Politics Immigration Womens Reform Politics Laissez Faire Means

Politics, Immigration, Women’s Reform

Politics • Laissez Faire – Means “Hands Off” – Government stayed out of business • Pendleton Civil Service Act ended the Spoils System

Immigration issues • Chinese exclusion Act of 1882 – Limited the number of Chinese accepted into the U. S. – Was pushed by unions that felt threatened by cheap Chinese labor, mainly on the rail roads. – Banned entry except for students, teachers, merchants, tourists, govt. officials

• Ellis Island – Home of the Statue of Liberty – Port of entry for a majority of immigrants who came to the U. S. • Angel Island – Entry for Asian immigrants – San Francisco region

Urban Life • Cities grew as people left the farm to find work – – – – Tenements Low cost housing Designed to hold many families Poor living conditions Dirty, cramped quarters Fire was a constant danger Contagious diseases passed easily • Ghettos – Dominated by Racial/Ethnic groups – Greatly accepted as people desired less contact with immigrants • Alcohol – Added to poverty and crime – Temperance movement continued to grow strong

Urbanization of Immigrants • Irish settlements • a. Boston • b. New York City • c. Philadelphia • Polish • a. Chicago: more here than is Warsaw (Poland’s capital) • seeking opportunities and jobs.

Political Machines

• * an organized group that controlled the activities of a political party in a city and offered services to voters and businesses in exchange for political or financial support. • ** Mostly in large cities such as: Baltimore, New York, Boston, and San Francisco • People would receive jobs, contracts, or political appointments

Political Bosses • 1. controlled the top of the political machine • 2. controlled municipal jobs • a. fire dept. • b. police dept. • c. sanitation department • d. inspections • e. influence in courts • f. business license

Immigrants and the political machine • 1. Immigrants would become loyal supporters • 2. 1 st and 2 nd generation immigrants made up most of the Bosses • 3. Helped Immigrants became NATURALIZED and find a place to get a job.

Tweed Ring Scandal • William Marcy Tweed • 1. head of Tammany Hall: NY’s powerful Democratic political machine • 2. lead a group of politicians • 3. pocketed as much as $200 million from city kickbacks and payoffs

Gilded Age Politics

Reform and Political Corruption • Civil Service • 1. press for federal merit system to replace spoils system • 2. govt. administration would go to the most qualified to do the job right and with ethics

Hayes launches reform • A. 1876 Election • B. President Rutherford B. Hayes • 1. “Now is the time for reform” • 2. began naming independents to his cabinet • 3. investigates customs commissions and fires 2 top officials in New York • 4. most are working for Republicans

Garfield continues reform • A. Hayes does not run for re -election in 1880 • B. Republicans choose James A. Garfield • 1. nominates Chester A. Arthur as VP (fired by Hayes) • 2. Garfield gave reform Republicans most of the patronage jobs when elected. • 3. July 2, 1881 Pres. Garfield was assassinated by Charles Guiteau in a train stations, so Arthur would be President.

Arthur turns reformer • A. Became a reformer when he was not originally • B. Pendelton Act of 1883 • 1. Govt. jobs will be based on merit • 2. increased federal jobs • 3. officials no longer could pressure govt. employees • 4. honest and efficient

Grover Cleveland • A. 1884 Democrat President • B. 1888 ran for re-election against ( R ) Benjamin Harrison • C. lost electoral votes • D. ran again in 1892 and won, 1 st President to win/serve 2 nonconsecutive terms • E. 1897, William Mc. Kinley is elected President and raised tariffs.

Women’s Reform

Women’s clubs • - by 1910 800, 000 women are in clubs • - discussed: literature, child raising, temperance, child labor, suffrage • A. Education • 1. Vasser College, Smith and Wellesley College, what will be Florida State. • 2. Some Universities would not allow women, but opened up “sister” schools

• B. Voting Rights • 1. Susan B. Anthony: leader in women’s suffrage • 2. NAWSA (National American Women Suffrage Association) • **3 part strategy a. convince state legislatures b. courts= test the 14 th • c. push for constitutional amendment • * all failed but created question and an open door for more reform