His 134 Exam 2

Assassination of Garfield

Office seekers flooded the White House, where Garfield found it hard to say no At a train station in Washington DC, en route to Williams College in Massachusetts on July 2, 1881, Garfield was shot by a mentally unstable, disappointed office seeker, Charles J. Guiteau, stating as he shot him, "I am a Stalwart and Arthur will be president" Garfield lingered in agony for 80 days with a .44 caliber bullet in his body before dying on Sept 19, 1881, 2 months shy of his 50th birthday Guiteau was tried, convicted and executed on June 30, 1882

Cleveland's 2nd Administration

Panic of 1893 continuously plagued his second administration In a special session of Congress, Cleveland pushed to repeal the Sherman Silver Purchase Act, an issue that badly split the Democratic Party Congress repealed it in October 1893 To repair the flow of gold out of the US treasury, Cleveland arranged a $65 million loan from Wall Street financier J.P. Morgan to be made in gold in l895 Cleveland's use of federal troops ended the Pullman strike 1894, which damaged his image

Other Companies Emerged by 1900

Pennsylvania Group - PA; Baltimore and Ohio Chesapeake and Ohio Morgan Roads - Erie + Southern Gould System - Missouri Pacific Rock Island System Hill Roads - Great Northern + Northern Pacific + Burlington Harriman Roads - Union Pacific + Southern Pacific + Illinois Central

Republican Split

Political infighting between Hayes and the leader of the Radical Republicans, which led to a split in the Republican Party Conkling led the Stalwarts

New Immigration

Population doubled between 1860 and 1900 to 76 million Eastern and Southeastern Europe, Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Jewish Immigrants Different culture, language, religion, look Harder to assimilate Tended to settle in ethnic neighborhoods called ghettos

Campaign

Populists were active in the Midwest, the campaign was relatively quiet, clean Harrison's pro-tariff stance hurt his image in the light of the Homestead strike of 1892

Administration

Presided over a major expansion in U.S. territories through conquest which included the annexation of Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Wake Island following the Spanish-American War as well as the annexation of the future U.S. State of Hawaii

William Magear ("Boss" ) Tweed (1823-78)

"Ruled" NY City following the Civil War After charges of corruption he fled to Spain, but was extradited to face a prison term

Cross of Gold

"You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold" William Jennings Bryan Democratic National Convention 1896

Entertainment

Edison, along with George Eastman, perfected a motion picture camera (kinetograph)

Oil

Edwin Drake drilled the first successful oil well in Titusville, Pennsylvania in 1859 Cleveland, Ohio became the center of oil refining by the 1870s

Rutherford B. Hayes 1877-1881

Election of 1876 Due to the close election count and disputed states (LA, FL, SC), decided by the House of Representatives Compromise of 1877 As promised, David M. Key (TN) was appointed Postmaster General on 5 March and in April the last Federal troops were withdrawn from the South, (last from LA) End of "Black Reconstruction"

Gustavus Franklin Swift

Established Swift and Company in Chicago Perfected the use of ice-cooled refrigerator cars In 1877 he shipped the first load of dressed beef to Boston in warm weather and greatly enhanced the growing Texas cattle industry

Greenback Labor Movement

1877 Labor unrest created support for a new political movement Called for: Free coinage of silver Limits on laborers' hours Limits on Chinese immigration Peaked in 1878 with more than 1 million votes Won several seats in Congress led by James B. Weaver

Domestic Actions

51st Congress was called the "billion dollar Congress," the first congress to spend a billion dollars annually in peacetime Sherman Anti-Trust Act (1890) Sherman Silver Purchase Act (1890) McKinley Tariff (1890) Redistribution of Indian lands

Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion

A close race, a blunder by a Blaine supporter in NY, the Rev. Samuel D. Burchard, angered Irish Catholics and cost Blaine NY's electoral votes and therefore the election Burchard referred to Democrats as the party of Rum, Romanism and Rebellion , a slap against Irish immigrants who voted Democrat The angry Irish turned out in greater numbers Gave Cleveland a 1,149 vote margin in NY of 1,125,000 votes cast

