Chapter 19Chapter 19Politics and ReformPolitics and Reform

The American PeopleThe American People, 6, 6thth ed. ed.

I.I. Politics in the Politics in the Gilded AgeGilded Age

Politics, Parties, Patronage, Politics, Parties, Patronage, and Presidentsand Presidents Americans in the nineteenth century mistrusted Americans in the nineteenth century mistrusted

hierarchical power and believed that everyone hierarchical power and believed that everyone could benefit form an economy free of could benefit form an economy free of government interferencegovernment interference

After the gigantic splits after the Civil War, the After the gigantic splits after the Civil War, the two political parties each drifted back to center two political parties each drifted back to center and avoided controversyand avoided controversy

None of the gilded age presidents served two None of the gilded age presidents served two terms or distinguished themselves in any huge terms or distinguished themselves in any huge wayway

National IssuesNational Issues Tariffs to protect businessTariffs to protect business Money: hard currency versus paperMoney: hard currency versus paper Reform of the civil serviceReform of the civil service Government regulation of railroadsGovernment regulation of railroads

II. Middle-Class ReformII. Middle-Class Reform

Wealth and Social DarwinismWealth and Social Darwinism

For most Gilded Age Americans, Christianity as For most Gilded Age Americans, Christianity as well as science supported the notions of class well as science supported the notions of class divisions and the moral superiority of the divisions and the moral superiority of the wealthy.wealthy.

Andrew Carnegie, “The Gospel of Wealth” Andrew Carnegie, “The Gospel of Wealth” (1889)(1889)

Carnegie’s ideas were drawn from social Carnegie’s ideas were drawn from social Darwinism, based in turn on the scientific works Darwinism, based in turn on the scientific works of Charles Darwin and the natural laws of of Charles Darwin and the natural laws of selection.selection.

Settlements and Social Settlements and Social GospelGospel Jane Adams founded Hull House in Jane Adams founded Hull House in

Chicago in 1889 to “aid in the solution of Chicago in 1889 to “aid in the solution of the social and industrial problems which the social and industrial problems which are engendered by the modern are engendered by the modern conditions of life in a great city.”conditions of life in a great city.”

She committed her life to reduce the She committed her life to reduce the suffering of the poor.suffering of the poor.

The settlement house movement blended The settlement house movement blended the idioms of idealism and practicalitythe idioms of idealism and practicality

Reforming the CityReforming the City Urban government was the structure Urban government was the structure

most in need of reform in the nineteenth most in need of reform in the nineteenth century.century.

Disease, waste, pollution, cholera, filth Disease, waste, pollution, cholera, filth and inefficiency were everywhere in the and inefficiency were everywhere in the large cities.large cities.

Beautification was one solution: parks Beautification was one solution: parks and public spacesand public spaces

The Struggle for Women’s The Struggle for Women’s SuffrageSuffrage Women’s rights advanced very slowly after the Women’s rights advanced very slowly after the

Seneca Falls Convention of 1848.Seneca Falls Convention of 1848. Before 1890 only the territory of Wyoming Before 1890 only the territory of Wyoming

allowed women full political equity.allowed women full political equity.Three central arguments emerged:Three central arguments emerged: Women needed the vote to pass self-protection lawsWomen needed the vote to pass self-protection laws Women’s role as social housekeepers could only be Women’s role as social housekeepers could only be

enhanced by political participationenhanced by political participation Protestant, white women needed the vote to Protestant, white women needed the vote to

counterbalance the hordes of immigrants coming into counterbalance the hordes of immigrants coming into America.America.

III.III. Politics in the Pivotal Politics in the Pivotal 1890s1890s

Important IssuesImportant Issues Civil War veteran’s pensionsCivil War veteran’s pensions: easily : easily

approved by Congress with little debateapproved by Congress with little debate TrustsTrusts: the Sherman Anti-Trust Act : the Sherman Anti-Trust Act

passed with only one nay votepassed with only one nay vote TariffsTariffs: after many amendments and : after many amendments and

debate, American protective tariffs were debate, American protective tariffs were raised higher than everraised higher than ever

MoneyMoney: after much debate, the gold : after much debate, the gold standard remained secure.standard remained secure.

Depression and ElectionDepression and Election

1893 saw the worst national economic 1893 saw the worst national economic depression up until that time.depression up until that time.

Wall Street crashed as the small gold supply Wall Street crashed as the small gold supply was demanded by thousands of depositors in was demanded by thousands of depositors in exchange for their paper money.exchange for their paper money.

The election of 1896 boiled down to the single The election of 1896 boiled down to the single issue of free and unlimited coinage of silver, issue of free and unlimited coinage of silver, which many believed would solve all the which many believed would solve all the problems of the country in short order.problems of the country in short order.