SIGNIFICANT EVENTS OF JEFFERSON'S AND MADISON'S PRESIDENCIES.

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS OF JEFFERSON'S PRESIDENCY

I.  The Way He Was Elected in 1800
II.  Midnight Judges Issue
III.  Tripolitan War
IV.  Louisiana Purchase, 1803
V.   Lewis and Clark Expedition, 1804-1805
VI.  Hamilton and Burr Duel, July 1, 1804
VII. War Between Britain and France
        A. Went to war in 1803
        B. Both warned U.S. not to ship arms to the other and both will attempt to stop the U.S. and
            other countries from trading with the other. THE U.S. SEES THIS AS A VIOLATION OF
            OUR NEUTRAL RIGHTS.  The U.S. should be free to trade with whomever they want. 
        C. In 1806, Britain started stopping U.S. ships to inspect for arms and deserters
        D. Found some deserters but also took some American sailors
        E. Impressed these sailors into the British navy (Impressment)
        F. Jefferson convinced Congress to pass laws to stop the U.S. from importing certain British-   
            made goods.
        G. Tensions increased after the Chesapeake-Leopard incident, June, 1807.
             a. HMS Leopard stopped the USS Chesapeake at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay which is
                 in U.S. waters.
             b. Demanded to search the Chesapeake for deserters and the captain refused.
             c. Leopard opened fire, killing 3 and wounded 18
             d. Captain of Chesapeake surrendered and British boarded the ship
             e. Americans demand war against Britain
             f. President Jefferson, to avoid war because the Navy and Army were weak, proposed a  
                policy of "peaceful coercion" and demanded that the British stop impressment.  Britain
                would not.
             g. Jefferson's response was the EMBARGO ACT of 1807.

VIII. EMBARGO ACT
         A.Is "OGRABME" spelled backwards.  A newspaper cartoon called the embargo the
             OGRABME and portrayed it as a snapping turtle.
         B. The Embargo Act prohibited ALL international trade America.
         C. Was a disaster for the U.S. economy
         D.  Splits Republican Party;  revived the Federalist Party
         E. Congress repealed it on March 1, 1809 and passed the Non-intercourse Act allowing
              American merchants to trade with anyone except Britain and France.  The U.S. announced
               that if either Britain or France would stop violating America's neutral rights, the U.S.    
               would begin trade with that country.
         F.  WAS JEFFERSON'S WORST MISTAKE AS PRESIDENT

IX.  ELECTION OF 1808
       A. James Madison, Republican, elected over the Federalist, Charles Pinckney by a narrow
            margin of 47 electoral votes.


SIGNIFICANT EVENTS OF JAMES MADISON'S PRESIDENCY

I.  INDIAN TROUBLES IN THE WEST
As Americans moved westward, Indian lands continued to be taken.  In the Northwest, TECUMSEH, a Shawnee Indian chief attempted to organize the southern and northern tribes to stop further takeover of their lands.  In 1811, WILIAM HENRY HARRISON, governor of the Indiana Territory, attacked the Indians at TIPPECANOE RIVER and defeated Tecumseh and stopped Tecumseh's efforts.  This made Harrison a hero.

II.  WAR HAWKS
In the Congressional elections of 1810, some young Republicans were elected from the South, primarily because they supported war with Britain and Spain.  They will become known as WAR HAWKS because of this, and two that are most notable are HENRY CLAY of Kentucky and JOHN C. CALHOUN of South Carolina.  They want the U.S. to take Canada and Spanish Florida.  Farmers supported this.

III. ELECTION OF 1812
Madison re-elected over the Federalist candidate, DeWitt Clinton.  Some Republicans helped the Federalists in the North and almost defeated Madison.  Madison carried the South and West.  This shows that the Republican Party was divided, most of this over whether to go to war with Britain or not.

