AMERICAN FREEDOM AT HOME AND

ABROADC H A P T E R 1 7

HOMESTEAD STRIKE• 1892 Homestead PA Carnegie Steel Plant.

• Frick/Carnegie want to break a union- fire everyone and say they are going to be non-union from now on - announce they are cutting worker’s pay by 20%- workers go on strike.

• Workers surround factory- refuse to let strikebreakers enter- Frick calls in 300 Pinkertons to force workers away- 7 killed, 150 wounded.

• PA Gov calls in state militia of 8000 troops

to support Pinkertons (they just observe)

• Strikers arrested on charges of disturbing

the peace and restricting trade- 167 go to

jail.

• Shows power of owners, and gov’t support

of business – but it also won workers

(and unions) widespread sympathy

PANIC OF 1893

• Worst financial crisis of 1800s, and the 1st depression of the new industrial age.

• 20% unemployment, 8000 businesses go bankrupt.

• Sparked by a collapse in the stock market, long term causes were overbuilding of RR and speculation in stocks.

• Persuades many to give up laissez faire, people are looking for gov’t intervention

THE POPULIST CHALLENGETHE FARMER’S REVOLT

• Farmers didn’t need the panic to persuade them, they had been asking for gov’t help for some time.

• While farmers had influence in many agricultural states, those states had smaller populations, and farmers were losing national influence.

• In both the south and the west, the cycle of debt created huge burdens, and more and more farmers became motivated to seek political influence by attempting to break the hold of industry on the government

FARMER’S ALLIANCES• Similar to the Grange, it began with educational and

social goals, centered in the South (though will spread to 43 states)

• Main complaint was that farmers struggle with cashflow during much of the year- and are at mercy of RR

• Wanted Subtreasury Plan which would loan farmers up to 80% of the value of their crops until harvest, and for the gov’t to run grain storage, not RR

THE PEOPLE’S PARTY (POPULISTS)• Farmer’s Alliance decided they needed a national party

to fight for their rights. Created Populist party in 1891- became a major factor in South and West

• Wanted to expand beyond farmers to all “producers” (industrial workers too) saying “Eastern Establishment” of RR, Banking and Industry were exploitive

• Last great expression of TJ’s vision of America as a nation of independent producers. Not anti- technology –but wanted gov’t regulation to make sure they were regulated in the public interest

THE POPULIST PLATFORM• Populist Platform 1892 asked for:

– Unlimited coinage of silver at a ratio of 16:1 to create inflation

– A graduated income tax to redistribute wealth.

– Government ownership of RR, telephone and telegraph

– Initiative, Referendum, and Recall on federal as well as local ballots

– Postal savings banks run by the gov’t.

– Direct election of senators

– An 8 hours workday.

THE POPULIST COALITION• There were some efforts to join Black and White

farmers together under Populism, but the ever prevalent racism of the era made it difficult. Black Farmers create Colored Farmer’s alliance, but (those who CAN vote) generally refuse to abandon the party of Lincoln.

• Populism also popular with women (reform!) and western states were the 1st to offer women the vote. (Wyoming 1869, Utah 1870, Colorado 1893, Idaho 1896)

• Populists nominated James B Weaver for President in 1892. Carried 4 states (very rare for a 3rd party) – had 9% of popular vote

THE GOVERNMENT AND LABOR• Government and Industry were BFFs, and employers

had no problem asking for support to put down what they thought of as “threats to public order”.

• Coxey’s Army: band of unemployed (led by Jacob Coxey) who marched on Washington asking for government relief. Dispersed by Army.

PULLMAN STRIKE 1894

• Pullman cars were sleeper cars. Built in a Company Town outside Chicago. 1892 owners cut wages 25% in response to homestead strike- but kept company rents etc.. So the workers strike- and encourage ALL RR workers in US to support them.

• RR workers refuse to work on any train with a pullman car- so pullman owners attach cars to ALL trains- including mail trains…which brings in the Federal government. Pres. Cleveland gets courts involved- and breaks strike.

• In Re Debs: Eugene Debs (pres of union) jailed for violating court order to end strike. Supreme Court upholds- supporting industry over labor.

POPULISM AND LABOR• Populists made efforts to reach out to industrial workers

in congressional elections of 1894 – but two of their prime ideas, subtreasury plan and lower interest rates, weren’t really issues that resonated in urban areas- they would make food cost more, and wages worth less….

