Also intended a 2% income tax- deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court