McKinley

A major in the Civil War He served twelve years in the House of Representatives and was Governor of Ohio when nominated for President As Governor of Ohio, he won the support of labor by advocating arbitration in labor disputes and fines for employers who would not let workers join a union

Bossism

A political boss, heads a well-oiled political machine Maintained power through voter manipulation, corruption and graft Some social services and protections were provided

Election of 1900

A repeat of the 1896 election except that Spanish-American War hero Teddy Roosevelt was added to the ticket as vice-presidential candidate Once again Bryan unsuccessfully attempted to de-throne the Republicans

Andrew Carnegie

Exercised direct control over his company and allowed only close friends and colleagues to be stock holders Used a system of partnerships to integrate a production line, which combined coal and ore mines, limestone quarries, coke ovens, ore-carrying ships, and railroads (Vertical Integration), which allowed him to control costs 1901 - Carnegie sold his holdings to a J.P. Morgan combine for approximately $450 million Morgan created US Steel, the first billion-dollar corporation

Bland Allison Act (1878)

Farmers and Labor groups wanted more money in circulation Results in inflation - higher crop prices and wages After discovery of silver in NV, CO, and UT Western silver interests joined with farmers and laborers to call for bi-metalism and free and unlimited coinage of silver Passed over Hayes' veto Required government to purchase and coin $2-4 mil in silver Secretary of the Treasury had discretionary power Did buy the required silver Did not coin it into money Impact of the Act diluted

The loss of political clout by rural society led to the growth of

Farmers' Alliances The Grange Populist Movement

Unionization

Few effective national union efforts occurred before the Civil War As industry increased and pursued maximized profits, workers were short-changed in benefits and safety Gave rise to the growth of national unions as a tool for collective bargaining against big business and ruthless business tycoons Workers had only one effective tool, the "strike" (lay down one's tools/refuse to work)

Development of Big Railroad Companies

Financed by stock sales and government subsidies of land and low-cost loans Gave away 158,293,377 acres of prime farmland, rich timberland and substantial waterways

Tobacco

First exported American crop - Jamestown 1614 Tobacco returned prosperity to parts of the New South by aggressive advertising, introduced new cigarette-making machines, and exploited new markets James B. Duke formed the American Tobacco Company (1890) which sold ready-rolled cigarettes and introduced coupons to be exchanged for premiums

The Exception

Not every railroad took government subsidies of land James J. Hill built the only transcontinental railroad from the Great Lakes to the Pacific without public lands Great Northern Railroad was economically built, carefully planned, well managed

Pendleton Act 1883

Public reaction to Garfield's assassination forced Congress into civil service reform A Civil Service Commission was created to administer examinations to determine a merit basis for appointees to Federal offices It forbade the levying of political campaign assessments on Federal office holders It called for apportioning appointments among the states according to population It established a limited civil service list that the President expanded as he desired

How structured? What goals?

Pure Unionism Improve members' jobs Wages and Conditions Global/Universal Move beyond the marketplace to effect economic and social changes Workers Comp Unemployment Insurance

Individual Businesses

Railroads Steel Energy Oil Electricity Communications and Entertainment Food Meatpacking Canning and Food Preservation

Cleveland's Problems

Re-nominated by the Democratic Party Cleveland angered many powerful groups TEXAS FARMERS CATTLE RANCHERS THE PRESS

Candidates

Republicans James G. Blaine (ME) Democrats Steven Grover Cleveland (NY) Greenback Labor Party Benjamin Butler

Results

Republicans kept control of both Houses of Congress McKinley received 271 electoral votes Bryan garnered 176 electoral votes

Chester A. Arthur

Roscoe Conkling's chief lieutenant Stalwarts expected him to appoint Stalwarts to office since Conkling made him president Arthur stated, "Conkling made me vice-president, but God made me president" Appointed equal numbers from among supporters of Blaine and Conkling Appointed Collector of the Port of New York Fired by Hayes A Stalwart, added as the Vice Presidential candidate to balance the ticket