• Plus- the strongly protestant “morality” of many populist speeches didn’t work for Catholic immigrant laborers

• Urban workers shift to Republican party, thinking a high tariff would help restore prosperity – leading to a congressional landslide (gain 117 seats in house!)

BRYAN AND FREE SILVER• William Jennings Bryan ( a Dem from NB with significant

populist though) was a 36 year old congressman running for president in 1896 – became spokesman for an idea of abandoning gold standard.

• If we base $$ on silver, not gold, we can have more, which will create inflation, (which is good for farmers),and those in debt would be able to get clear b/c $$ would be “cheaper”.

• For populists, silver represented the idea of a return to power of ordinary people, not the super-rich.

CROSS OF GOLD SPEECH• Given at Democratic national convention

• “It is the issue of 1776 over again. Our

ancestors, had the courage to declare their

political independence of every other

nation; shall we, their descendants, declare

that we are less independent than our forefathers? No, my friends, that will never be the verdict of our people. Therefore, we care not upon what lines the battle is fought. 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”

ELECTION OF 1896• Democratic and populists together supported Bryan.

He went on national speaking tour to promote. Republicans nominated William McKinley of OH (who had created the highest tariff in history as congressman – McKinley tariff 48%) who said gold was the only “honest” currency, and refused to travel and speak (Front Porch Campaign)

• Election itself famous as 1st “modern” in terms of the $$ spent- esp by Reps (who spent $10 Mil, Bryan spent $300K) country flooded with posters, buttons etc. Also last with high turnout

• McKinley wins Industrial areas- Bryan carries south and west – Republican party will be dominant until great depression.

WIZARD OF OZ• Written by L Frank Baum in 1896 as a

metaphor for the election.

• Dorothy (who represents the ordinary citizen) wore “silver shoes” (soft $, no one is sure of their power) to walk on the “yellow brick road” (gold standard- the path we all know)

• Scarecrow represents the mid-western farmers, Tin man urban labor. Cowardly Lion is William Jennings Bryan, the Wizard is McKinley.

• City of Oz is an industrial capital. Wicked Witch actually from East (they flipped it later for the movie) represents industrial owners.

THE SEGREGATED

SOUTH

THE REDEEMERS IN POWER• White Democrats have had control since 1870s- call

themselves “Redeemers” who are “resorting” the southern way of life. Undo as much of reconstruction as possible- lower taxes (esp on land) cut funds for medical facilities and schools (In LA, literacy went DOWN in late 1800s) and created a an environment to repress African Americans

• Allowed convicts (many of whom were black as it was easy to get in trouble with law) to be rented out- and suddenly we have cheap involuntary labor in the south again…

FAILURE OF THE NEW SOUTH DREAM• The plan had been for a “New” south with a shift in focus from

plantation agriculture to smaller farms, increasing industry, and growing cities.

• Henry Grady editor of Atlanta Constitution said south had everything needed (factors of production: land, labor, capital) to out shine the north.

• But Still way behind, which is booming, South isn’t even close to catching up. (though some industries like coal mining in Appalachia are new)

• With exception of a few companies (like American Tobacco) most $$ came from the North- ex. US Steel owned the largest Steel Foundry in the South (Birmingham) Northern companies also controlled ¾ of the RR

• In 1890 south had 10% of industry in US, same amount it had in 1860. Per Capita income 60% of national average. 70% of workforce agricultural labor

TEXTILESCOMPANY TOWNS

• Textile mills had originally been in North, but the cotton is in the south- so after war mills moved there.

• Mill country settled in Piedmont (hilly, good streams) which had been back country b/c plantations centered on coast.

• Life of a mill worker tough (as bad as sharecropping) Mill itself earned 30-70% profit, workers paid 50% of Northern wages – often paid in “scrip” (company $$) not cash

• Mills ran a “company store” where employees could buy food/goods with scrip or on credit, creating the same cycle of debt/poverty seen with sharecroppers, with Mill owner replacing planation owner in the scenario.

BLACK LIFE IN THE SOUTH

• Upper south had “better” opportunities- but deep south was pretty much as it had been (or worse) at end of reconstruction.

• There was a small Black middle class (teachers, doctors, undertakers, shopkeepers) that served black community- but there was very little business integration.

• Blacks generally not able to become supervisors or get “white collar” jobs

THE KANSAS EXODUS• 40,000 – 60,000 left the south

seeking land in Kansas when

Homestead Act was opened for

African Americans. Shows their continued longing for financial independence and land.