IV.  WAR OF 1812
Madison did not want war.  The War Hawks were calling for war because of impressment and Britain's violation of freedom of the seas.  Also, the farmers in the South and West were calling for war, blaming Britain's policies at sea for hurting them and contributing to a recession in 1806.  Some Republicans opposed the war, and the Federalists did not want war with Britain because it would hurt the New England shippers.  The Federalists were the strongest in New England.    The British did renounce some of their policies (the Orders in Council) but did so too late and notification of this did not reach the U.S. before Congress declared war.  On June 19, 1812, the U.S. declared war against Britain.  The country was divided, even among the Republicans.  Neither was the country prepared militarily.  The army and navy were weak, and the country was not prepared financially since it had not central banking system as the Bank of the United States charter had expired in 1811.
KEY CAMPAIGNS:
Oliver Hazard Perry captured a British fleet on Lake Erie in 1813 and won control of Lake Erie.  "We have met the enemy and they are ours," he reported.
1813:  William Henry Harrison defeated the British and their Indian allies at the Battle of the Thames; Tecumseh was killed.
Also, the U.S. took Mobile.
1814:  Andrew Jackson defeated the Creek and Cherokee Indians at HORSESHOE BEND.
1814:  British invaded WASHINGTON D.C. and BURNED IT.
           British attack BALTIMORE to try and take FORT MCHENRY, but it would not surrender.
           FRANCIS SCOTT KEY, being held on a British ship during the above attack, wrote the
           words that become "THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER," as he saw the flag still flying after
           the British had bombarded the fort.
1815:  January 18th, British attack NEW ORLEANS where ANDREW JACKSON was in command. 
            Jackson had 7,000 men, a mixture of many different types.
            British suffer their most devastating defeat of the war in just half an hour of fighting.
            Jackson was hailed as a hero.  This slaughter was unnecessary as two weeks earlier, the British had signed a peace treaty, the TREATY OF GHENT.    All territory lost or gained was returned to both sides and neither impressment nor neutral rights was dealt with. 

RESULTS OF THE WAR:  U.S. gained respect among other nations; a new sense of NATIONALISM and PATRIOTISM was born; American manufacturing was stimulated; Indian resistance in the Northwest and Southwest was broken; Further weakening of the Federalist Party, strengthening of the Republican Party; the Hartford Convention (google this). 

COLONIAL PERIOD

A FEW KEY POINTS ABOUT THE 13 COLONIES

JAMESTOWN (VIRGINIA)

• England's first permanent colony in America, founded in 1607 by the Virginia Company.
• Is the beginning of the colony of Virginia by 104 settlers
• The charter granted by King James I of England guaranteed to these English settlers the same rights of Englishmen back in England and is important:  it was a foundation for our American rights and freedoms.
• Colony saved by Captain John Smith after most of colony had died by 1609
• John Rolfe introduce TOBACCO and colony's economics improved
• 1609-1614:  colony's first Indian war
• 1622-1632:  major Indian war. 
• 1619:  HOUSE OF BURGESSES established giving the colonists the right to elect their own assembly and make laws for their colony.
• HEADRIGHT SYSTEM initiated; a colonist would be given 50 acres for every person that they paid for to come to Virginia
• Anglican church became well established in all the Virginia counties
• First slaves brought to Virginia in 1619 by the Dutch
• Virginia became controlled by a landowning, aristocratic class; leads to problems and BACON'S REBELLION IN 1676; Led by Nathaniel Bacon against the colonial leaders and Governor William Berkeley; was caused by the unhappy backwoodsmen who felt the leadership was providing protection against the Indians; will end in 1676 when Bacon dies and his rebellion falls apart.  Berkeley will execute some and took the property of others who had rebelled. 

PLYMOUTH

• Founded in 1620 by 35 SEPARATISTS AND 66 non-Separatists.  You know them as the Pilgrims.
• They did not land where their charter was for so 41 of the 44 males signed the MAYFLOWER COMPACT on 11/11/1620.  In it, they agreed to bind themselves in a political body that could pass laws.  Important as it contained the principle of democracy that the government should be controlled by the people.

MASSACHUSETTS BAY

• Founded in 1629 by PURITANS
• The Puritan church was most important in the early life of the colony.  They did not believe in SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. 
• Organization characterized the colony: Example:  laws were passed outlining how towns were to be laid out:  6 miles square and a village was laid out in each town
• Residents of the towns met often to discuss issues of importance in what will be know as TOWN MEETINGS.....very democratic
• Only freemen had the right to vote in elections affecting the entire colony.
• The governor and his helpers made up the General Court which passed laws and enforced them.
• John Winthrop became their first governor.
• Dissent will arise later among some who did not agree with the treatment of the Indians and the fact that there was NO SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. 