Issue

The only major issue was the Tariff Republicans Supported high tariffs Democrats Supported a low tariff for revenue only

Immigration

The rise of American industry attracted immigrants from a number of economically depressed areas of the world Provided big business with cheap unskilled laborers

James A. Garfield

The son of Ohio homesteaders and last of the "log cabin presidents" President of Western Reserve Eclectic Institute (Hiram College) at age 26 Allegedly, he could write Latin with one hand and Greek with the other - simultaneously! He was a Major General in Civil War who resigned in 1863 to become a Republican congressman for 17 years until his election to the presidency in 1880 He was the first left-handed person to be elected President

Frances Folsom

The youngest first lady ever at 21 years

Actions

Dawes Severalty Act Hatch Act funded agricultural experimental stations to be located in most states to study farming techniques, crop diseases, crop uses and abuses in order to reverse the trend of top-soil erosion, the result of poor land management and crude farming methods Interstate Commerce Act Reduced a Treasury surplus by reducing the tariff Department of Agriculture was elevated to a Cabinet level position February 1889 as farming became big business Vice-president Hendricks died on November 1885 and was not replaced

Other Candidates

Democrats nominated Winfield Scott Hancock (PA) Greenback Labor nominated James Weaver (IO)

Redistribution of Indian Land(followed the Dawes Severalty Act)

April 1889 - 2 million acres in Oklahoma was opened to white settlers 1890- 11 million acres in South Dakota was opened to non-Indian settlement

Election of 1884

Arthur angered too many Republicans particularly from his own Stalwart faction Not nominated for President "in his own right" He died in 18 November 1886, of a cerebral hemorrhage Ordered all his personal and official papers burned before his death

Election of 1896

Because the Panic of 1893 had made Cleveland very unpopular, the Republicans again controlled the House Democrats faced a serious challenge

Campaign

Dirtiest in U. S. political history Dishonesty v. Immorality

Steel

In the 1850s, two men, American William Kelly and Englishman Henry Bessemer , independent of each other, developed the open hearth method, which forced a blast of cold air into molten metal removing more carbon impurities With this precise control of carbon removal, cheaper iron ore could be used Plants opened near sources of iron ore and coal in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and Alabama

Chinese Exclusion Act 1882

Congress bowed to the demand from Labor and Farmers

Other Actions

Corrupt Republicans were prosecuted "Pork barrel" legislation was vetoed Secretary of the Navy ordered to build an all steel navy Opened the US Naval War College in 1884 in Newport, RI to provide naval officers with postgraduate training in advanced naval science and warfare, international law, and history Bureau of Labor was created as part of the Dept of the Interior in 1884 The Senate rejected a treaty to build a canal across Nicaragua

Business Became More Important

Agriculture declined Loss of political clout Image of farmer changed Before: yeoman farmers thought of as rugged, independent , salt-of-the-earth After: farmers, no longer considered to be the ideal American, were increasingly thought of as hay seed, rednecks, hicks

Communications

Alexander Graham Bell developed the telephone, using a carbon transmitter which improved voice quality This, plus a switchboard, made the telephone commercially feasible

Mega-Merger

Between 1889-92, J.P. Morgan financed the merger of several interests and competitors with Edison Formed General Electric Company (G E)

John Davison Rockefeller

Brought order and stability to a wasteful and often violent industry Bought and merged 70 companies into Standard Oil of Ohio, the first trust in 1879 Used price wars and ruthless business practices, Rockefeller controlled almost 90% of the nation's refineries He spied on his competitor's to ruin them, demanded and received rebates from railroads Built his own factories and warehouses to eliminate the middleman

Railroads: The First Big Business

By 1900 railroads were valued at just under $10 billion or 1/10 of the nation's wealth with 200,000 miles of track Benefits Created thousands of jobs Led to the growth of other Steel Industry, Communications, Petroleum Opened the west for settlement Accelerated technological advances (Westinghouse airbrake, Pullman sleeping cars, refrigerator car) Led to Improved Communications (Telegraph, Mail) Created a single marketplace One could travel to any part of the US Rates fell as much as 70% from the 1860s