• Not a ton of them keep the land (lack $$ for machinery that makes farming profitable etc) but very few return to the south

• It may seem surprising how few blacks left the south- but few northern employers were willing to hire them. Won’t really head north until wwi. (Great Migration)

THE DECLINE OF BLACK POLITICS• Neither voting or office holding came to an

instantaneous, abrupt halt after reconstruction (still African Americans in office in 1880 and even 90s)- it was gradual.

• But as racial restrictions tightened- other areas like law or the church, seemed to offer better opportunities for leadership in the Black community

• Black women became political leaders- not as candidates, but as activists who preached the necessity of “respectable” behavior in order to gain equal rights.

THE ELIMINATION OF BLACK VOTING• Planned Disenfranchisement begins in 1880s-90s,

during economic downturn. Can’t simply eliminate (15th amendment) so use poll tax, literacy, grandfather clause etc… as well as Gerrymandering to break up voting groups- including poor whites, which is returning power to the planter class.

• Certainly successful- in 1940 3% of eligible blacks were registered to vote

THE LAW OF SEGREGATION• It is interesting that the south was not traditionally

geographically segregated- blacks and whites had always lived and worked in same areas (as opposed to North) –but they were not supposed to use same facilities. Southern (and Northern) states created sep hotels, restaurants, schools, hospitals etc…

• In various challenges (like the Slaughterhouse cases) Court ruled 14th amendments protected against Federal infringements, not state - essentially overturned Civil Rights Acts.

PLESSY V FERGUSON 1896• Caps the failure of Civil

Rights for African Americans Post-Reconstruction

• Homer Plessy arrested for refusing to leave a RR car for whites (he was 7/8 white) Court upheld the law, saying that there were black cars available

• Validated Segregation, which won’t be challenged again until 1950s.

SEGREGATION AND WHITE DOMINATION

• So separate facilities became

required- but equal they were not

• The point wasn’t even really to

keep races apart- but to ensure

that blacks KNEW that they were

the “inferior” group. Had to wait

until whites had been served in stores,

had to “give way” on sidewalks- or get up from seats on busses…..

• In areas where Asians had been brought in for rice farming there might be 3 schools: White, Black, and Asian….

THE RISE OF LYNCHING• If an African America refused

to accept of comply with the

law and social systems- they

were taking a huge risk, b/c reprisals were real.

• Every year from 1883 to 1905 at LEAST 50 people were lynched in south (majority black men) over 5000 total from 1800-1950.

• Some lynching were secretive and at night- others in broad daylight in public areas- law enforcement sometimes INVOLVED. Most common (and damning) charge was having “violated” a white woman.

POLITICS, RELIGION, AND MEMORY• As time passed and wounds healed (sort of) north and south came

back together- with the price being racial equality.

• War became “brother against brother” where BOTH sides fought valiantly for a legitimate cause- states’ rights vs union – in the national racism of the era, slavery became a minor issue. Both sides repudiated Reconstruction.

• Again- south full of their “lost cause” mentality and confederate pride- erect monument to the war and heroes (like Lee) represented Christian virtue

• Both northern and southern textbooks came to describe the antebellum era as full of happy slaves, and reconstruction as a period of misrule by radicals

REDRAWING THE BOUNDARIES• American society was

developing fractures in terms of class and race, redefining freedom (again!!) to exclude those deemed “unworthy” of American liberty. Lots of derogatory talk and imagery about the “inferior” Blacks, Asians, Jews etc…

THE NEW IMMIGRATION AND NEW NATIVISM• Had started with reaction against Irish immigration in 1st

wave- became even stronger (and the Irish joined in ) against Southern/Eastern European immigrants.

• Fear was that “Anglo-Saxon” heritage would be diluted and lost, and angry about the fact that waves of immigrants kept industrial wages low, also worried they would bring “radical” political agendas. But businesses encouraged immigration- FOR the cheap labor

• Government began restricting immigration, US rejected paupers (you need $18 to enter the US),

criminals, convicts, the insane, and the illiterate after 1897

CHINESE EXCLUSION AND CHINESE RIGHTS• Chinese workers had been brought in

from 1850s-70s as cheap labor (RR,

Rice plantations). Mostly single men,

and many went back eventually. But in 1870s more families started to come- in 1875 Congress bars Chinese Women (says they are all prostitutes) Refuses to allows wives/daughters of men already here.

• Beginning in 1882- begin cutting off Chinese immigration all together- made “permanent” in 1902 (repealed in 1940s) There are about 100K Chinese in US- were they citizens?

