Rutherford B Hayes 1876-18811876-1881

19th President

VP: William Wheeler

Republican elected in 1877

Born: Fremont, Ohio in 1822

Died: at Spiegel Grove,

his home in

Fremont, Ohio, in 1893.

I. Political Issues I. Political Issues (1877-1881)(1877-1881)

The Gilded AgeThe Gilded Age

Election of ’76/ Compromise of Election of ’76/ Compromise of 18771877

Stirrings of ReformStirrings of Reform

Labor UnrestLabor Unrest

The Gilded AgeThe Gilded Age

Samuel Clemens “Mark Twain”

Charles Dudley Warner

1.Gilding: coating a cheap substance in a thin layer of gold.

2. The nickname “The Gilded Age” was coined by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner in their fictional book The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today (1873). It referred to the period of time in American history stretching from roughly 1870 – 1900…

WHY?!?!?!?WHY?!?!?!?

(9)The Gilded Age- The American society, despite its appearance of promise and prosperity, was plagued with corruption and scandal.

b. Two themes caused dissention:

i. (11) Laissez Faire – “hands off”- the government didn’t force companies to be fair

ii. Government gained new authority and power at all levels- especially local level.

What made America Gilded?

http://us.history.wisc.edu/hist102/lectures/lecture04.html

After the Civil War, neither Republicans or Democrats were in clear control…

a. As city officials gained more power, they increased taxes to pay for city up-keep. Competition among groups for control of city government grew intense.

b. (10) Political machines: unofficial city organizations (who want control of all that tax $$$$$) try to keep their political party or group in power (arose due to clashing interests among groups of politicians)

c. Most political machines were headed by a powerful “boss” who may or may not have actually held a public office.

d. Kickback: promising a job contract to a company, hiking the price of the job, and then receiving a portion of the earnings, which would

be known as graft – funds illegally acquired through dishonorable behavior.

f. (10 cont)- William “Boss” Tweed - NYC’s most notoriously corrupt political boss wasi. Led Tammany Hall in the

early 1870s (Democrats)

ii. Grew rich off kickbacks/graft from the city’s construction jobs, which were padded with fake expenses (They kept the extra money for themselves!)

iii. Tweed was arrested in 1873 and died in jail.

I don't care who does the electing, so long as I get to do the nominating.

-Boss Tweed

Analyze Nast vs Boss Tweed Cartoon

Political Machine Basics WHAT???

•Political parties that controlled local and state government in late 1800s

WHY??

•Cities were growing fast!

•City government disorganized with few reliable services (police, fire, welfare)

•Immigrants wanted protection, help

The Dwarf and the Thief

by: Thomas

Nast

Can The Law Reach Him ?

The Tweed Ring Cartoon

B. B. (1)(1) Election of 1876 Election of 18761. Rutherford B. Hayes (OH)- Repub.

a. Promised “home rule” in the South and civil/ political rights for all (contradictory).

2. Samuel Tilden (NY)- Democrat

3. Tilden won popular vote & possibly 185 electoral votes

4. CHEATING from SC, FL, & LA

5. Each party thinks/claims they won the election.

Election of 1876 Election of 1876

(2) (2) The Compromise of 1877The Compromise of 18771. An electoral commission was set up to determine who

would be awarded the disputed votes; Congress must also approve their decision.

2. Republicans and Democrats agreed that if Hayes (the R) won the election he would remove federal troops from the South (ending Reconstruction) and Democrats (aka: southern-white-racists) would gain control of those Southern states back. (so much for fighting the Civil War…)

What is Reconstruction?What is Reconstruction?• At the end of the Civil War (1861-1865) the

South was forced to free the slaves… sooo, Northern troops stayed in the South to make

the South “become part of the Union again”-

(3) Hayes’ election meant the withdraw federal troops from the South, where the army had where the army had protected the right of blacks to vote. protected the right of blacks to vote. Now that Hayes won, Reconstruction Now that Hayes won, Reconstruction officially ended. officially ended. For nearly a century afterward, Southern whites used violence to keep blacks from participating in elections.

