1. Grant Adminstration

The Election of 1868 But, the U.S. had lots of problems: greenbacks – Excessive printing of greenbacks during the Civil War led to high inflation which hurt both the Northern & Southern economies Redeemers – Southern “Redeemers” & secret societies tried to undermine Congressional attempts to reconstruct the South

The 1868 Presidential Election who voted for the 1 st time Republicans nominated Civil War hero Ulysses S. Grant who had the support of Republicans in the North & South as well as Southern freedmen who voted for the 1 st time Democrats refused to re-nominate Johnson & chose NY governor Horatio Seymour

In the election of 1868, both parties “waved the bloody shirt” to remind voters why the Civil War was fought Southern Republican Strategy Southern Democratic Strategy Keeping freed blacks inferior was the most important goal of Southern Democrats Republican goal: Keep ex-Confederate leaders from restoring the “Old South”

Corruption in Grant’s Administration

Era of Good Stealings Era after War became known for corruption, bribery, graft, e.g. millionaires Fisk & Gould. 1869: Fisk & Gould plan to corner gold market, needed Fed. treasury to not sell gold. Got assurances from Grant through his brother-in-law.

Era of Good Stealings (2) 9/24/1869, “Black Friday”: Fisk, Gould bid up price of gold, plan failed when Treas- ury released gold into market. Brokers who bought rising gold on margin were ruined when gold price collapsed.

Era of Good Stealings (3) Congressional probe: Grant’s actions not illegal, only unwise. “Boss” Tweed essentially ran NYC, taking $200M from city. 1871: NY Times and cartoonist Nast refused bribes, published evidence, Tweed convicted.

The “Bosses” of the Senate Boss Tweed of the NYC Democratic Political Machine, Tammany Hall

Corruption in Grant’s Administration The Republicans experienced rampant corruption during Grant’s 1 st term as president: – Grant’s Secretary of War was impeached & Attorney General resigned due to corruption Crédit Mobilier – Grant’s VP & others were ruined by the Crédit Mobilier scandal involving railroad stock in exchange for political favors These scandals distracted Americans from Reconstruction efforts

Grant’s Second Term Grant s 2 nd term was plagued by economic depression & corruption – Panic of 1873 – Panic of 1873 was the longest depression (until 1929); many blamed large corporations & begged Grant to create jobs – Whiskey Ring – Whiskey Ring—Grant’s personal secretary was caught embezzling whiskey taxes ½ the nation’s RRs defaultedOver 100 banks collapsed 18,000 businesses closed Unemployment reached 15% The Grant administration did not see job creation or relief for the poor as its duties

The Politics of the Gilded Age

Politics of Stalemate The 5 presidential elections from 1876 to 1892 were the most closely contested elections ever Congress was split as well: – Democrats controlled the House – Republicans held the Senate This “stalemate” made it difficult for any of the 5 presidents or either party to pass significant legislation for 20 years No more than 1% of the popular vote separated the candidates in 3 of 5 elections Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883 Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 McKinley Tariff Act of 1890

The Two-Party Stalemate:

Pallid Politics in the Gilded Age : control of House switched parties 6x, presidential elections close. Dems and Reps agreed on most national matters (tariff, civil service reform, currency), but were fiercely competitive & well organized.

Democratic BlocRepublican Bloc  Supported by white southerners, farmers, immigrants, & the working poor  Favored white supremacy & supported labor unions  Supported by Northern whites, blacks, & nativists  Supported big business & favored anti- immigration laws Voting Blocs in the Gilded Age

Politics in the Gilded Age (2) Voter turnout reached 80%, “ticket splitting” was rare. Difference between parties was ethnic/cultural/religious. Rep traced roots to Puritanism, personal morality, gov’t involvement in moral/economic affairs.

Politics in the Gilded Age (3) Dems mostly Lutheran/Catho- lic, resisted single moral standards, affirmed toleration. Issues like prohibition, education produced contentious campaigns at the local level. Dems strong in South, northern cities (immigrants).

Politics in the Gilded Age (4) Reps strong in Midwest, rural Northeast (generally won Northeast states), among freedmen in South, GAR. Patronage was lifeblood of both parties: reformers believed spoils system was cause of corruption.

Politics in the Gilded Age (5) s led to Rep. infighting: “Stalwart” faction led by Sen. Conkling embraced patronage; “Half- Breeds,” led by Blaine considered civil service reform but were really interested in using patronage for own benefit as well.

The New South & the Rise of Jim Crow Rutherford B. Hayes Video

Hayes-Tilden Standoff House (233-18) discouraged Grant from 3rd term. Stalwarts & Half-Breeds compromised on Rutherford B. Hayes as candidate for Hayes appealed to veterans, was from swing vote state of Ohio.

Hayes-Tilden Standoff (2) Dems chose Samuel J. Tilden, who had prosecuted Boss Tweed in NY. Campaigned against Rep. scandal, for civil service reform. Tilden received one EC vote less that needed to win, 20 EC votes from 4 states disputed.

Hayes-Tilden Standoff (3) LA, SC, FL still had Recon- struction gov’ts, submitted two sets of election returns (Dem & Rep) to Congress. Constitutional question: who counts EC ballots?

The Compromise of 1877 In 1876, Republicans ran Rutherford B. Hayes against Democrat reformer Samuel Tilden – Election results were disputed in three Southern states – A special commission gave the disputed votes to Hayes, but Democrats in Congress blocked this decision by filibuster A filibuster is an attempt to extend debate upon a proposal in order to delay or prevent a vote on its passage

1876 Presidential Election

The Compromise of 1877 The Compromise of 1877 The Compromise of 1877: – Southern Democrats agreed to end the filibuster & elect Hayes if Republicans agreed to pull U.S. troops out of the South – Hayes’ was elected president & the entire South came under the control of white Democrats – Reconstruction officially ended

A Political Crisis: The Compromise of 1877 A Political Crisis: The Compromise of 1877 President Rutherfraud B. Hayes The “Second Corrupt Bargain”

The Rise of Jim Crow Jim Crow Laws From 1877 to 1910, “Redeemer” Democrats imposed restrictions called Jim Crow Laws to limit the civil rights of African Americans – 187 blacks were lynched yearly – A convict-lease system & prison farms resembled slavery – Segregation laws led to separate railroads, streetcars, & public facilities “Black codes” were laws passed from 1865 to 1877 to keep freed slaves from gaining rights & voting; “Jim Crow laws” were passed after Reconstruction ended to obstruct rights given to black Americans in the 14 th & 15 th Amendments

Conclusion: The “Unfinished Revolution”

The “Unfinished Revolution” Reconstruction lasted only 12 years from 1865 to 1877: – Reconciliation between the North & South occurred only after Reconstruction ended – By the late 1880s, “reunion” was becoming a reality but at the expense of the blacks’ rights Reconstruction remained an “unfinished revolution”