Unit 2: Political and Social Reforms in the Gilded Age
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Transcript of Unit 2: Political and Social Reforms in the Gilded Age
UNIT 2: POLITICAL AND SOCIAL REFORMS IN THE GILDED AGE
Political MachinesThe Populist MovementThe Progressive MovementReforming the New Industrial OrderReforming SocietyReforming Government
Intro. To the “Gilded Age”: 1870s-early 1900s
All of part of the recent trends of: Industrialism Big Business Immigration Urbanization
Politics Social Reforms
Unit 1
Unit 2
Laissez faire
Government Regulations
Definition of “Gilded”
To cover with gold or gold leafing, and to give a bright or pleasing aspect to
During the Gilded Age, life was made to seem wonderful, but underneath the surface there were many problems
Labeled the “Gilded Age” by Mark Twain
Problems of the Gilded Age: Review
Life in the big cities Cultural diversity/immigration Behavior of big business corporations Behavior and role of labor unions Behavior and role of laissez-faire
government Ideas of capitalism and Social Darwinism Many pros and cons regarding these
issues
Attempts to Reform “Participatory Democracy”
1) “Grass Roots” Efforts:-Political, social, economic actions by citizens-Protest movements and organizations
2) Social Reform Movements-Populist Movement and Populist Party-Progressive Movement and Political Party
3) Actual Government Actions-Acts and Laws-Court cases and Supreme Court decisions
Increase in Population… Put high demands on city governments
Fire Police Sanitation Departments Construction Utility Systems (sewage, water, etc)
BUT Laissez Faire = No real government action
The Rise of Political Machines District
representatives and city council members took charge of public services
Often times, they pocketed money meant for the public
Political Machines Well organized political parties that
dominated local and state governments Party Bosses: Men who ran political
machines Provided jobs, favors and services to
local residents Most famous political machine was
known as Tammany Hall in New York City
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, cont’d… Democratic Party machine that
controlled NYC politics Helped immigrants rise in American
politics (most notably, the Irish) Provided immigrants with an early
version of the welfare system
Tammany Hall, cont’d Tammany Hall provided the following for
immigrants: Welcome upon arrival Temporary housing Jobs Citizenship Funerals
Tammany Hall, cont’d
Why would a political machine like Tammany Hall focus on immigrants?
• Represented a HUGE supply of supporters and voters
• Tended to be very loyal
William “Boss” Tweed Head of Tammany
Hall in the late 19th Century
Believed to have stolen $40-$200 Million from New York City taxpayers through corruption
How Did They Profit? Election fraud (stuffing
ballot boxes) Intimidating voters Graft: Acquiring money
or political power through illegal or dishonest methods
Kickbacks: Payments of part of the earnings from a job or contract
Thomas Nast & The Tweed Ring Thomas Nast was a political cartoonist
who despised Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall
Chose to use cartoons because many immigrants couldn’t read!
Created the Republican Elephant and the Democratic Donkey (and the modern day version of Santa!)
Describe the Word…Thomas NastGraftPolitical MachineGildedTammany Hall
Describe the Word…William “Boss” TweedKickbacksParty Bosses ImmigrantsPolitical Cartoon
Tammany Hall: Boss Tweed
Role of Thomas Nast (like Jacob Riis) Bring attention to a problem Publicize the issues Put pressure on the government to do
something Pendleton Civil Service Act 1883
Said you had to be qualified for certain gov. jobs
Similar to Sherman Anti-Trust Act
The Populist Movement Farmers (like workers, immigrants, and
minorities) suffer: Ignored by government Poor Isolated and alone Not respected Not really represented
The Populist Movement, cont’d… Major issue for farmers=DEBT
Technology increases production Farmers borrow money to purchase new
technology All farmers do this THUS Overproduction THUS Prices fall (Law of Supply and Demand) THUS Farmers borrow money THUS Farmers go into more debt Railroad monopolies overcharge farmers for
shipping and storage
Farmers Organize National Grange:
1867: Oliver Kelley Social Organization and formation of cooperatives
Pressure RR companies to regulate shipping and storage rates
Farmers’ Alliance Movement 1870s: Led by Mary Elizabeth Lease Demanded graduated income tax Provided low cost insurance Pushed for tougher regulations on RR
Farmers Organize Greenback Party—1870s Populist Party:
1890: James Weaver Pushed for a graduated income tax Pushed for banking regulation Wanted government ownership of RR
(=Socialism) Wanted coinage of silver Wanted restricted immigration Wanted shorter work day Wanted voting reforms
Populist Movement, cont’d William Jennings
Bryan (Populist Democrat) ran against William McKinley (Republican) in the election of 1896
