Chapter 13 section 3-5THE GILDED AGE

THE GILDED AGE

Term for the era ; coined by Mark Twain & Charles Warner

They were sounding an alarm about the time period! Industrialization & urbanization changed the way

Americans looked at themselves & society.

1. Individualism- no matter your origins, you can rise as far as your talents & abilities will take you (Horatio Alger).

2. Social Darwinism: Darwin’s theory applied to society; if you are wealthy—you are more talented or skilled.

People who supported Social Darwinism= would have also supported “laissez-faire”.

The Churches in America did not like Darwin’s theory's about evolution. It contradicted the Biblical version of creation.

Some minsters however, believed that God may have used evolution to create the world (Henry Ward Beecher- “Christian evolutionist”.

THE CHURCH REACTS TO DARWINISM

Advocated by Andrew Carnegie

The wealthy should engage in “philanthropy” & use their good fortune to make society better.

Building schools, hospitals, public libraries

Opposed giving “handouts” to the poor.

**THE GOSPEL OF WEALTH

Realism- new movement in art & literature in the 1800’s.

Painters & writers tried to depict the world “realistically”.

Thomas Eakins- best known American realist painter.

CULTURE IN THE “GILDED AGE”

Mark Twain (Samuel Clemmons)- Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; Tom Sawyer.

Twain used the dialect of the region & humor.Wrote the true American novel- characters, setting,

subject, language, & style= clearly American.

REALISM IN WRITING

Popular culture changed considerably in the late 1800’s. Standard of living improved for many people= more money=

more entertainment & recreation. People separated their l ives into : work, home, play.1. The Saloon- outnumbered grocery stores & meat markets

in cities.2. Amusement Parks & Sports- entertainment for working

class families & single adults. Coney Island (NY) 1869- 1ST PROFESSIONAL baseball team- Cincinnati Red

Stockings (1903- 1 s t World Series PLAYED) Football— gained popularity by the late 1800’s 1891- James Naismith – invented Basketball .3. Vaudeville & Ragtime– Vaudeville (a variety show); Ragtime- a type of music (Scott Joplin-King of Ragtime)

POPULAR CULTURE IN THE GILDED AGE

The Presidency of Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1880) Reconstruction came to an end (Compromise of 1877) Tried to end the “Spoils System” patronage (giving jobs to loyal

supporters). Republicans became divided on the issue. “Stalwarts”- Republicans who supported keeping the Spoils

System. “Half-Breeds”- Republicans who wanted to reform the Spoils

System. Election of 1880 Republicans nominated- James Garfi eld (Half-Breed) Vice Presidential running mate- Chester Arthur (Stalwart) Garfi eld & Arthur won the election! One month later Garfi eld was assassinated by Charles Gateau

(a would be offi ce seeker). The public grows angry & demands an end to the Spoils System.

POLITICS IN WASHINGTON DURING THE GILDED AGE

1883- Congress passed the Pendleton Act ( law required some government jobs be fi lled by people who take & pass an exam)= start of the professional civil service.

Only 10% of federal government job were made civil service positions in 1883—it went up over time.

Significance--This means the end of the Spoils System

CIVIL SERVICE REFORM

Democratic Party nominated– Grover Cleveland.governor of NY; Reformer with honesty.

Republican Party nominated- James G. Blaine. Former Speaker of the House; reputed to have taken

bribes.• Republicans tired of corruption (“Mugwumps”) voted

for the Democrat—Cleveland. • Blaine needed the votes of Catholic voters to catch

up (“Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion” comment by a supporter)

• Cleveland narrowly wins the election.• 1st Democrat elected president since 1856.

ELECTION OF 1884

Many Americans were concerned about the power of large corporations, monopolies, and especially Railroad Companies.

Large corporations could arrange to get “REBATES” & lower rates while farmers and others could not.

Many states began to pass new laws to regulate railroad rates in their states.

**1886- Wabash v. Illinois - the US Supreme Court ruled that states cannot regulate railroad rates ( interstate commerce), only the Federal government could.

** 1887- Congress passed the Interstate Commerce Act. Created the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC)- federal

agency to regulate railroad rates. 1 s t law passed to regulate business for public good! Not very eff ective—relied on courts to enforce rules.

POLITICAL ISSUES: CONTROLLING CORPORATIONS

Democrats believed tariff rates should be reduced because they hurt people who bought manufactured goods.

No need for high tariff s now—corporations now can compete internationally without help.

Tariff s caused “trade wars”Congress deadlocked on the issueElection of 1888Republicans- Benjamin Harrison (got large money contributions from big businesses)Democrats- Grover Cleveland (campaigned for lower tariff s)** Harrison wins the election * Republicans control both houses

ISSUES: TARIFFS

The McKinley Tariff (1890)1890- Congressman William McKinley- pushed a new tariff bill (cut rates on tobacco & sugar; raised rates on textiles etc.) Intended to protect US businesses from foreign competition

& get Americans to buy American made products. The tariff caused prices of all products to rise=angered

Americans.

The Sherman Antitrust Act (1890) Meant to curb the power of large corporations & monopolies. Prohibited “any combination…or conspiracy, in restraint of

commerce or trade…” Law had little impact to stop monopolies. Used mostly to stop labor unions!!