MARYLAND

• Founded in 1634 by George Calvert, Baron of Baltimore.
• He was CATHOLIC and wanted the colony to be a safe haven for Catholics who were being persecuted in England.
• MARYLAND TOLERATION ACT passed in 1649:  provided religious freedom for all Christians.

CAROLINAS

• 1670, King Charles II gave charter to 8 men for a grant of land stretching to the Pacific.
• Hope to grow food and produce other products for profit.
• Southern part prospered; Rice became the main crop and this opens the door for slaves to be brought from Africa to cultivate the rice; By 1710, Africans were the majority among the population;  Charles Town became busiest seaport in the South;  develops an aristocratic flavor and was religiously tolerant;  It had to contend with the Spanish and their Indian allies on its southern border.
• Northern Carolina developed differently. Was settled by many unhappy with the aristocratic government of Virginia.  Will develop a dislike for all authority.  Will officially separate from South Carolina in 1712. 

GEORGIA

• Last of the 13 English colonies to be settled
• Chief settlement was Savannah
• Founded by group led by James Oglethorpe who wanted it to be a place of safety for debtors.
• England also saw it as a buffer between the Carolinas and Spanish Florida.
• All Christians except Catholics experienced religious toleration.
• The slowest growing colony.

RHODE ISLAND

• Founded in 1636 by Roger Williams who had fled Massachusetts Bay Colony.  He had been found guilty by the church and government of preaching against Puritan views about government and also the mistreatment of the Indians.
• Founded Providence and built a Baptist Church.
• Established complete FREEDOM OF RELIGION;  Jews and Catholic were also granted freedom of religion;  the only colony to do this.
• Established upon the principle of SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE
• It was strongly resented by Massachusetts.

CONNECTICUT

• Founded in 1635 when Hartford was settled.
• Major contribution:  FUNDAMENTAL ORDERS......established a government controlled by the people....much like a modern constitution

NEW HAMPSHIRE

• Was separated from Mass. Bay in 1679 by the king
• Became a royal colony
• Fishing and trading were the major industries.

NEW YORK

• Established when the English took New Netherland from the Dutch
• Charles II made his brother, James, Duke of York, the proprietor, and he renamed it New York
• Colony of large land grants, most of it controlled by a few
• Strong Dutch influence

NEW JERSEY

• Formed in 1664
• Duke of York gave land to some supporters to form it
• Known for its religious freedom

PENNSYLVANIA

• 1681.....Charter given to William Penn by Charles II as payment of a debt Charles owed William's father
• Based upon Quaker teaching as Penn was a Quaker
• Quakers had been persecuted by Charles II in England
• Philadelphia established as it capital...."City of Brotherly Love"
• Practiced religious toleration and many religions came there and many ethnic groups
• Representative assembly elected by landowners
• No tax supported church and freedom of worship guaranteed but Jews and Catholic could not vote nor hold office
• Strong dislike for black slavery
• Indians treated fairly
• Grew quickly

DELAWARE

• Made up of only 3 counties
• Named after Lord de la Warr
• Had its own assembly but under governor of Pennsylvania

THEODORE ROOSEVELT, TAFT, AND WOODROW WILSON NOTES

THEODORE ROOSEVELT AS PRESIDENT

·         Became President upon the death of President William McKinley who had been shot by an assassin while attending the Pan-American Exposition on September 6, 1901.  McKinley died eight days later.   Roosevelt was the youngest president to that time.  The Republican Party leaders never intended T.R. to be President, but now they have to contend with him.

·         Until his election in his own right in 1904, T.R. will largely continue the policies of President McKinley, however, T.R. was a Progressive president and will have the support of the progressives.  He strongly support labor and wanted labor, the owners, and the public to have what he called a “SQUARE DEAL.”  This becomes the term/slogan to describe his presidency. 

·         He began to show his support for labor in 1902 when a strike broke out at the anthracite coal mines in Pennsylvania.  The workers were demanding much needed changes for their safety, a pay increase, and a reduction in work hours.  The mine owners would not give in to the demands.  Roosevelt brought the mine owners to the White House and will threaten to take over the mines and run them using the army.  THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAD THREATENED TO USE FEDERAL TROOPS AGAINST OWNERS; in the past they had been used against the workers.  The mine owners will agree to a 10% pay raise and a 9-hour workday for the workers. 

