Changes in the SouthCHAPTER 11, SECTION 1

Industries in the South After the Civil War, instead of shipping goods to the

North for manufacturing, northern capital backed southern production of goods.

Farming also became diversified with additional crops such as grain, tobacco and fruits.

In order to transport goods from the South, railways were added and built by prison labor to keep costs down.

However, the South’s economy was still hampered by a lack of workers and a lack of capital following the Civil War.

Southern Farmers Face Hard Times Even with the introduction of new crops, cotton still

remained the dominant cash crop of the South. After the war, a combination of lack of buyers and a

boll weevil infestation severely hurt farmers’ profits. To combat the loss of profits, farmers began lobbying

for lower prices on supplies. The local organizations of farmers gathered together

to form the Farmer’s Alliance. They lobbied the government to lower freight prices

from railroads and the interest rates charged by banks.

Black Southerners Face Gains and Losses Gains:

Able to vote in elections and serve in the military;

Open businessesBuy farmlandACCESS TO EDUCATION

Losses: Restrictions locally re: access to public

accommodationFaced intimidation and violence

Segregation and Social TensionsCHAPTER 12, SECTION 1

African Americans Lose Freedoms State governments limited the voting rights of African

Americans in the ways: Poll tax required voters to pay a tax Literacy tests required voters to take a test of

“understanding” before voting Grandfather clause individuals could vote if their

grandfathers could vote prior to 1866.

Jim Crow laws also kept whites and blacks segregated. In 1896, the court case Plessy v. Ferguson maintained

the constitutionality of these Jim Crow laws, establishing the “separate but equal” doctrine.

Working Against MistreatmentAfrican Americans disagreed on how best to

secure and maintain their new freedoms. Booker T. Washington build economic

resources and establish a reputation. Encouraged blacks to “pull themselves up by their bootstraps.”

W.E.B. Du Bois wanted blacks to demand full and immediate equality.

Ida B. Wells focused on eliminating lynching and raising awareness of the issue outside of the South.

Gains for WomenWomen did make successes in the years

following the Civil War. Women started by improving their education

and becoming more organized in their efforts. They formed groups such as the Women’s Christian

Temperance Union and the National Woman Suffrage Association.

Their biggest goal, suffrage, was still unattainable, though.

Political and Economic ChallengesCHAPTER 12, SECTION 2

Corruption Plagues National PoliticsThe presidencies of Hayes, Harrison, Garfield

and Arthur were plagued by corruption, so distrust in government continued to grow. Once again, the spoils system was a problem.

These slights in government were showcased to the public by political cartoonists such as Joseph Keppler and Thomas Nast. Nast targeted NYC politician William ‘Boss’ Tweed to

expose his illegal activities.

Corruption Plagues National Politics The disdain for political corruption pushed many

officials to support civil service reform, focusing on the federal jobs within the executive branch.

Reform began when Chester Arthur signed the Pendleton Civil Service Act in 1883. This act set up a commission to write a civil

service exam. Individuals who wanted to work for the

government had to take the exam. Jobs were then given on one’s performance on the

exam.

Corruption Plagues National Politics While Democrats and Republicans disagreed over the

tariff issue (whether they should be high or low), independent parties gained support over their dislike for the gold standard. Gold standard= gold is used as the basis for the

nation’s currency. The Coinage Act of 1873 stopped the acceptance of

silver as value for coins. Those that supported the use of silver for money (known

as bi-metalism) hoped to cause inflation so prices would rise and increase their incomes. These were generally farmers.

Farmers and PopulismCHAPTER 12, SECTION 3

Farmers Face Problems

Farmers were hurt by the following: High railroad rates for the transport of their

crops;Low crop prices at market;High interest rates charged by banks.

Farmers blamed big businesses for the hardships they faced.

The Populist Party GrowsAs different Farmer’s Alliances from across the

country joined together, they formed one large political party known as the Populist Party.

Goals of the Populist Party: End political corruptionIncrease the money supply (bi-metalism)Government ownership of railroads

In the 1896 election, the Populists supported William Jennings Bryan, the Democratic candidate.

The Election of 1896The Republicans chose William McKinley as their

candidate. McKinley was supported by the big business

leaders and raised 30x the amount of funding as Bryan.

While Bryan toured the nation gaining support, McKinley let others do the campaigning for him. The Republicans cast Bryan and the Populists

as a threat to the U.S.

Answer the questions

regarding this political

cartoon on your notes

paper.

Ticket-Out-the-Door

What role did corruption and greed play in the politics of the

Gilded Age?