Chapter 8 Reform Movements: “It Happens First in Kansas”

The Gilded Age Industrialization Began in late 1800’s Only benefited a few The Rich are getting richer and throwing their money around. No Income or inheritance tax yet. “Gilded Age” Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner Novel Was a satire about materialism and corruption of the time. "What is the chief end of man?--to get rich. In what way?-- dishonestly if we can; honestly if we must." -- Mark Twain-1871

The Gilded Age Cont. U.S. senators elected by state legislatures. One character from “The Gilded Age” was modeled after U.S. Senator from KS Sen. Samuel Pomeroy Pomeroy was accused of bribery and corruption, losing his reelection bid. The other U.S. Senator from KS Caldwell resigned after similar accusations.

Tough Times for Many Only 5% of American families controlled most of the nations wealth. Average yearly earnings of most Americans fell below the poverty line. 1870’s: U.S. depression Railroads were all over the country and could not be supported Europe had economic troubles which reach the U.S. Banks demanded loans be repaid Investors sold stocks Banks closed, thousands lost their jobs, and many railroads failed.

Kansas and Reform Movements “When anything is going to happen in this country, it happens first in Kansas”—William Allen White, Emporia Gazette Reformers- Want to solve problems and make things better. KS has been a leader of Reform Movements Abolitionists who came to the Kansas Territory Women’s Rights Prohibitionists Populist movement to reform government policies.

Prohibition Alcohol abuse became a major concern during the Gilded Age Primarily women took up the fight to end alcohol abuse Some wanted temperance, others end to alcohol sales in public place, and others who wanted KS to be a “dry” state All were trying to preserve families and create a respectable society Solution: State made it a local decision

Prohibition: Amending the State Constitution 1870’s John St. John (R) elected governor (Quote p.165) State legislature followed his lead and but prohibition to a public vote Prohibition passed (1 st state, 38 yrs before U.S.) Women’s temperance groups started the Prohibition Party. Gov. John St. John ran for President under the new party ticket and lost.

Prohibition: Carry A. Nation and the Enforcement of Prohibition Enforcing Prohibition was difficult Alcohol was still allowed medicinally and people continued to make and use in their home. Saloons continued to ignore the law paid a monthly fee of $100. Carry Nation Medicine Lodge Lecturer against tobacco and alcohol Motivated by religious beliefs she began smashing saloons using a hatchet.

Women’s Suffrage: The Fight for Universal Suffrage 6 yrs after KS became a state Kansas began the discussion of universal suffrage in KS. Nationally known suffragists Susan B. Anthony Elizabeth Cady Stanton Lucy Stone All came to KS fighting for women's rights They gave lectures and participated in local discussions Universal suffrage failed in KS a few years later the 15 th Amendment was passed.

Municipal Suffrage Municipal suffrage: right to vote in city elections only. For: women were as intelligent as men Against: politics was no place for a woman After 2 years legislation for municipal suffrage passed. KS was the 1 st state to give women the right to vote in municipal elections

How Did Women Voters Change Kansas Politics Effects of Women’s suffrage Electioneering pushed back 100 ft. from the polling location. (still used today) Moral issues became for relevant Groups such as Woman’s Christian Temperance Union formed Could run for city office Susan Salter (Argonia)- 1 st female mayor in US

The Campaign for Full Suffrage: A Civics Lesson Women were not happy only being able to vote in municipal elections. Contacted every member of the state legislature. Had the amendment signed by the Governor, and only needed the men of the state to vote for it. Many road blocks Finance- sold balloons “Votes for Mother” Awareness- gained endorsements, literature, children essay contests, ect. 7 th State to grant women full suffrage

Populism: “In God We Trusted, In Kansas We Busted” Populism National movement associated with farmers During difficult economic times People’s Party Most successful third-party political movement in U.S. history Farmers frustrated with the distribution of wealth saw corruption and wanted change.

Populism: “In God We Trusted, In Kansas We Busted” Cont. Farmers were going into debt. Industrial Era farm equipment cut labor costs and allowed farmers to plant more crops The down side is that farm equipment was expensive and many farmers were suffering from hard economic times. Also now farmers produced more crops then the market needed. (surplus=falling prices)

Populism: “In God We Trusted, In Kansas We Busted” Cont. 1880’s-1890’s KS experienced a drought Over 11,000 KS farms faced foreclosure Many people up and left the state In western KS life was even more difficult as the drought caused loss of food and fuel

The People’s Party Platform Populism broke down to 1 questions: Who should the government represent, the workers or big business? Farmers were particularly angry with the railroads Charging too much to transport crops Banks High interest rates The changes proposed by the People’s Party can be found on p.173

The People’s Party

Populist players in Kansas 1890 Election saw many elected from the People’s Party in KS 92 legislators 5 of 7 congressional seats Republicans still had more state wide power but began to be friendlier to Populist idea’s “Sockless Jerry” Medicine Lodge Accused his opponents of having silk socks (sign of wealth)

Populist players in Kansas Cont. William Peffer- 1 st U.S. senator for the Populist party He was so important to the Populist movement that sometimes populism was called Pefferism Believed: Public functions should be done by government agents Government should serve all not the few 1892 election was even better for the Populists Took ½ the congressional seats Governor and other elected officials were Populists

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Legislative War In the House election results were being questioned still when the legislative session started in Republicans and Populists set up separate houses and elected their own officials meaning we had two groups acting like the majority They had to share the same space and it was chaos. Populist Governor and Senate declared the Populist house the official one but Republicans refused to leave.

Stand-off Each party tried to assert their authority until the Republican refused to leave the house chamber Populists strategy was to starve them out turning off all utilities Eventually came before the state Supreme Court (3 justices) 2 were Republican Voted in favor of the Republicans Last remaining Populists joined the Republicans

“What’s the Matter with Kansas” William Allen White Owner and editor of Emporia Gazette Republican Did not like the Peoples Part and wrote “What’s the Matter with Kansas” about it. Felt it was wrong for states to ignore the needs of businesses Later in life he began to take some Populist Ideas Peoples party decline “What the Matter with KS” Democrats pulled support Internal disagreements

Socialism: Appeal to Reason Socialist wanted to see he wealth of the country distributed throughout all economic classes. Wanted more government control Appeal to Reason- Leading socialist newspaper Published in KS by Julius A. Wayland Also started a utopian colony Was a newspaper man for many years ½ a million readers Many famous contributors: Helen Keller, Jack London, Upton Sinclair, ect. Socialist Changes proposed on p.181