COURT CASES

• Chinese faces HUGE discrimination- and took issues to the courts –where they had success (though that doesn’t help the hatred)

• Tape v. Hurley: Said San Fran had to provide access to education (seg schools)

• Yick Wo v. Hopkins: struck down laws that prevented Chinese from owning certain businesses

• US v. Wong Kim Ark: Children of Chinese born in US are citizens

• Still- courts said US could deport Chinese at any point- with or without cause.

BOOKER T WASHINGTON• Advocated education for African

Americans to EARN equality. (44% illiterate in 1900) 1881 Founded Tuskegee Institute in Alabama teaching “useful trades as a means towards self respect and economic equality”.

• Did not publically fight segregation (which earned him criticism, in reality he worked hard under an assumed name) urged instead that blacks should improve themselves, and adopt white habits so they would be “more acceptable”

THE RISE OF THE AFL

• American Federation of Labor: Created in 1890s- with very limited and specific goals (to make it less scary) stay away from Utopian ideals. Used Walkout and Boycott, but usually not strike

• Not a “catch-all” separated specific trades, with AFL as “umbrella”, and only admitted skilled labor

• Spoke of “Fair Share” Better wages/hours, improved working conditions

• Organized “closed shops” all workers in industry had to be in the union, which gave them greater bargaining power. Also said courts that restricted unions were going against “liberty of contract”

• Samuel Gompers: President from founding

until his death in 1924

THE WOMEN’S ERA • Women had greater career opportunities- there were

over 5 million female workers in 1900. Middle and upper class women did not work (esp after marriage) not socially acceptable, but “might” before married in top of 3 tiers of “women’s work”

– 1. Service Jobs. Teachers/Nurses, most “respected” jobs. Clerk/secretary, shop girl, seamstress, telephone operator also respectable- generally open only to “American” girls, not immigrants

– 2. Factory work- had variations, could be/become respectable and allow social mobility, or could be sweatshop horrible

– 3. Domestic Servant. Represented 40% of working women. Again, there were respectable positions (Governess, Cook, etc…) but generally the bottom class. Most likely to be foreign born or African American.

TEMPERANCE AND SUFFRAGE

• Women are still big in the reform business.

• Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) was the largest political organization for women. Wanted prohibition- but also economic and social reform: including suffrage.

• Most effective argument fit in to racism and nativism of the time- that respectable “white” (middle class) women could not vote, but immigrants and African Americans could.

BECOMING A WORLD POWER

A M E R I C A N I M P E R I A L I S M

AMERICAN EXPANSIONISM

• US had Tended towards isolationism- we were building our own country, and our location kept us out of the action. But Industrialization has brought us into the world economy, and that will bring us into world politics as well- we want to show we are one of the “big boys”

• Manifest Destiny had in fact been fairly imperialist- we just conquered the land next door, and our own natives rather than “tropical dependencies”.

• Once our territory spread “sea to sea” we began looking in other areas: Alaska purchased in 1867 to keep Russia out of N America. We also occupied the Midway Islands, Hawaiian Islands and Samoa in the Pacific to facilitate trade and support our navy (12th in the world- after Chile).

THE NEW IMPERIALISM• Instead of looking for land to settle, or for treasure,

European (and Asian- Japan is involved) nations are looking for industrial resources and markets. European countries are small, and their economies are big- colonies represent an ideal monopoly

• Big part of imperialism is that white are not only the “fittest” (and

therefore destined to rule)

but have a “duty” to

“civilize” other races….

The “White Man’s Burden”.

THE LURE OF EMPIRE

• As Frederick Jackson Turner said- Americans have always been defined by the idea of a Frontier- exploring new lands and creating new opportunities. We’ve run out at home…. Josiah Strong writes in Our Country (1885) that we have a duty to bring our “light to the dark corners of the world”

• Alfred Thayer Mahan published The Influence of Sea Power on History in which he argued that Great Britain had become the most powerful nation in Europe by developing a strong Navy. Encouraged US government to start spending $$ on ships (which we do beginning in 1896 with 11 battleships) and to build a Canal across Central America (completed 1911)

ANNEXATION OF HAWAII• We overthrew the Hawaiian monarchy (which is funny,

b/c Europeans made Hawaii a monarchy in the 1st place) and annexed the Islands to protect the rights of pineapple plantation proprietors

YELLOW JOURNALISM

• Newspaper owners (Hearst and Pulitzer) used sensationalist stories of crime and corruption- domestic and foreign to sell papers. (called “yellow” from a popular cartoon at time of “yellow kid”.)