William Jennings Bryan

Called "the Great Commoner" Democrat from Illinois 36-year-old He electrified the convention with his Cross of Gold speech blasting the gold standard in favor of unlimited coinage of silver

Election of 1892

Candidates Republicans in Minneapolis re-nominated Benjamin Harrison for President Democrats in Chicago on the first ballot nominated Grover Cleveland for President Populists in Omaha nominated James B. Weaver

Results

Cleveland 4,911,017 (219 electoral votes) Blaine 4,848,334 (182 electoral votes) Butler 175,370

Results

Cleveland - 5,554,414 (277 electoral) votes Harrison - 5,190,801 (145 electoral) votes Weaver - carried 6 western, Midwestern states 1,027,329 popular (22 electoral) votes

Additional Problems

Cleveland angered the powerful Union veterans' organization, The Grand Army of the Republic (G A R) He appointed former Confederates to Cabinet positions, and suggested that captured Confederate battle flags be returned to their respective states Arrears Pension Act (1879) He investigated each individual claim vetoed any appearance of fraud Dependent Pension Bill (1887) Allowed all honorably discharged veterans with at least 90-days service, who were not able to earn their support or who were dependent on manual labor, to receive a pensionCleveland vetoed it, claiming that it would make the pension list a refuge for fraud, rather than an "honor roll"

Hawaii

Cleveland withdrew a Treaty of Annexation between the US and Hawaii He had sent J.H. Blount to investigate the background of the treaty Blount, from the South, remembered the presence of federal troops during Reconstruction, against Southern wishes and therefore did not believe in forcing persons into a particular position against their wishes He discovered the unorthodox events which led to the treaty and suggested that because native Hawaiians did not support annexation, it should not occur, and Cleveland agreed

Cleveland's "Indiscretion"

Cleveland, while mayor of Buffalo NY, was linked to the illegitimate son of a widow He did not deny his relationship with the woman Several men had known her company, but Cleveland, the only bachelor, provided child support Republicans opponents countered with the slogan "Ma Ma Where's My Pa?" (After the election, "Gone to Washington, ha, ha, ha!")

Cleveland

Former mayor of Buffalo and governor of New York 49-year-old reform-minded bachelor Supported the principle of laissez faire (French for "allow them to do"), which meant that the government should not interfere with business

Theodore Roosevelt

Forty-three when sworn in, he was the youngest president ever Jogged around the Washington Monument daily First president to ride in an airplane First to ride in a submarine First sitting President to travel outside the U.S.

Result

G A R support for Harrison plus the outcome in NY gave Harrison 233 electoral votes to 168 for Cleveland, although Cleveland had a plurality of 100,000 popular votes (5,540,050 to 5,444,337)

Coxey's Army

In April 1894, Ohio businessman Jacob S. Coxey led a march on Washington of about 500 unemployed workers Known as Coxey's Army, they demanded relief and a federal "works" program The move ended with the arrest of the leaders

William McKinley

Governor of Ohio was Republican candidate for President Many regarded him as a puppet of business kingpin Marcus Alonzo Hanna, his campaign manager

Benjamin Harrison

Grandson of 9th President, William Henry Harrison Civil War Union General Governor of Indiana U.S. Senator Aided Garfield's campaign His wife Carrie oversaw a major renovation of the White House, which included installing the first electric lights, and having the first White House Christmas tree

Election of 1880

Hayes promised not to run again Republicans split Stalwarts led by Conkling Nominated U. S. Grant Halfbreeds led by James G. Blaine Nominated James A. Garfield (OH), but added Chester A. Arthur (NY), Conkling's lieutenant, as VP candidate to appease Stalwarts

James G. Blaine

Hayes' Secretary of State who previously served in both the House and Senate led the Halfbreeds

The Elder Philanthropic Rockefeller

He gave $550 million to the University of Chicago and four Rockefeller foundations

Another Approach

His chief competitor, George Westinghouse, developed alternating current in 1886, with his Westinghouse Electric Company Eventually adopted as the "standard" household current