The Kansas fever was in full bloom and migrants sought every opportunity to claim all or part of the 160-acre plots as defined in the 1862 Homestead Act.

(7) “exodusters”

the migrants were ex-slaves ex-slaves moving out of moving out of the South to the South to Kansas to claim Kansas to claim land land hoping for freedom from the economic and social oppression that had always been a way of life in the south.

The full-fledged exodus out of the southeast began in March 1879 and continued into

1881, transplanting 25,000 African-Americans to Kansas.

3. As a result of the compromise, Democrats regained control of SC, LA, & FL and

Reconstruction in the South officially ended on May 1, 1877.

4. A political cartoon by Thomas Nast of

Harper’s Weekly used a football analogy for the Compromise of

1877. (Harvard, Princeton, and Columbia had just established the Intercollegiate Football Association. (Yale also participated in this assoc.)

Analyze Election of 1877 Map

Which of the following most accurately describes the time period in AmericanHistory referred to as The Gilded Age?

a.A time in history that reflected the growth of industry and the economic growth of all classes in America.

b.A time when days were filled with trips to baseball games, evenings of theatre, and even factory workers enjoyed family vacations.

c.A time in history when the American society, despite its appearance of promise and prosperity was riddled with corruption and scandal.

d.The shameful time in American history where minority races were forced into slavery conditions and oppressed for generations.

DAY 2

Why has the power of the federal government steadily grown since the writing of

the US Constitution?

a. Many politicians in local elections have required federal supervision.

b. Many complex developments in society have prompted federal action

c. The US Congress has passed legislation removing power from other branches.

d. The US Supreme Court has made decisions adding power to executive directives.

*A brief FYI:*A brief FYI:Nast created today’s symbols of the Republican (Elephant) and Democrat (Donkey) Parties (Dec. 27, 1879).

1863: Nast, along with Samuel Clemens created our traditional image of Santa Claus. Santa first appeared in the upper left-hand corner of a drawing depicting a family separated from their father (who was fighting in the Civil War) on Christmas Eve.

St. St. NicholasNicholas

“Merry Old Santa Claus” 1881

D. The Hayes White HouseD. The Hayes White House1. Hayes’ main achievement in

office was to restore respect to the presidency after previous years of scandal.

2. Hayes was known for bringing “dignity and decorum” to the White House.

3. The woman behind the man, Lucy Hayes (aka “Lemonade Lucy”), was an intelligent and moral woman who insisted her family participate in devotionals each night after dinner.

Stirrings of Stirrings of ReformReform… … (change)(change)1. Hayes helped stir government reform. Hayes did not

approve of the Spoils system.

2. Those Political bosses are making Americans mad

with (12) The illegal use of public offices to reward friends for political party work is known as the "Spoils System." An official would get elected then appoint friends to office, whether they were qualified or not.

3. Hayes’s presidency marked the beginning of Civil Service Reform: government jobs held by non-elected workers.

G. G. (13)(13) BAD Labor Conditions BAD Labor Conditions

1. People worked 10 to 14 hour days, seven days a week.

2. Working conditions were dangerous and abusive.a. Miners breathed coal dust all day.

b. Factory workers breathed sawdust, stone dust, cotton dust, or toxic fumes.

c. Heavy machinery caused high injury rates.

3. Wages were low.a. Most industrial workers earned

between $400-$500 a year ($600 was the minimum annual income needed to maintain a decent standard of living).

4. Children were working.a. Some as young as six!

b. ~90,000 children were employed in the latter part of the nineteenth century.

Most children worked replacing bobbins in textiles plants

Children in the Textile industries

Labor Unrest (unhappiness)Labor Unrest (unhappiness)

(14) Labor Unionsa. In retaliation of working conditions and for protection and reform, some workers joined and formed these labor unions.b. Unions used strikes to improve conditions that they felt were demeaning

to the working class. These strikes were often peaceful, but sometimes they turned violent.

c. Labor Unions had difficulty organizing because:

- workers moved from job to job.