• Lots of patriotism at this point- “Star Spangled Banner” became national anthem, Pledge of Allegiance (loyalty oath!) became standard practice at schools etc…

THE SPLENDID LITTLE WAR

• Spanish American war (1898) Our 1st foray into international politics as a powerful nation.

• 1895 Cuba (a remnant of the once mighty Spanish Empire) was attempting to gain independence. US has significant investments in Cuba (sugar plantations and mining interests) and we like the idea of them as independent- we’ll get better deals.

• Feb 15th 1897 US battleship Maine blows up of coast of Havana – 260 Sailors die (84 survive) Cause of explosion unknown- but to Americans

it seemed like obvious treachery, and revenge became the order of the day (“Remember the Maine!”)

• April 25th 1897- US declares war on Spain

TELLER AMENDMENT

• US promised Cuba independence as part of their justification for participation in the war. Wanted international support and to be seen as a world leader

• Sec of State John Hay is the one who names it “Splendid” It’s short, (just over a year) fairly painless (only 5000 Americans die, most from disease), and hugely popular.

ROOSEVELT AT SAN JUAN HILL

• Most highly publicized (b/c he wrote the copy himself) battle of the war.

• Teddy Roosevelt had been a congressman, and was serving as asst. secretary of the Navy when the war started. Formed his own company- a “cross section of the American population” (Wealthy easterners- Cowboys/Indians, immigrants- no blacks)

• Made TR a national hero- elected governor of NY when her returned, and McKinley’s VP in 1900.

AN AMERICAN EMPIRE• War escalated from “helping”

Cubans to gaining an Empire

(after all, all the cool kids have one…) and we have a duty to “uplift and civilize” those unprepared for independence.

• We fought not only in Cuba, but in the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam (all bits of Sp Empire). Not looking for land to settle, or even resources- but to have power (and areas for trade)

CUBA: PLATT AMENDMENT• After Cuban independence, large sections of econ still

controlled by US- so we make sure things work our way.

• Platt Amendment adopted in 1898 (end of Sp-American War) said that Cuba could not make treaties “which would weaken their independence” (meaning if we don’t like it) or incur debts (except to US) Basically- we want to dominate their trade. We also got the land for a naval base (Guantanamo)

OPEN DOOR POLICY

• All through late 1800s China (once the most powerful econ in the world, now riding the struggle bus since they chose not to allow any new technology around 1500) has been forced to sign unequal treaties with European powers, and has been carved into spheres of influence.

• US feels left out- we are coming

late to the party- so we suggest Open Door Policy so that all

nations can exploit China equally.

Yet remember, no Chinese

immigration…)

THE PHILIPPINE WAR

• Cubans, Filipinos, and Puerto Ricans hoped that the US would help them gain independence- we certainly said that was our goal – but it became clear to us that domination would be more profitable….

• We had promised the Philippines we would leave – and didn’t- McKinley said we needed to help out “little brown brothers”.

• Let to a 2nd conflict (1899-1903) where the Filipinos under Emilio Aguinaldo tried to throw US out. US troops do not behave well- lots of civilian attacks. When it is over- Philippines are poorer than under Spain (as was Puerto Rico which we also kept) Philippines become independent in 1946

CITIZENS OR SUBJECTS

• We’ve never done colonies- this is confusing for us. Right of self gov’t is supposed to be core value (it’s in the Declaration of Independence!)

• Insular Cases: 1901 Supreme Court asked to determine whether or not people in newly acquired territories were American citizens- the answer is ….sort of

• It’s Congress’s job to determine citizenship. “The Constitution does not follow the flag”

– Some rights apply to all American territories

– Others will not apply to those “unfamiliar with American law”

• Hawaiians became citizens immediately. Puerto Ricans do in 1917, but both Puerto Rico and Guam are still in territory limbo…

REPUBLIC OR EMPIRE• Not all Americans are jazzed about the Empire thing

either. Some believe we should concentrate on issues at home, or that colonies will be expensive, or (racism again!!) that we don’t want more foreigners to deal with – publish “Liberty Tracts” saying we don’t want Empire. William Jennings Bryan uses it as part of his platform when he runs for president (again) in 1900

• But overall Americans were excited about our great “victory”- Imperialism increases nationalism, and gives a nice bump to econ – and we decide we LIKE being involved in world affairs (What did G Washington know anyway….)