Urbanization

Immigrants flocked to northern cities, giving a sense of uncontrolled growth Chicago's population in 1860 was 100,000, but by 1900 it was 1 million Cities developed ethnic communities (ghettos) Led to poor, inadequate housing Slums appeared as areas deteriorated Social services, health care, and sanitation were overwhelmed All of which led to political corruption

Expansion

In 1880 - 50,000 phones were in the US By 1890 - 250,000 phones By 1900 - 800,000 phones 1885 - Bell and Associates consolidated over 100 companies to form the American Telegraph and Telephone Company (A T & T), a communications giant by 1900

Mulligan Letter

In the published Mulligan letters Blaine was linked to the Credit Mobilier scandal He was investigated by the House of Representatives in 1876 and charged with illegally using his influence In one letter, Blaine requested a friend to reply, which disavowed that he had any part in the railroad scandal The missive ended with "Burn this letter!" but the letter survived Democratic opponents shouted the slogan "Burn Burn Burn this letter!"

Rise of Big Business

No section of the US in the last quarter of the 19th-century was immune from the impact of railroads, growth of factories, development of new technology, influx of immigrants and rapid rise of industrialization Northeastern US was most affected

Growth Factors

Northern industry expanded to meet the demands of the Civil War A steady influx of immigrants supplied cheap labor A pro-Business Republican party held the Presidency for all but 8 years (1865 - 1900), providing higher tariffs on imported foreign goods New markets in Latin America, Canada and Asia increased US manufactured exports Politicians lost clout caused by Civil Service reform, led to a search for other supporters to regain that influence, leading the party which dominated the White House and many times both houses of Congress, the Republicans, to support Big Business

Sherman Silver Purchase Act

July 14, 1890 Western interests in Congress, in return for support for the McKinley tariff, secured Northeastern support for this bill It promoted the free coinage of silver by requiring the government to purchase 4.5 million ounces of silver per month at current market prices and to mint coins

Sherman Anti-Trust Act

July 2, 1890 Congress passed a law aimed at monopolistic trusts by declaring illegal trusts as in restraint of trade or commerce It was greatly weakened by ambiguous language, that allowed it to be applied to unions NJ permitted holding companies to be legally chartered in the state, which allowed trusts to circumvent this anti-trust legislation

Early Questions

Labor unions divided over what approach to take Who should be included? How should unions be structured? What are the goals?

Carnegie Turned to Philanthropy

Like Rockefeller, he believed in the "Stewardship of Wealth" His essay in 1889, "Gospel of Wealth" -- a concentration of wealth was needed if humanity were to progress, but the rich were obligated to use their wealth for public benefit He disposed of $350 to $400 million before his death Endowed libraries, built public buildings, and established foundations

"Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt

Made an earlier fortune in steamboats NY Central System which controlled northeastern transportation and Western Union between Chicago and NY He built no new lines, but acquired controlling interest in rundown railroads, combined and sold them as a package

Election of 1888

Major Candidates Republicans Benjamin Harrison (IN) Democrats Cleveland re-nominated

Republicans

McKinley never left his front-porch at home in Canton Ohio Republicans had a war chest of $16 million Successfully painted Bryan as an anarchist and a dangerous revolutionary

Earlier Immigration

Most immigrants came from northern and western Europe Similar culture, language, religion, look to those already here Easier to assimilate or blend in

Reaction of Native-Born Americans

Nativism Offspring of earlier immigrants argued their "superiority" Anglo - Centric Society Increased immigration led to friction with "older" Americans (mostly from British Isles) WASPs White Anglo-Saxon Protestants saw their institutions ethnically, culturally, legally linked with Britain Other kinds of immigrants were seen as inferior, a threat to the "American" way of life

Employers' Options

Shut-down or lock-out Use of strike-breakers A private militia to bully picketers (Pinkerton's Detectives- "Eye That Never Sleeps" - were often a private militia for business) "Yellow-dog contracts" - when hired, workers forced to promise not to join a union, will be fired if they do Court injunctions - usually favored business owners, citing the strike as an illegal restraint of trade, forcing workers to return to work or face fail and/or fines

Who

Skilled only or unskilled too? Immigrants and southern Blacks? Unions usually fostered anti-immigrant, anti-black sentiments Blacks were often strikebreakers Immigrants were often reluctant to be organized willing to work longer hours for less pay to get established in their new country Women? Pressure to include women in all-inclusive unions Prevailing social attitude of the Victorian Age, the "Cult of Domesticity" pressured unions to exclude them

...

