The Gilded Age

New Immigration Patterns Before 1870--most immigrants came from W. Europe (German, Irish) and most were Protestant After 1870--immigrants came from Southern and Eastern Europe and Asia. Most were Catholic. These new immigrants worshipped in orthodox churches & synagogues. Most were poor, illiterate and unfamiliar with democracy.

Reaction to New Immigrants Nativists-- groups of former immigrants who tried to prevent new immigrants from coming to the USA. Ex: passing laws that restricted immigration policies. Political bosses offered immigrants protection for a price. Jane Addams and social reform: founded Hull Houses in every major city. A place for shelter, English classes, and recreation.

“Looking Backwards” Joseph Keppler (1893)

New Morality Family--practicing birth control, women working. Feminism and Suffrage--Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Francis Willard, and Susan B. Anthony fought for women’s rights. Women’s Christian Temperance Organization- Goal: to outlaw alcohol. Carrie Nation broke up bars to further the cause.

Native Americans Relations are characterized by the struggle over land. Railroad cut across N.A.’s buffalo and burial land. Reservation Policy-- Native Americans are forced to live on specific portions of land chosen by the government. Government breaks treaties with them. (Ex: Treaty of Laramie--Sioux and the Black Hills)

The Dawes Act 1887 Native Americans are given land to farm. They are forced to assimilate--speak English and become Americanized. This destroyed Native American culture.

The Farming Industry Homestead Act 1862: gave free land to farmers. Hardships on the Plains: Farmers dealt with drought, lightening strikes that burnt crops, locusts plagues, and dirty sod homes. Cycle of Debt: Bank lends money to farmer to buy his machinery. If the crop was destroyed the bank still called in the debt. If production increased too much, the farmer’s profit would decrease.

A North Dakota Sod House

Farmers and the Railroad No competition-only one railroad line. The Railroad would: Change rates without informing farmers in advance. Charge different rates depending on the distance of travel. Short-hauls cost more than long-hauls. RR’s got away with this because the government had a Laissez faire attitude towards business. (pro-business and anti-farmer.)

Attempted Solutions to the Farm Problems Farmers must work together-- turned to politics and started Grange organizations to come up with regulatory laws. Wanted currency to be in green-backs or silver instead of gold. (William Jennings Bryan=spokesman for free silver). Co-operatives: eliminates the middle man. Buy and sell together to reduce prices. Made shared purchases of supplies etc.

More Solutions: Grange Laws: created to help regulate the railroads until the Wabash case limited states’ abilities to regulate interstate trade. The Populist Party- a third party drawing membership from farmers and laborers. Lasted from 1891-1904.

The Populist Platform Free and unlimited coinage of silver and gold at the ratio of 16oz to 1 oz. Graduated income tax Government ownership of railroads (socialistic) 8 hour work day for laborers Direct election of US Senators. Direct legislation by the people through initiative and referendum.

The Wizard of Oz Written by Frank Baum,a supporter of the Populist party and presidential candidate Bryan. Most things in the book represent something important to the populist movement.

What do these things represent in Populism? Silver (ruby) slippers Emerald City Yellow Brick Road Land of OZ Dorothy The Wizard Scarecrow Tinman Cowardly Lion Munchkins Wicked Witch of the East Wicked Witch of the West

Dorothy: Represents everyman. She is an innocent Midwest girl who is able to see what is really going on in Oz.

Wicked Witch of the East Represents eastern financial and industrial interests--like Wall Street.

Munchkins: Represent the common people, controlled by the Wicked Witch of the East (who represented the Eastern Industrialists and Bankers).

Yellow Brick Road Is a symbol for the gold standard that leads them to the capital.

Scarecrow: Represents the wise but naïve western farmer, taken advantage of by the industrialists and bankers.

Tinman: Represents the Populist and Marxist idea of the alienation of the industrial worker. He once was an independent artisan but is now just a cog in a giant machine.

Cowardly Lion: Represents William Jennings Bryan, a great orator but unsuccessful politician.

Emerald City The national capital--Washington D.C.

The Wizard Represents any Gilded Age President. Symbolized the American criterion for leadership-must be everything to everybody.

Wicked Witch of the West: Represents the Western industrial influence. Is ultimately destroyed by water (representing the power of nature)

Silver (ruby) Slippers In the book Dorothy’s slippers are silver. They represent the saving power of the silver standard.

"Your Silver Shoes will carry you over the desert "Your Silver Shoes will carry you over the desert.....If you had known their power you could have gone back to your Aunt Em the very first day you came to this country.". Glinda explains, "All you have to do is knock the heels together three times and command the shoes to carry you wherever you wish to go." (p.257).

The Land of Oz Oz is the abbreviation for the measurement term ounce. Populists wanted 16 oz. of silver for every 1 oz. of gold