CONGRESS PASSES NEW LEGISLATION

Populism- a movement to increase the political power of farmers.Problems of Farmers in the Gilded Age New farm tech = supply greater than demand= falling prices

(defl ation) High tariff s= harder for farmers to sale products overseas. Railroad Companies= give big “rebates” to large corporations. Banks= charge high interest rates for loans; farmers loose

farms when they “mortgage” land to buy new tech. 1873- Government stopped making “silver coins”= less money

(“Crime of 73”)Solution to Farmer’s Problems Adjust the money supply= increase the types & amount of

money circulating in economy (gold & silver coins, paper money- “Greenbacks”)

Farmers began to organize!!

POPULISM

The Grange (“Patrons of Husbandry”) (1867): 1 s t national farm organization.Founder—Oliver H. Kelley1s t met just to discuss new farm techniques & to have

socials.1873- US had severe recession= farm incomes fell=

membership increased (800,000 to 1.5 million members by 1874)

Grange calls for actionStates should regulate RR rates & warehouse rates.Created “Cooperatives” to try & increase farm prices.“Granger laws” passed by a few western states= set

maximum rates charged by RR= struck down by the Wabash case.

Grange ==not eff ective at changing things for farmers

FARMERS ORGANIZE

The Farmer’s Alliance- had up to 3 million members by 1890.Strongly supported in the South & Great Plains.Supported “Exchanges” (very large Cooperatives)Ultimately– large cooperatives failed (lent too much

money to farmers at low interest rates-never repaid, bankers & RR discriminated against them).

Many famers began to push to create a NEW POLITICAL PARTY

The People’s Party (the Populists)1890Nominated candidates to Congress & state offi ces.Subtreasury Plan- called on government to set up

warehouses to store crops= raise prices of farm products. lower tariff s , regulate banks & RR,

THE FARMERS ORGANIZE

1892- People’s party held it’s first convention

The Omaha Platform (agenda for the party & candidates)Called for unlimited coinage of silverFederal ownership of RRGraduated income taxDirect election of Senators8 hour workday (hoped city workers would join) Immigration restrictions* Knights of Labor in decline & AFL steered clear of politics (urban workers failed to join the fight)

PEOPLE’S PARTY

People’s Party—make the free coinage a silver the main issue!

Democrats—nominate William Jennings Bryan (strong supporter of silver coinage)Republicans- nominated William McKinley (supported the Gold Standard)• People’s Party decided to endorse Bryan.• At the Democratic Party convention, Bryan made a speech

favoring coinage of silver to help farmers.

• “The Cross of Gold” The Campaign• Bryan – 14 weeks; gave 600 speeches• McKinley – “Front Porch Campaign”; promised a “Full Dinner

Pail”• ** McKinley won the election!!• **After 1896- The Populist Party declined

ELECTION 1896

After the Civil War, many African-Americans in the rural South lived in poverty. Most were sharecroppers (in debt to landlords).The Exodusters Benjamin “Pap” Singleton- (former slave)- urged African-

Americans to move west (Kansas). 1879- 6,000 African-Americans left the south for Kansas.

Colored Farmer’s Alliance (1886)- blacks formed their own farmer’s organization.

• If poor whites in the south & African-Americans joined forces in voting for the Populist Party= unbeatable!

• Democrats divided white farmers (racism) from blacks= no joining of the two= doom for the Populist Party.

THE RISE OF SEGREGATION

After Reconstruction ended in 1877, the rights of AA were undermined.Voting RightsThe 15 t h Amendment denied states the power to deny the right to vote based on “race, color, or previous servitude” States could ban someone from voting based on some other

criteria. 1890- Mississippi required all citizens to pay a “Poll Tax” &

“Literacy Test” Other southern states did the same. In Louisiana—number of registered AA voters fell from

130,000 (1890) to 5,300 (1900). The “Grandfather Clause” – La. Allowed any man to vote

IF he had an ancestor who could vote in 1867 (this exempted most whites from poll taxes & literacy tests.)

THE UNDERMINING OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN RIGHTS

African-Americans in the north were banned from public places but, it was diff erent in the south.States passed laws to enforce discrimination (“ Jim Crow Laws”).

1883- The Civil Rights CasesSupreme Court overturned the Civil Rights Act 1875Supreme Court said that individuals & business owners

were free to practice discrimination.States passed laws—established racial segregation.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)- Supreme Court ruled racial segregation in public places legal (did not violate 14 th Amendment) = segregation in the south for 50 years.

SEGREGATION

1. Lynching- 1890-1899 = 187 lynching's of African-Americans each year.

Ida B. Wells- African-American woman; pushed for an end to lynching (mob violence).Congress failed to pass laws to stop the practice1900’s= lynching's decreased.

2. Civil Rights: Two African-Americans stood out.Booker T. Washington – African-Americans should focus

on economic goals…not political goals (Atlanta Compromise Speech)- postpone fi ght for civil rights—get education & vocational training.

W.E.B. Dubois : advocated that African-Americans demand equal rights now! (1 s t African-American to graduate Harvard)

AFRICAN-AMERICAN RESPONSE