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Agrarian Discontent and Political Agrarian Discontent and Political Issues of the Late 19th CenturyIssues of the Late 19th Century

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Agrarian UnificationAgrarian Unification

The monetary deflation and fall in commodity prices following The monetary deflation and fall in commodity prices following the Civil War hurt farmers almost immediately, causing the Civil War hurt farmers almost immediately, causing widespread debt and the loss of land. widespread debt and the loss of land.

Noting the success of the unions for the country’s laborers, Noting the success of the unions for the country’s laborers, organizations for farmers were founded. organizations for farmers were founded.

The National Grange was an organization designed to pool the The National Grange was an organization designed to pool the abilities of local farmers to political and economic ends. abilities of local farmers to political and economic ends.

The Farmers’ Alliance was formed in 1876 in Texas and The Farmers’ Alliance was formed in 1876 in Texas and spread throughout the country, with its strongest hold in the spread throughout the country, with its strongest hold in the South and the Great Plains. South and the Great Plains.

The Farmers’ Alliance was a precursor to the Populist Party, The Farmers’ Alliance was a precursor to the Populist Party, which rose to power soon after the demise of the original which rose to power soon after the demise of the original organization. organization.

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PopulismPopulism Populism is a political movement Populism is a political movement

that enjoyed its peak during the that enjoyed its peak during the late nineteenth century when it late nineteenth century when it combined the regionalist views of combined the regionalist views of working class, middle class, and working class, middle class, and farmers to represent the people on farmers to represent the people on the national stage.the national stage.

The excerpts from the Omaha The excerpts from the Omaha Platform better describe the goals Platform better describe the goals of the populist party at a federal of the populist party at a federal level.level.

"First.—That the union of the labor "First.—That the union of the labor forces of the United States this day forces of the United States this day consummated shall be permanent consummated shall be permanent and perpetual; may its spirit enter and perpetual; may its spirit enter into all hearts for the salvation of into all hearts for the salvation of the Republic and the uplifting of the Republic and the uplifting of mankind." mankind."

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Assassination of President GarfieldAssassination of President Garfield Charles Guiteau shot James Charles Guiteau shot James

Garfield less than four months Garfield less than four months after taking the presidency, after taking the presidency, although his wounds were not although his wounds were not fatal the incompetent medical fatal the incompetent medical care that he received following care that he received following the attempt took his life over the attempt took his life over two months later. two months later.

Guiteau was apparently upset Guiteau was apparently upset over his rejection after over his rejection after repeated attempts to be repeated attempts to be appointed as the consul in appointed as the consul in Paris; he was denied because Paris; he was denied because of his lack in qualifications as of his lack in qualifications as well as his mental illness. well as his mental illness.

Garfield’s assassination became a Garfield’s assassination became a catalyst for the passage of the Civil catalyst for the passage of the Civil Service Reform Act, which officially Service Reform Act, which officially made the United States’ made the United States’ bureaucracy a meritocracy instead bureaucracy a meritocracy instead of a system rooted in patronage of a system rooted in patronage and graft.and graft.

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New York Times Article New York Times Article Reporting the Death of Reporting the Death of President Garfield (9/19/1881)President Garfield (9/19/1881)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"The sad announcement came at 11 "The sad announcement came at 11 o'clock last night that President o'clock last night that President Garfield had breathed his last at Garfield had breathed his last at 10:35, thus putting an end to the 10:35, thus putting an end to the long weeks of suffering he has long weeks of suffering he has endured.....At a few minutes after 10 endured.....At a few minutes after 10 o'clock last night, however, the o'clock last night, however, the sufferer complained of a severe pain sufferer complained of a severe pain in the region of the heart and almost in the region of the heart and almost immediately became unconscious. immediately became unconscious. Dr. Bliss, who was hastily called, at Dr. Bliss, who was hastily called, at once announced that he was dying, once announced that he was dying, and Mrs. Garfield and the consulting and Mrs. Garfield and the consulting surgeons were summoned. Within surgeons were summoned. Within 15 minutes President Garfield had 15 minutes President Garfield had drawn his last breath and the drawn his last breath and the sorrowful intelligence was being sent sorrowful intelligence was being sent with lightning speed throughout the with lightning speed throughout the country."country."

Pendleton Civil Service Act Pendleton Civil Service Act

(1883) (1883)

------------------------------------------------------"Be it enacted by the Senate and "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the House of Representatives of the United States of America in United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Congress assembled, That the President is authorized to appoint, President is authorized to appoint, by and with the advice and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, three consent of the Senate, three persons, not more than two of persons, not more than two of whom shall be adherents of thc whom shall be adherents of thc same party, as Civil Service same party, as Civil Service Commissioners, and said three Commissioners, and said three commissioners shall constitute the commissioners shall constitute the United States Civil Service United States Civil Service Commission. Said commissioners Commission. Said commissioners shall hold no other official place shall hold no other official place under the United States."under the United States."

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Free SilverFree Silver The Sherman Silver Purchase The Sherman Silver Purchase

Act became federal law in 1890, Act became federal law in 1890, increasing the amount of silver increasing the amount of silver the government must purchase the government must purchase every month. every month.

