Transcript Reform movements of the Gilded Age

Reform movements of the
Gilded Age
Things going on:
• Reconstruction in the South: ended with the
Compromise of 1877
• Child Labor and unsafe working conditions
in factories: ended through the work of unions
• Panic of 1893
• Huge amounts of debt, particularly with farmers:
fought by Populism
• Robber barons: fought with legislature such as
the Sherman Antitrust Act
• Westward Movement has affected Native
Americans: Dawes Act
Reconstruction
• Attempting to rebuild the infrastructure of the
Southern United States after the Civil War
• US government began the Freedman’s Bureau
• 13, 14 and 15th Amendments were supported by
the Republicans. Groups like the KKK attempted
to end these rights.
• Ended by an unwritten deal that allowed for the
removal of troops from the South and appointed
a Southern Democrat to the Presidential
Candidate
Child Labor
• Child labor was supported by
ideas such as Social
Darwinism and the Gospel of
Wealth.
• Children were a cheaper work
force than grown immigrants.
• Many children were injured or
suffered serious health effects
due to working in the
factories.
• Children often worked 12-14
hour days for as little as six
dollars a week.
• Groups such as the “Short
Time Committees” and
various unions worked to
guarantee shorter working
days and higher pay.
Panic of 1893
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A serious economic
depression in the United
States
Trying to keep up with the
industrialization of America,
rail roads were quickly built
and eventually, overbuilt.
Mines were also opened and
precious metals flooded the
market place, driving down
values (inflation!!!!)
Large strikes such as the
Pullman Strike were
enacted, hurting the
economy.
Many farmers were greatly in
debt because of the inflation
and could not raise the
money to pay off their farms.
They began joining the
Populism movement and
advocating for free silver!
Populism
• Causes: new inventions
introduced which hurt smaller
farmers, lack of competition among
railroads (trusts and monopolies!),
money is in short supply
• Effects: prices of farms decline,
farmers’ earnings decrease, banks
stop lending money
• Farmer’s Revolt: the creation of
the Populist party, a party that
claimed that it would fight for the
“people of America”, also called the
“People’s Party”. This group
blamed the Northeastern
businesses for their problems.
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Populism on many levels
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Locally, the Populist party was
known as the Grange. This group
helped farmers work together to
keep prices level and pressured
government to make decisions to
help farmers.
On a slightly more national level,
Populism was known as the
Farmer’s Alliance. They fought for
political actions on a national
level and supported women’s
rights.
On a truly national level, the
Populists supported a
Presidential candidate and called
for a switch to the silver standard.
Free silver
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Silverites (usually farmers) wanted to
increase the money supply. Due to
inflation, the value of each dollar would
drop but prices would rise. This would
also allow for farmers to pay back their
debts more easily (Why?)
This movement to change monetary
policy would really hurt bankers.
Gold bugs fought against the call for
free silver so that each dollar would
buy more goods. The rest of the world
is also on the gold standard (Who
would fight for this?)
The United States was on the
bimetallic (gold and silver) standard
until 1873, when the US switched to
the gold standard.
• In 1892, William
Jennings Bryan
ran for president
as the Populist
candidate.
• He would run two
other times. He
never won.
• Known for the
“Cross of Gold”
speech.
Cross of Gold Speech: William
Jennings Bryan
• "Having behind us the producing masses
of this nation and the world, supported by
the commercial interests, the laboring
interests and the toilers everywhere, we
will answer their demand for a gold
standard by saying to them: You shall not
press down upon the brow of labor this
crown of thorns, you shall not crucify
mankind upon a cross of gold."
American Indians
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Western United States quickly being
changed by the expansion of the
transcontinental railroad.
Ranching starts in states such as Texas,
Montana and Colorado due to a call for
beef through the United States.
Ranchers often drive cattle from
Southern states to meatpacking areas
such as Chicago.
Ranchers close of huge sections of land
using barbed wire. This greatly hurts any
of the remaining Native Americans.
The Dawes Act was passed to legally
decide how Native Americans would be
given land.
Indian Schools were started through out
the United States.