Chapter 15: The Gilded Age

Politics, Immigration, & Urban Life

I. The Gilded Age

II. Post Civil War PoliticsA. Lack of Political Leadership & Corruption

(sheet)* Undistinguished political leadership* Neither party dominated* People expect little from govt… Laissez-faire*Political Scandal and corruption* Tammany Hall & Tweed Ring, Credit Mobilier Scandal, Salary Grab, Whiskey Ring Fraud

II. Post Civil War PoliticsB. Major Issue of the Period (sheet)

Republicans• Industrialists &

bankers• North & Midwest &

southern blacks• Tight money supply w/

gold standard, high tariffs, subsidies to RR, blue laws, limited immigration

• N. urban immigrants, laborers, southern planters, western farmers

• Increased money supply w/ silver standard, lower tariffs, higher farm prices, less subsidies to business, fewer blue laws

Democrats

II. Post Civil War Politics

B. Major Issues of the Period1. Tariffs: Protectionism v. Free Trade2. Currency: “Free Silver”/ “Cheap Money” v. Gold Standard; peak w/ Election of 18963. Civil Service Reform

* Jackson & the Spoils System*1881: Prez Garfield assassinated* Pendleton Act of 1883: exams

II. Post Civil War Politics

C. The “One-Termers”1. Rutherford B. Hayes

* Compromise of 18772. James A. Garfield

II. Post Civil War PoliticsC. The “One-Termers”

3. Chester A. Arthur4. Grover Cleveland

* Interstate Commerce Act; Dawes Act* Served 2 non-consecutive terms

5. Benjamin Harrison* Battle of Wounded Knee

III. The New Immigrants

Old Immigration (1609-1860)

• G. Britain, Germany, N. Europe

• Africans: forced slavery

• Peoples absorbed by conquest and annexation

New Immigrants (1870-1920)

• S/ E Europe• Different languages,

customs, religions (Italian Catholics)

• European Jews: pogroms

• Slavs, Russian, Polish, Czech

• Physical Differences as well.

III. New Immigrants

B. Coming To America1. Journey to America: steerage, Ellis Island, quarantine

2. Immigrant Communities: ghettos; good and bad

3. Assimilation v. Pluralism: “Melting Pot” v. “Salad Bowl”

III. New Immigrants

C. Reaction to Immigrants1. Nativism/ Ethnocentrism

* Cultural & Economic Issues2. Examples of Nativism

* Am’n Protective Association (1887): Catholics* Restrictive Covenants: not sell real estate* Local Laws prohibit from holding certain jobs* Jewish Immigrants: restricted from jobs,

universities

III. New ImmigrantsD. Early Restrictions: See Chart

1. Chinese Exclusion Act (1882): “Yellow Peril”2. Gentlemen’s Agreement (1907): Japan3. Literacy Tests (1917): Read/ write

IV. Urbanization: The Growth of An Urban Nation

A. Negative Effects of City Growth1. Tenements & Company Towns

*Realism: Ash Can School, Maggie: A Girl of the Streets

2. Public Health: disease, sanitation, diets, no hospitals

3. Politics & Political Machines: + and -

4. Tension b/w the Social Groups

IV. Urbanization

B. Positive Effects of City Growth1. New Technologies

*Mass transportation, lights, brides, water & sewage systems

2. Cultural Opportunities* Museums, halls, theaters, newspapers,

dept stores, vaudeville, movies, baseball

3. Educational Opportunties * Morrill Act of 1862

IV. Urbanization

C. The Urban Mixture*Mix: poor, middle class, wealthy… tensions* Development of inventions: consumerism, materialism, better housing, money, leisure time* Wealthy: contribute charities, institutions, operas, libraries* Workers: lacked time, energy, finances to participate* Women: upper class stayed home: reform movements* Rest: traditional jobs… but still work at home* But with economic power….

IV. Urbanization

D. Attempts At Urban ReformJacob Riis: How the Other Half Lives

(sheet)

IV. Urbanization

D. Local Attempts at Urban Reform1. Public Commissions: child labor, conditions, housing2. Social Gospel Movement & Religious Institutions

* Salvation Army, Knights of Columbus3. Municipal Leagues: private groups: eye on corruption 4. Settlement Houses: Hull House/ Jane Addams (1889)