Chapter 16 Politics and reform

Section 1 Stalemate in Washington

Presidents and their Political Parties YearDemocratRepublican 1876 Rutherford B. Hayes 1880 James Garfield, Chester Arthur 1884 Grover Cleveland 1888 Benjamin Harrison 1892 Grover Cleveland 1896 William McKinley

A campaign to clean up politics Spoils system and Patronage Spoils system and Patronage –Govt. jobs go to supporters of the winning party –Many believed this system was to blame for much of the corruption –Reforms began

President Rutherford B. Hayes Attacked the practice of patronage Attacked the practice of patronage Halfbreeds- wanted civil service reform Halfbreeds- wanted civil service reform Stalwarts- Republican machine politicians who opposed civil service reform Stalwarts- Republican machine politicians who opposed civil service reform –Argued Hayes just trying to make room for his supporters

Election 1880 Rep. James Garfield Pres.- (Halfbreed) and VP. -Chester A. Arthur (Stalwart) win VS. Dem. Winfield Hancock Civil War veteran Garfield wins!

Assassination (pg 492) July of his first year in office--Garfield killed by a ‘stalwart’ who believed Garfield owed him a job July of his first year in office--Garfield killed by a ‘stalwart’ who believed Garfield owed him a job Charles Guiteau- shot Garfield while on a train platform Charles Guiteau- shot Garfield while on a train platform Died 80 days later Died 80 days later

Reform Finally reform of Civil Service Finally reform of Civil Service Congress passed the Pendleton Act Congress passed the Pendleton Act –President could decide which jobs would be filled according to rules set up by a bipartisan Civil Service Commission  Candidates must be qualified and take and pass exams  Could not be removed from job for political reasons

Why were few new policies introduced in the 1870’s and 1880’s? Democrats had control of House and the Republicans controlled the Senate Democrats had control of House and the Republicans controlled the Senate Close elections-between 1876 and Close elections-between 1876 and narrow margins – 1876 and 1888 presidential candidate lost popular vote, but won the electoral vote and the election narrow margins – 1876 and 1888 presidential candidate lost popular vote, but won the electoral vote and the election House and Senate would not agree- created political deadlock House and Senate would not agree- created political deadlock

Democrats reclaim the White House Election of Election of –Rep. James G. Blaine- former Speaker of House VS. –Dem. Grover Cleveland- former Gov. of NY- reformer who opposed Tammany Hall Major issues: Morals of candidates “Mugwumps”- republican reformers who disliked Blaine and voted for Cleveland

Grover Cleveland Only President to serve non consecutive terms. Only President to serve non consecutive terms. Not college educated Not college educated

Problems for President Patronage seekers Patronage seekers Workers Strikes- Haymarket Square Workers Strikes- Haymarket Square Railroad rebates- small businesses and farmers angry at large businesses Railroad rebates- small businesses and farmers angry at large businesses Dem. and Rep. believed govt. should not interfere with corporations property rights. Dem. and Rep. believed govt. should not interfere with corporations property rights. Many wanted to get rid of high tariffs- large American co. could now compete internationally Many wanted to get rid of high tariffs- large American co. could now compete internationally Cleveland agreed but Congress was deadlocked Cleveland agreed but Congress was deadlocked Tariff reductions becomes an issue in election of 1888 Tariff reductions becomes an issue in election of 1888

Interstate Commerce Commission Supreme Court rules in Wabash v. Illinois Supreme Court rules in Wabash v. Illinois –Illinois could not restrict the rates that the Wabash RR charged for traffic between states- only the federal govt. could regulate interstate commerce Interstate Commerce Commission- first law to regulate interstate commerce Interstate Commerce Commission- first law to regulate interstate commerce Commission limited railroad rates to what was “reasonable and just”, forbade rebates to high- volume users, and made it illegal to charge higher rates for shorter hauls. Commission limited railroad rates to what was “reasonable and just”, forbade rebates to high- volume users, and made it illegal to charge higher rates for shorter hauls.

Election of 1888 Rep. Benjamin Harrison- funded by industrialist who wanted tariff protections Vs. Dem. Grover Cleveland- against high tariffs Harrison wins electoral votes but Cleveland wins popular- Harrison wins election!

Harrison- 23 rd President

Election 1888 Republicans gain control of both houses of Congress and the White House Republicans gain control of both houses of Congress and the White House –Result: they are able to pass legislation  McKinley Tariff- cut tariff rates on some goods and increased rates of others, lowered federal revenue and left nation with a deficit  Sherman Antitrust Act (1890)- made trusts illegal, although courts did little to enforce  Pension law- increased pensions for veterans- increased deficit.

Check for Understanding 1. Explain why Garfield’s assassination highlighted the need for political reform. 2. From what sources did Grover Cleveland gain support in the 1884 presidential election? 3. What was the purpose of the Interstate Commerce Commission? Why wasn’t it very effective? 4. What were the results of the McKinley Tariff? 5. Complete # 7 pg 497

Section 2 Populism

Objectives 1. Create a picture to represent the Populist movement and what they wanted. 2. What type of help did the Farmers Alliance offer to farmers? 3. What economic problems caused farmers to support populism?