- there was an influx of immigrants with differences in language, religion, and customs hard to unite!

- labor leaders had different goals.

- there was a lack of employer support:

a. Employers used blacklists- records of troublemakers- and would fire workers involved in union activity

b. Lockouts- employers would shut down the factories, fire the workers, and replace them with scabs- replacement workers.

c. Yellow-dog contracts- workers were forced to agree not to take part in any labor action (i.e. strike)

d. Two major unions of the time:

i. Knights of Labor (formed in 1869)

ii. American Federation of Labor (1886) (discussed later)

(15) The Knights of Labor- (goes from private to public in 1879)

• Terrence Powderly becomes the head of the Labor Organization in 1869 and makes it public in 1877.

• Men and women, skilled and non-skilled were allowed into this union

• This labor union demands better treatment for workers

• They fought to end Child Labor and promoted 8-hour work day

Unions in the US Venn Diagram

(16) Railroad Strike of 1877i. Ignited by a 10% wage reduction (they

didn’t cut the hours- just the pay!!! Some nerve)

ii. The strike spread to New York, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Kansas City, Chicago, and San Francisco.

iii. Pittsburgh: Rioters torched Union Depot and Pennsylvania Railroad roundhouse

iv. It took two weeks for Hayes to call out troops to stop the strike.

v. By that point, 100 people had died, and two-thirds of the railroads were idle.

Railroad Strike of 1877Railroad Strike of 1877

The following excerpt appeared in a Washington, D.C. newspaper on July 24, 1877, a time when railroad strikes were occurring across the nation. 

DAY 3

II. Economic IssuesII. Economic Issues (1877-1881)(1877-1881)

A. The Money IssueA. The Money Issue

B. RailroadsB. Railroads

C.C. The Industrial RevolutionThe Industrial Revolution

D.D. Development of the WestDevelopment of the West

A. The Money IssueA. The Money Issue

1. Formed in the 1870s, the Greenback Party pushed for measures to benefit farmers in the West and South.

2. Although the party began to fade, the money debate did not.

3. In 1878, farmers and silver miners found temporary victory through the (4) Bland-Bland-Allison ActAllison Act that required the US treasury to buy $2- $4 million in silver each month and print money (instead of backing $ with gold)

4. It won’t work very well…

• (17) This means the US has 2 forms of money- Known as Bimettalism Gold and Silver-

A complete disaster… wouldn’t you rather have the gold money? Who wants the cheap stuff?

B. The Industrial RevolutionB. The Industrial Revolution1871-19121871-1912

1. The Rise of Industry

a. There were several causes of the rise of industry in the late 19th century:

(1st) Abundant coal deposits (cheap, affordable energy)

(2nd) Rapid spread of technological innovation

a. (6) Thomas Edison’s invention of the Light bulb allowed for electricity , but also for a 24 hour workday that big-business would force on workers

iii. Pressure to cut costs & prices (eliminating competition & building monopolies)

iv. Government Continued the attitude of Laissez Faire toward businesses.

C. Development of the WestC. Development of the West(3rd) Railroads greatly opened the West

to development/ settlement, offering:

a. transportation to new homeb. new jobs (construction/maintenance of

RR)c. improvements on old jobs (farming/

ranching)(4th) Mining – Many people rushed westward

during the 2nd half of the 19th century, hoping to strike it rich! (Most were unsuccessful, as were many mining towns that had been established.)

(5th) Farming – Many of the settlers moving West turned to farming to make a living.

(6th) Ranching – A “cattle boom”

occurred in America during the late 1800’s, which drew many new “cowboys” westward. - Sheep ranching

also gained popularity.

