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Urbanization
Problems
Loss of freedom–emphasis on increased production
Loss of identity–wide gap between big bosses and workers
Long hours/low wages–12 hours a day, six or seven days a week, $3–12
a week
Dangerous working conditions
Child labor–forced to give up school and chance of a better life
Lack of good housing–most lived in tenements which were extremely
crowded
Transportation–solved by subways and trolley cars
Sanitation
Crime
Fires
de facto segregation
Immigration
Jobs and opportunities drew huge numbers from 1880-1915
Came from southern and eastern Europe rather than northern Europe
Melting pot v. Mixed salad
Many Americans resented immigrants
Cultural differences
Prejudice against Catholics
Threat to jobs
Racism
Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
Suspended immigration for ten years
In 1892 it was suspended another ten years
In 1902 it was suspended indefinitely
Rise of the political machine
City governments were not very efficient due to various problems and the
sudden influx of immigrants
Political machines developed in part to fill this void
Dominated by a political boss, a political machine was a well organized
group that controlled all of the political activities of a political party in
a large area
Provided services to the general population in exchange for votes
Provided favorable treatment from government officials for businesses in
exchange for money
Concentrated heavily on immigrants because they were the most vulnerable
and most in the need of help
Padded voting lists
Kickbacks
Municipal graft
The Labor Movement began
First major strike was in 1877 against the railroads
Workers all over the country struck
Federal government restored order and broke the strike
Knights of Labor
Formed in 1869
Supported 8 hour workday
Opposed child labor
Supported health and safety laws
Supported equal pay for equal work for men and women
Preferred political activity rather than strikes
American Federation of Labor(AFL)
Founded in 1881 by Samuel Gompers
Less political than Knights of Labor
Wanted shorter hours, higher pay, and better working conditions
Used collective bargaining and strikes when necessary
Craft Unionism
Only included skilled workers
Industrial Unionism
Organized workers, skilled or unskilled, who worked in the same industry
American Railway Union
Formed by Eugene Debs who ran for president in 1900, 1904, 1908, 1912,
1920 as a Socialist
Received the most votes in 1920 while in prison
Government sided with management and issued injunctions to prevent strikes
Rutherford B. Hayes and civil reform
Hayes wanted to eliminate patronage(spoils system) and corruption, both of
which were essential to political machines
Caused a split in the Republican Party
Stalwarts were against reform
Election of 1880
Republicans nominated a reformer, James Garfield, for president and a
stalwart, Chester A. Arthur, for vice president
Democrats nominated Winfield Scott Hancock
Garfield won but was shot by a stalwart the year he took office
Chester A. Arthur became president and changed to a reformer
Pendleton Act of 1883 created a civil service exam for all classified
positions and gave the president the power to expand the list of classified
positions
Merit system
Today 85% of federal jobs are classified
Election of 1884
Grover Cleveland
First Democrat since 1856
Defeated Republican James Blaine
Reformer
Laissez faire
Low tariffs
Election of 1888
Benjamin Harrison
Grandson of William Henry Harrison
Republican
Won electoral but not popular against Cleveland
Election of 1892
Cleveland defeated Harrison
First and only to serve non-consecutive terms
Issue was tariffs
Rise and Fall of Populism
Arose out of the granger movement and wanted cheap money(inflation) because
there was deflation after the war and farmers could not pay back their loans
Populist platform
Bimetallism
Graduated federal income tax
Government ownership and operation of railroads, telegraph, and
telephones
Direct election of senators
Single term for the president
Secret ballot
Initiative
Recall
Referendum
Wanted to incorporate the labor movement
Did very well in the elections of 1892 and 1894
Incorporated by the Democrats in 1896
Election of 1896
William McKinley
Republican
William Jennings Bryan
Nominated by Democrats and Populists
Cross of Gold Speech
Very close and sectional
Gold standard(Republicans) v. Bimetallism(Democrats and Populists)
McKinley won
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