Unrest in Rural America 1890’s Populism- political movement organized to pass legislation in favor of farmers 1890’s Populism- political movement organized to pass legislation in favor of farmers Due to deflation many farmers were struggling to pay off loans Due to deflation many farmers were struggling to pay off loans –Shortage of Greenbacks, and silver coins Farmers join together for relief: Farmers join together for relief: –The Grange- focused on helping farmers  Obtain low interest loans, get higher prices for crops etc…

The Grange Grangers formed cooperatives that helped members: negotiate better shipping rates, higher prices etc… Grangers formed cooperatives that helped members: negotiate better shipping rates, higher prices etc… Not that successful --by the late 1870’s many farmers had left the Grange for other groups like the Farmers Alliance Not that successful --by the late 1870’s many farmers had left the Grange for other groups like the Farmers Alliance

Farmers Alliance it had 1.5 to 3 million members – mostly southerners and Great Plains farmers it had 1.5 to 3 million members – mostly southerners and Great Plains farmers. Set up large cooperatives that failed Set up large cooperatives that failed –Overextended themselves on loans, other businesses discriminated against them Kansas Alliance – formed the People Party, or Populists- to push for political reformer that would help farmers Kansas Alliance – formed the People Party, or Populists- to push for political reformer that would help farmers

Rise of Populism Election of Farmers’ Alliance issued the Ocala Demands- Election of Farmers’ Alliance issued the Ocala Demands

Populism Many southern democrats join the People’s Party Many southern democrats join the People’s Party –Nominate James B. Weaver- President (1892) Dem. Nominate Grover Cleveland Dem. Nominate Grover Cleveland Cleveland wins Cleveland wins

Cleveland’s Presidency Goldbugs and Silverites Goldbugs and Silverites

Election of 1896 Dem. William Jennings Bryan- supported unlimited silver coinage, supported by Populists Dem. William Jennings Bryan- supported unlimited silver coinage, supported by PopulistsVs. Rep. William McKinley (Oh)- promised a “full dinner pail” Rep. William McKinley (Oh)- promised a “full dinner pail” –McKinely wins- –New gold strikes in Alaska, Yukon and other areas increased the money supply and silver issue died out- so did the Populist party

McKinley`Bryan

Check for understanding 1. Create a picture to represent the Populist movement and what they wanted. 2. What type of help did the Farmers Alliance offer to farmers? 3. What economic problems caused farmers to support populism?

Section 3 Rise of Segregation

African Americans after Reconstruction –Most AA still lived in South- Sharecroppers –Uneducated –Many began to flee the South for West or North- hoping for better opportunities –“Exodusters” –Colored Farmers’ National Alliance

Disenfranchisement Efforts were made to limit African Americans the right to vote in order to crush the Populist movement and Republicanism Efforts were made to limit African Americans the right to vote in order to crush the Populist movement and Republicanism –Democrats afraid they would lose power because they could be outnumbered by the poor white and black farmers.

Disenfranchisement 15 th Amendment – prohibited the states from denying citizens the right to vote on the basis of “race, color or previous servitude”. 15 th Amendment – prohibited the states from denying citizens the right to vote on the basis of “race, color or previous servitude”. –Did not prevent govt. from asking for people to be literate or pay to vote –Mississippi- passes first law requiring poll tax, other states quickly follow, then literacy test –AA Voter registration numbers plummet  130,000 to 5,300 - Grandfather clause- used for whites

Legalizing Segregation Jim Crow laws in the South Jim Crow laws in the South Supreme Court overturned the Civil Rights Act of th Amendment said no state could deny equal protection, private businesses could do as they pleased Supreme Court overturned the Civil Rights Act of th Amendment said no state could deny equal protection, private businesses could do as they pleased Southern States begin to pass segregation laws that covered all public places Southern States begin to pass segregation laws that covered all public places

Plessy v. Ferguson Homer Plessy challenged LA law that segregated railroad cars Homer Plessy challenged LA law that segregated railroad cars Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that “separate but equal” was okay Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that “separate but equal” was okay This ruling established a legal basis for segregation This ruling established a legal basis for segregation

Racial Violence Increase in racial violence at this time Increase in racial violence at this time – lynchings- over 80% occurred in the south, 70% of victims were AA

African American Response Spoke out against the injustice of racial violence Spoke out against the injustice of racial violence Ida B. Wells- AA women, wrote articles, published books denouncing racial violence and greed, demanded trials for AA accused of crimes Ida B. Wells- AA women, wrote articles, published books denouncing racial violence and greed, demanded trials for AA accused of crimes

African American Response Calls for Compromise were led by activist such as Booker T. Washington Calls for Compromise were led by activist such as Booker T. Washington –Don’t’ worry about civil rights, “Concentrate on preparing yourself educationally and vocationally for full equality”

African American Response W.E.B. Dubois- author, The Souls of Black Folk W.E.B. Dubois- author, The Souls of Black Folk –AA should demand and receive full civil rights –AA were making strides in education and vocationally fields but we must also fight to keep our voting rights. Which activist do you agree with?