It increased the amount required It increased the amount required by the Bland-Allison Act of 1878 by the Bland-Allison Act of 1878 by 4.5 million ounces. by 4.5 million ounces.

American citizens began to American citizens began to redeem their silver notes for redeem their silver notes for gold, depleting the Federal gold, depleting the Federal Reserve. Reserve.

Following the onset of the 1893 Following the onset of the 1893 depression, Grover Cleveland depression, Grover Cleveland repealed the acts to protect the repealed the acts to protect the American Economy.American Economy.

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William Jennings BryanWilliam Jennings Bryan William Jennings Bryan was one of William Jennings Bryan was one of

the most prominent leaders of the the most prominent leaders of the Progressive movement who served Progressive movement who served as a Congressman for two terms as a Congressman for two terms and was the Democratic Party’s and was the Democratic Party’s nominee for the Presidency three nominee for the Presidency three times. times.

He was called “The Great He was called “The Great Commoner” because of his support Commoner” because of his support and belief in the “common people.” and belief in the “common people.”

His support for the backing of His support for the backing of American currency with silver American currency with silver instead of gold was due to the instead of gold was due to the presumed inflation that it would presumed inflation that it would cause, allowing farmers to more cause, allowing farmers to more easily pay back their debts. easily pay back their debts.

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Social Darwinism Social Darwinism Social Darwinism is a theory that was popularized in the late 19th Social Darwinism is a theory that was popularized in the late 19th

century by Herbert Spencer. century by Herbert Spencer. It attempts to apply Darwin’s theory of natural selection to the It attempts to apply Darwin’s theory of natural selection to the

competition between societies or groups within societies as they differ competition between societies or groups within societies as they differ by ethnicityby ethnicity

"Whether an advance from the homogeneous to the heterogeneous is "Whether an advance from the homogeneous to the heterogeneous is or is not displayed in the biological history of the globe, it is clearly or is not displayed in the biological history of the globe, it is clearly enough displayed in the progress of the latest and most enough displayed in the progress of the latest and most heterogeneous creature-Man. It is alike true that, during the period in heterogeneous creature-Man. It is alike true that, during the period in which the Earth has been peopled, the human organism has become which the Earth has been peopled, the human organism has become more heterogeneous among the civilized divisions of the species and more heterogeneous among the civilized divisions of the species and that the species, as a whole, has been growing more heterogeneous in that the species, as a whole, has been growing more heterogeneous in virtue of the multiplication of races and the differentiation of these virtue of the multiplication of races and the differentiation of these races from each other...." races from each other...."

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Gospel of WealthGospel of Wealth

Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish immigrant who quickly rose immigrant who quickly rose through the ranks of American through the ranks of American society with the help of his own society with the help of his own determination.determination.

He founded the Carnegie Steel He founded the Carnegie Steel Company, which later became US Company, which later became US Steel where he made his great Steel where he made his great fortune. fortune.

In 1889, Carnegie wrote “The In 1889, Carnegie wrote “The Gospel of Wealth” an essay Gospel of Wealth” an essay preaching that it was necessary for preaching that it was necessary for the new upper class of self-made the new upper class of self-made rich to practice philanthropy so that rich to practice philanthropy so that their fortunes were put to good use their fortunes were put to good use and not wasted on frivolity.and not wasted on frivolity.

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Anti-Minority LegislationAnti-Minority Legislation During the late 19th Century, many Americans supported the During the late 19th Century, many Americans supported the

closing of borders and eliminating those people who seemed to closing of borders and eliminating those people who seemed to threaten their way of life. threaten their way of life.

For a number of reasons ranging from Protectionism to Social For a number of reasons ranging from Protectionism to Social Darwinism to blatant xenophobia among many others, American Darwinism to blatant xenophobia among many others, American citizens began to press for defensive legislation. citizens began to press for defensive legislation.

The Chinese Exclusion Act directly attempted to keep the The Chinese Exclusion Act directly attempted to keep the Chinese from being able to live in the United States. Chinese from being able to live in the United States. "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of

the United States of America in Congress assembled, That all the United States of America in Congress assembled, That all laws now in force prohibiting and regulating the coming into laws now in force prohibiting and regulating the coming into this country of Chinese persons and persons of Chinese this country of Chinese persons and persons of Chinese descent are hereby continued in force for a period of ten years descent are hereby continued in force for a period of ten years from the passage of this act."from the passage of this act."

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Plessy v FergusonPlessy v Ferguson In 1896, the Supreme In 1896, the Supreme

Court of the United States Court of the United States decided the landmark decided the landmark Plessy v. Ferguson. Plessy v. Ferguson.

It essentially proved It essentially proved segregation segregation constitutional, in other constitutional, in other words, things could be words, things could be “separate but equal.” “separate but equal.”

The decision was not The decision was not over turned until Brown v over turned until Brown v The Topeka Board of The Topeka Board of Education in 1956.Education in 1956.

"the underlying fallacy of the plaintiff's argument to consist in the assumption that the enforced separation of the two races stamps the colored race with a badge of inferiority. If this be so, it is not by reason of anything found in the act, but solely because the colored race chooses to put that construction upon it."