Bryan lost and McKinley took office
Signaled the end of the Populist Party
The Progressive Movement Industrial Age = Major Advancements Industrial Age = Major Problems
Basic levels at which reform can occur Grass-roots level = Individuals Org. level = Reform movements Gov. level = Laws, acts, court cases
Populist MovementProgressivism Main concerns:
Big gap between rich and poor Bad urban conditions Bad working conditions Social problems Political problems
Desire for more “democracy” Desire more participation Government authority from the people
Progressive Profile Native born Middle or Upper Class Usually from Urban areas College Educated
Muckrakers Investigative
journalists who wrote about corruption in business and politics, hoping to bring about change and reforms
Reforming the New Industrial Order Harsh working conditions/hours, pay Realities for women and children
Attempts at reform-push for new labor laws Government involvment
Florence Kelley (1893): Anti-Child Labor Laws National Child Labor Comm. (1904) Rose Schneiderman—Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
(1911): New York passes fire safety codes
Supreme Court Cases: Inconsistent Lochner v. New York (1905)
10 hour workday overturned Muller v. Oregon (1908)
Some limits upheld for hours worked Role of Louis Brandeis Use of scientific research and evidence
Labor Unions Closed shops: Union membership
required Freedom of Contract: Workers can
negotiate terms of their contract with bosses
AFL: American Federation of Labor ILGWU: International Ladies Garment
Workers Union IWW: Industrial Workers of the
World/Wobblies
Reforming Society Urban Reforms: Basically Make the cities
healthier and more livable State Tenement Housing Association National Tuberculosis Association Daniel Burnham—building codes Playgrounds, parks, etc.
Reforming Society, cont’d… Moral Reforms: Basically prohibition
Anti-Saloon League Woman’s Christian Temperance Union-
Carrie Nation Frances Willard Reverend Billy Sunday Eventually: 18th Amendment (1919)—
Volstead Act
Reforming Society, cont’d… Racial Reforms: Against
discrimination W.E.B. DuBois/Booker T.
Washington NAACP—1909—use of courts for
equality Guinn v. United States (1915)
Outlawed “grandfather clauses” Buchanan v. Warley (1917)
Overturned housing segregation National Urban League (1911)
Fought for racial equality in jobs and housing
Society of American Indians (1911)
Problems for Women Lacked the right to vote until 1920
(known as women’s suffrage) 19th Amendment states that the
government cannot deny a person their right to vote based on sex
Reforming Government If we are cleaning up cities, workplaces,
and racial discrimination, then why not “clean up government”?
Main idea of Progressives: Make system more fair! Give government back to the people Make political process more democratic
Specific Political Reforms Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883) Direct Primary: People nominate
politicians 17th Amendment: Senators elected by
the people Secret Ballot: All candidates are on one
uniform ballot Initiative: People introduce laws
themselves Referendum: Citizens can put newly
created laws on the ballot for societal approval/disproval
Recall: Enables voters to remove an elected official from office
Reforming Cities: Progressive Mayors
Samuel Jones: Toledo (1897) Tom L. Johnson: Cleveland Use of city commissions, managers
Galveston 1900 Robert LaFollette: the “Wisconsin Idea”
Amendments to the Constitution Civil War through Reconstruction: 1865-
1870 13th Am. (1865): Abolition of slavery 14th Am. (1868): Due process/equality for
citizens 15th Am. (1870): Voting rights cannot be
denied due to color of skin: Suffrage for African American males
Amendments to the Constitution, cont’d…
Gilded Age/Progressive Era Amendments 16th Am. (1913): Federal income tax 17th Am. (1913): Direct election of US
Senators 18th Am. (1919): Prohibition of alcohol 19th Am. (1920): Suffrage for women
Even US Presidents began to “reform” and adapt progressive policies
Teddy Roosevelt Wanted to use presidency as a “bully
pulpit” to further his own goals of progressive reform
Goals: Conservation: Preserve national parks and
wildlife Trust-busting (anti-monopoly) Consumer protection
Teddy Roosevelt, cont’d…
Goals, cont’d: Improve life for lower and
middle class Every American deserves a
“Square Deal, no more, no less” Used “arbitration” to settle
disputes (third party gets involved)
William Howard Taft
Not quite as progressive as Roosevelt Wanted to improve conditions for
common man and help working class Not well liked (did not have TR’s
personality) Called the White House the most
lonesome place on earth Actually went after more monopolies
than T.R.
Woodrow Wilson
Outspoken reformer who wanted Civil Rights and working class reforms (yet was considered a racist!!)
Liked the idea of using the government as an agent of change
Considered to be a “trust-buster” as well Eventually supported the 19th
Amendment