The Gilded Age 1877-1900 Issues & Problems

African Americans & Social Tensions Experienced a narrowing of rights President Hayes removed federal troops from the South after the Election of 1876 Compromise of 1877 Southern states passed several restrictive measures to get around the 15th Amendment

Disenfranchisement Literacy tests Poll Tax Grandfather clause required ancestors to have voted prior to 1866 Intimidation by violence 1894—130,000 registered black voters v 1904—1,300 Image: http://bergetoons.blogspot.com

Segregation Jim Crow Laws—kept blacks & whites segregated Railroad cars Waiting stations Jury boxes & Bibles Cemeteries Restaurants Parks Hospitals Image: www.solcomhouse.com

Segregation Cont’d De facto Segregation Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)Homer Plessy sat in a car reserved for whites & was arrested Argued the Separate Car Act violated 14th amendment Supreme Court maintained that Jim Crow Laws were constitutional because “separate but equal” facilities didn’t violate the 14th amendment Not equal in reality Ex.: In 1915, $14 for every white student in S.C. v. less than $3 for every black student

Booker T. Washington Most famous black leader of the 19th century Born a slave in 1856 Called for blacks to build up economic resources & establish reputations Prove themselves Shouldn’t focus on overturning Jim Crow Championed education Taught at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama vocational education

W.E.B. DuBois Criticized Washington for accommodating southern whites & segregation Argued for full & immediate equality for blacks Blacks should not limit themselves to a vocational education Blacks shouldn’t have to “earn” the right to vote

W.E.B Du Bois Wrote an essay called, “The Talented Tenth” in 1903 The term described the likelihood of 1 in 10 African American men becoming leaders These talented tenth need to step up to the plate and be role models Advocated classical education as opposed to just industrial/vocational education

Niagara Movement Founded the Niagara movement in 1905 Black civil rights organization Educated blacks should make a difference and take action now Called for end to disenfranchisement, segregation, and policies of accommodation Image: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niagara_Movement

Ida B. Wells Fought for justice for blacks Schoolteacher in Memphis, Tennessee Bought a local newspaper— “Free Speech” Wrote articles against mistreatment of blacks Wrote editorials attacking lynching in the South Run out of town for crusade against lynching

Discrimination in the West Chinese & Mexican Americans

Chinese Immigrants Barred from employment in California cities & attacked by mobs of whites for taking “white” jobs. Segregated schools Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882—prohibited Chinese laborers from entering the country Several federal court cases sided with Chinese and upheld their rights

Yick Wo v. Hopkins 1886 Supreme Court sided with a Chinese immigrant that challenged a California law banning him from operating a laundry 1898 Supreme court ruling of Wong Kim Ark

Mexican Americans Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) had guaranteed property rights of Mexicans who lived in the Southwest prior to the Mexican- American War Despite treaty, many Mexican-Americans lost their land Image: http://www.cah.utexas.edu

Mexican-Americans & Land U.S. Courts put burden of proof on Mexican- Americans to show they owned the land Different legal customs & communally held land made ownership difficult to prove “Sante Fe Ring”—group of whites that used political connections to take millions of acres of land in New Mexico through fed. Gov. grants

Mexican Americans cont’d Fought to maintain rights and land “Las Gorras Blancas” (1889) fought back by cutting holes in fences, burning barns, haystacks, & scattering livestock of large white ranch owners. Hispanic citizens in Tucson formed the “Alianza Hispano-Americana” in 1894 to protect their culture, interests, & legal rights. Image: southvalleyart.com

Women Gains & Setbacks Left out of 14th & 15th Amendments In 1869, Susan B. Anthony & Elizabeth Cady Stanton formed the National Woman Suffrage Association 1872, Anthony voted illegally in an election in New York—tried and convicted Fined $100 Never paid the fine U.S. Government took no collection action against her

Women’s reform in other areas By 1906, only 4 Western states granted women’s suffrage—Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, & Idaho More women attending college By 1900, women represented 1/3 of ALL college students. Frances Willard formed the Women’s Christian Temperance Union prohibit sale of alcohol public health, welfare reform

Challenges of the Gilded Age Politics & economics Challenges of the Gilded Age

Stalemate in politics Parties evenly divided No group could gain control for a significant amount of time Between 1877-1897, Republicans or Democrats gained control of the White House & both houses of Congress at the same time only twice. Neither held control for more than 2 years Difficult to pass new legislation

Presidents of the Gilded Age Weak in comparison to Lincoln Won by slim margins Lacked integrity Hayes won through the Compromise of 1877 1880—Garfield (Republican)/ Arthur 1884—Cleveland wins as first democrat in 24 years 1888—Benjamin Harrison (Republican) lost popular vote 1892—Cleveland 1896—McKinley (Republican)

Age of Corruption Many government officials accepted bribes Spoils System Made parties very powerful Political cartoons—big money & corruption Thomas Nast—editorial cartoonist “Father of the American Cartoon Image: www.npr.org

Civil Service Reform Civil Service—system of federal jobs in the executive branch Jobs to be awarded on basis of expertise regardless of reigning political party Civil service reform becomes a reality after the assassination of President James Garfield (1881) Shot by Charles J. Guiteau because he believed the Republican Party owed him a gov. job

Chester A. Arthur & Civil Service Reform Garfield’s vice president Supported civil service reform Public indignation over assassination Signed Pendleton Civil Service Act in 1883 Formed Civil Service Commission Civil service exam for those who wanted to work for the government Reduced power of the spoils system

Economic Challenges Debate on tariffs Republicans supported high tariffs Democrats thought tariffs increased cost of goods & hurt American farmers Major parties committed to the gold standard Rise of populists & bimetalists Coinage act of 1873 Reversed policy of making gold and silver coins “Crime of 1873” Anti-silver—undermine economy Pro-silver—rise in prices would increase income