Gilded Age Presidents, Labor Unions and Strikes
Politics under Gilded Age o o o Every presidential election a squeaker, every senate race a close one Only 3 sessions between 1869 -1871 did same political party control congress Politics revolve around scandals and spoils more than issues of policy Commanded fierce loyalty – nearly 80% of voters cast ballots in their election Republicans dominated – Won all but 2 elections between 1860 -1900
Party Conventions o o Took place at country, state and national levels Adopted platforms, statements and principles for their voters Campaigning often done in the saloon (where women not allowed) Newspapers identify with party – Party often gave $$ and they would bash opponent
Republicans o o o Civil War victors – Blame democrats as party of disunion Encourage Americans to “vote as you shot” – and “wave the bloody shirt” Adhere to Puritan roots, focus on old stock immigrants Stress code of morality and believe govt should play role in economy and moral affairs Push for big govt, tariffs, and land grants Very active in helping corporate capitalism in America
Democrats o o o Party of disunion Oppose govt interference in economy, tariffs and land grants Anti-Prohibition – claims it limits freedom Immigrants and Catholics tend to flock to this group Had a solid electoral base in the South and immigrants in the North
Patronage o o o Voting day: People came out early and often – many controlled by local bosses, party gangs or social scenes – Cath and Irish tend to vote Dem, South almost all dem, Ex-Civ War vets vote Repub “To the victors go the spoils of war” – Andrew Jackson Once elected, new president/gov/mayor would give out jobs Led to bribery and corruption: Sec of Interior bribed position so he could “sell” lands to monopolies US Postmaster – Used fed $$ to buy new clocks for entire postal service – gave his friend a kickback
Women’s Suffrage o o o Women largely stayed out of politics (mostly done in saloon) 1848: Seneca Falls – 1 st women’s right convention Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Standon National Women’s Suffrage Association (NAWSA) – sought an amendment to Const Wyoming Terr – 1 st state to allow women to vote on state level Would eventually get national suffrage with 19 th Amend - Ratif 1920
U. S. Presidents during Gilded Age
Ulysses S. Grant (R) 1869 -1877 o o Had parades and heroes welcome everywhere Took a check for $105 K from NY for “saving the Union” Credit Mobilier Scandal – Union Pacific RR earned dividends up to 348% Gave senators $$ to be quiet
Grant Corruption o o Whiskey Ring: Whiskey distillers paid tax man to “go away” – Grant claimed “let no man escape” his own private sec on it Sec War Belknap: Took bribes from suppliers to Indian reservations
Transcontinental RR 1869 o o o Union Pacific – Commissioned to go West - given 16 k for each mile of prairie land 48 k for each mile of mtn Central Pacific – Went East from Sacramento – hired over 10 k Chinese laborers Cities like Chicago become a major hub between E-W
Compromise of 1877 and Rutherford B. Hayes o o Scandals stop Grant’s 3 rd term Rutherford B. Hayes (R) – Won in the North Sam H. Tilden (D) – Man who bagged “Boss Tweed” No clear winner in electoral college
Compromise of 1877 o o o Both sides sent visiting statesmen to SC, LA and FL (still not reconstructed under any plan) States send two sets of returns – one with Hayes as winner and other as Tilden Compromise: Republicans to get Pres, Dem to get military removed, and black freedoms reversed
Rutherford B. Hayes (R) 1877 -1881 o o o Financial Panics and hardtimes Strike of 1877: Nations 4 largest RR cut wages by 10% - Hayes calls in federal troops 5 new transcontinental RR built Chinese probs: Flood of Chinese causes social unrest 1882: Chinese Exclusion Act – vetoed by Hayes – made him very unpopular
James A. Garfield (R) - 1881 o o o Log cabin Pres and excivil war vet Shot by Charles Guiteau – disappointed and deranged office seeker Showed something needed to be done about spoils system
Old Grover Takes Over (D) 1885 -1889 & 1893 -1897) o o o Grover Cleveland = 1 st Dem since Civ War Staunch believer in Laissez -Faire Dawes Act est. under his admin Interstate Commerce Commission – regulated RR rebates Battled tariff (raised high under Repub yrs) Labor Day – created 1894
Haymarket Square Riot - 1886 o o o Workers in Chicago march for an 8 hr day- protest Mc. Comick Harvesting machine Police come to break up strike Anarchists (anti-govt) blamed for violence 8 policemen die, 100 s injured Public saw unions and anarchists as prob
Benjamin Harrison (R) – 1889 -1893 o o Grandson of William Henry (Tippecanoe) Harrison Won on tariff issue
Homestead Riot (PA) o o Homestead Strike: Andrew Carnegie and Clay Frick cut wages in PA Carnegie called in Pinkerton Detective Agency – group of strike breakers 10 k strikers clash – 15 dead, 65 injured Carnegie called in state militias
William Mc. Kinley (R) 1907 -1901 o o Very gilded age president High tariffs, laissez faire He would be known more for Imperialism efforts His death (shot) would lead to rise of one of most active Progressive presidents in History: Teddy Roosevelt
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