1. Grant Adminstration

The Election of 1868But, the U.S. had lots of problems:

–Excessive printing of greenbacksgreenbacks during the Civil War led to high inflation which hurt both the Northern & Southern economies

–Southern “RedeemersRedeemers” & secret societies tried to undermine Congressional attempts to reconstruct the South

The 1868 Presidential Election

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 1who voted for the 1stst time 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 AdministrationThe Republicans experienced

rampant corruption during Grant’s 1st term as president:–Grant’s Secretary of War was

impeached & Attorney General resigned due to corruption

–Grant’s VP & others were ruined by the CrCréédit Mobilierdit Mobilier scandal involving railroad stock in exchange for political favors

These scandals distracted Americans from Reconstruction efforts

Grant’s Second TermGrant s 2nd term was plagued by

economic depression & corruption – Panic of 1873Panic of 1873 was the longest

depression (until 1929); many blamed large corporations & begged Grant to create jobs

– Whiskey RingWhiskey Ring—Grant’s personal secretary was caught embezzling whiskey taxes

½ the nation’s RRs defaulted Over 100 banks collapsed18,000 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 StalemateThe 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: 1876-1892

Pallid Politics in the Gilded Age 1869-91: 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 BlocDemocratic Bloc Republican 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) 1870-80s 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 1876.

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 1877In 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 Election1876 Presidential Election

The Compromise of 1877The Compromise of 1877The 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 CrowFrom 1877 to 1910, “Redeemer”

Democrats imposed restrictions called Jim Crow LawsJim 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 14th & 15th 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”