Chapter 16 The Gilded Age

1. Segregation & Social Tension After Reconstruction – Jim Crow Laws Attempts to disenfranchise blacks Got around 15th amendment Poll tax Literacy test Grandfather clause – could vote if grandfather did (no one’s grandfather could!) Widespread segregation Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) – “Separate but Equal” facilities were ok; upheld Jim Crow

Opposition Booker T. Washington Build up economic resources, earn reputation as hard working Tuskeegee Institute – promoted vocational training

Opposition W.E.B. DuBois Urged blacks to demand equality & not be limited by vocational training Demand change Ida B. Wells – crusaded against the horrors of lynching

Discrimination Chinese on west coast; laborers Chinese Exclusion Act – quotas on immigrants (first) Mexicans in the west also deprived of rights, land Women – further crusades by Anthony and Stanton (14th Am. excluded women) By 1906, only 4 states gave women the right to vote (first: Wyoming)

2. Political & Economic Challenge Wave of corruption in politics after some “weak” presidents (Hayes, Harrison, Arthur) Grover Cleveland – reputation of honesty Political “bosses” ran local elections “Boss Tweed” – Tweed ring in NY Spoils system contributed Civil Service reform: Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883) required govt. workers to take an exam (after James Garfield shot for not giving a supporter a govt. job) Debate over gold standard (some wanted silver)

3. Farmers and Populism High debts, low prices for crops, high transportation costs (monopolies on rail rates); felt unappreciated and unrepresented Disliked banks and big business Grange – united farmers; education on farming techniques, reduced rates on shipping, grain storage Farmer’s alliances grew also

Populist Party People’s Party – grassroots party to help farmers, workers, etc. Tom Watson, GA – famous populist leader (cast aside racial prejudice) 1896 populists supported William Jennings Bryan (spoke against big business and gold standard – “cross of gold” speech; favored silver too) Lost to William McKinley; party faded Reforms later – graduated income tax, regulation of railroads, flexible monetary system (not just gold), party of the people