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 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 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 Democrat President B 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 McKinley is elected President and raised tariffs.

Women’s Reform

Women’s clubs - by ,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