D. Further issues with Railroads… D. Further issues with Railroads…

1. Railroads were the first monopoly in America. Just like the silver issue, this concerned farmers!!!

2. States developed railroad commissions to look into complaints that RRs were:

a. charging more for short hauls and less for long hauls

b. offering Rebates (partial funds) to favored customers

Difficulty building through the rocky mountains…

3. ( 18) Munn v. Illinois (1877)a. This was essentially a case of the

farmers vs the RRs!

b. Courts ruled that states legislatures have the right to regulate RR rates. A maximum rate for the storage of grain was established.

c. ooohhh, controlling a monopoly! First time the government tries this!!!

d. (This decision was reversed in 1887 -more on that later)

DAY 4

III. Social IssuesIII. Social Issues (1877-1881)(1877-1881)

Minority IssuesMinority Issues

Social TheoriesSocial Theories

Social LifeSocial Life

A. Minority Issues:A. Minority Issues:Three groups of people faced minorityissues during the late 19th century:

1. Native Americans- racism2. African Americans-racism3. Women-sexism

1. Native Americans: U.S. gov’t interaction with the Native Americans mainly focused on getting them onto the reservations and (19) assimilating them into the American culture- forcing native americans to be more “American” (assimilation) This caused many clashes between the two groups (ex: Nez Perce)

Native American Issues

Chief Joseph led his tribe on a long trek toward Canada and away from the US army and reservations… The Nez Perce Indian tribe was divided and the members of the tribe that were captured were placed on reservations.

(5) Chief Joseph becomes one of the most politically outspoken and respected of all Native American Chiefs.

Ghost Dance

(8) A traditional religious movement where Natives dance in a circle asking their gods to return plains life to the traditional ways… Perhaps the best known facet of the Ghost Dance movement is the role it

reportedly played Scared the US army to be more aggressive in placing Natives on reservations because of the fear

it caused among settlers-they thought it was a war dance

GO OVER INDIAN PROBLEMS READING

2. African Americans-a. States used segregation to ensure

that African Americans were treated as second-class citizens.

i. The separation was a result of customs

which means it was de facto (conditions that exist in fact, but not actually in law).

b. b. (21) (21) Jim Crow Laws:Jim Crow Laws:

Segregation required by statutes in the South. (poll taxes, grandfather clause, literacy tests)a. Name came from a minstrel show

routine called “Jump Jim Crow”

c. De facto segregation was occurring in the North, too, with segregation and discrimination occurring in schools, housing, and employment.

Jim Crow Laws

Reading

3. The Voice of Women-

a. The common belief among Americans was that careers and married life did not mix.

b. Most women who worked were single (This will change by the turn of the century, and many married women will be working).

c. Most single female workers were between the ages of 16 and 24.

d. Women were paid $3-$5 less a week than men.

e. Many were nurses, teachers, clerical workers, or telephone operators.

f. Women also struggled to gain a voice in the democratic processes of America.

g. Susan B. Anthony

spent most of 40 years appearing before Congress pushing women’s suffrage.

“Organize, agitate, educate, must

be our war cry”. I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand. - Susan B. Anthony

i. Suffrage: the right to a voice in government

ii. 1878: Amendment proposal “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex. (It stalled for the 2nd time and did not reappear until 1913.)

B. Social TheoriesB. Social Theories1. (20)Social Darwinism: derived from Darwin’s “Survival of

the fittest” in society; suggests that society (government) should have little to do with business (again- laissez faire)

2. Henry George wrote

Progress and Poverty (1879)- describing the paradox in society

1. Upper-class Americans lived lavishly and got richer.

2. Middle-class Americans moved to comfortable suburbs and commuted on trains to work.

3. Lower-class Americans lived in city apartments and old neighborhoods that were dilapidated and overcrowded.

C. Social LifeC. Social Life

4. Some urban workers moved into towns with housing built specifically for them (company towns)

5. Others found apartments and tenements (low-cost apartments that were overcrowded)

6. A glance at life in the city:

a. Hundreds of people were packed into places intended only for a few families.

b. Due to poverty, overcrowding, and neglect, city neighborhoods began to decline.

c. Trees and grass disappeared.

d. Soot filled the air creating dark and foul conditions in the light of day.