Southern economy remained agricultural with many tenant farmers Industry in the South was discriminated against by the railroads whose shipping rates favored Northeastern industrial interests Cotton mills were built in the South near raw materials Northern investment capital was used Southern labor remained cheap and non-unionized, which kept wages low and labor dependent Mill-dominated towns emerged, often managed by northerners who ran the mills, while profits flowed northward

Republican Trouble

Stalwarts Conklingites who staunchly supported the party Halfbreeds Led by Blaine, strongly supported civil service reform, but remained supporters of the Republican party Mugwumps Bolted the party and as Liberal Republicans, agreed to support the Democratic candidate, if sufficiently liberal

Murchison Letter

Supposedly written by British-born Charles Murchison to the British ambassador to the US, the letter was printed in Republican papers The letter asked who he should vote for in the interests of Great Britain Publication of the letter's response, which indicated a vote for Cleveland was best for Britain, angered Irish voters, giving NY to Harrison by 14,000 votes The letter was actually written by California Republican George Osgood

Canning and Food Preservation

The Union army required huge quantities of canned goods which greatly enhanced the growth of this industry Gail Borden opened a condensed milk factory in NY in 1861 By 1900, A.J. Heinz and others became widely accepted as good canners

Results

The campaign was uninspiring No Surprises Garfield - 214 electoral votes Hancock - 155

Mechanisms

The expanded use of technology An expanded means of transportation Development of better communication Standardized time developed

McKinley Tariff (1890)

The highest peacetime tariff with an average of 48.4% Its author, Rep. William McKinley of Ohio, was defeated for reelection

Campaign

The major issue was the tariff Cleveland's affair in Buffalo resurfaced and the press also was interested in his marriage to Frances Folsom, but the campaign was not nearly as dirty as in 1884

Democrats

This election pitted debtor against creditor, West and South against the East, silver backers against gold backers and farmers against industrialists Bryan campaigned vigorously, in 14 weeks traveled to 29 states, covered 13,000 miles, and made 600 speeches. Democrats had $1 million

Problems

This system encouraged corruption as construction companies inflated prices Entrepreneurs built new lines recklessly into unproductive areas Eventually plagued by mismanagement Many lines swallowed up and consolidated

Meatpacking

Three phases of the meatpacking industry Slaughtering - PackingStorage - DistributionByproducts

Railroad Abuses

Where competition existed, rates were competitive Where service was provided by one carrier only, maximum rates would be charged creating the condition where, in many cases, a short haul cost more to ship than a long haul Deception and fraud were the rule of the day because unpublished rates were often used which favored larger shippers with rebates Quickly the railroads became the enemy of the farmer who constantly clamored for the federal government to regulate and eventually to own the railroads

Assassination!

While attending the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York on September 6, 1901, McKinley was shot by Leon Czolgosz, a Republican-turned-anarchist Aged 58, he died of blood poisoning from his infected wounds, at 2:15 a.m. on Saturday, September 14, 1901 It has been suggested that had the surgical treatment he received been better and cleaner he might have survived his injuries

Industrialization

Widespread use of corporations Birth of Big Business Investors had limited liability Allowed diverse kinds of business activity

Tariff and Other Issues

Wilson-Gorman Tariff (1894) only slightly reduced it from an average of 48.4% to 41.3% It replaced any lost revenue with a 2% tax on incomes over $4000 The income tax was declared unconstitutional in 1895

Electricity

With the development of a cheap, long-life, incandescent bulb, Thomas Alva Edison He formed the Edison Company, opening his first commercial electric station in NY City in 1882, using direct current, low voltage electricity