·         In 1903, at Roosevelt’s insistence, the Department of Commerce and Labor was created by Congress.

·         Roosevelt will begin to go after the monopolies/trusts also.  This was not something that McKinley would have done.  This will begin his “trust-busting” reputation.  He will go after the RAILROADS first by getting congress to pass long needed regulations. 

o       Elkins Act passed in 1903.  It would place heavy fines on a railroad that gave rebates and would fine those who accepted the rebates. 

o       Hepburn Acts passed in 1906.  It makes it illegal for the railroads to offer free passes as a means of bribing.  It also will strengthen the Interstate Commerce Act.

o       One of his earliest trust-busting actions was against the NORTHERN SECURITIES COMPANY, created by J.P. Morgan and James J. Hill.  This gave them control of the railroads in the Northwest. 

§         Roosevelt brought an anti-trust suit against the company.

§         The Supreme Court upheld his suit and the company was dissolved.

§         This completely surprised owners and angered them as well.

·         You need to understand that Roosevelt did not see all trust as bad.  To him, there were “good” and “bad” trusts.  He did not believe that all trusts should be broken up.  It is said that he believed that if there were big businesses then the government should be big enough to control them.  His primary belief was in REGULATING them rather than BREAKING THEM apart. 

·         Roosevelt will bring over 40 suits against trusts, but it is said that by one historian, “In many ways, the huge industrial behemoths were healthier—though perhaps more “tame”—at the end of Roosevelt’s reign than they had been before.” (Bailey & Kennedy, The American Pageant, 9^th ed., 1991, page 677). 

·         Meat Inspection Act passed by Congress in 1906; Pure Food and Drug Act passed in 1906:  these are intended to protect the consumer

·         CONSERVATION was a big interest of Roosevelt.  Some believe that it might be his most lasting legacy.

·         Presidential Election of 1904:  Roosevelt elected easily(Republican).  He announced that he would not run for re-election in 1908. 

·         Roosevelt continued his crusade to regulate big business and to support labor.

·         Is blamed by his opponents for the Panic of 1907; they blamed his government interference in business as the cause; of course, Roosevelt blames some of the big businesses for the Panic.   Congress will pass the ALDRICH-VREELAND ACT in 1908 (Google it.).  It will give national banks the freedom to issue emergency funds.  This will be a pre-cursor to the Federal Reserve Act which will be passed in 1913 during Wilson’s presidency and is still “on the books” today. 

AN ADDITIONAL POINT ABOUT THE PANAMA CANAL (In addition to your in-class notes)

·         The recognition of the need for quick movement of naval forces from the Pacific to the Atlantic had been the realized during the Spanish-American War.  Therefore, efforts to build an isthmian canal had increased. 

·         In the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty of 1901, Great Britain gave the U.S. the “OK” to build a canal and fortify it without British partnership.

·         In 1902, Congress finally gave approval to a Panamanian route rather than a Nicaraguan route.

·         Panama was a part of the country of Colombia at this time. 

·         Treaty negotiations were opened with Colombia and Colombia rejected the U.S. offer.

·         President Roosevelt wants the canal to be built; he will support helping Panamanian rebels overthrow their Colombian rulers in 1903 by using the U.S. Navy to prevent the Colombians from interfering, and Roosevelt immediately recognizes the new Panamanian government.

·         The HAY-BUNAU-VARILLA TREATY was negotiated.  The U.S. paid the French company that owned the rights to build a canal in Panama $40 million and Panama gave the U.S. a 10-mile wide zone to have as long as they wanted it, and the U.S. paid Panama $10 million and $250,000 per year.

·         Roosevelt’s support of the revolution did not improve the reputation of the U.S. in Central and South America and will result in further accusations of the U.S. IMPERIALISM.  Roosevelt’s actions did help his POPULARITY at home as the 1904 Election approaches. 

·         Work on the canal started in 1904.

o       Colonel George Goethals was in charge of building the canal.

o       Colonel William Gorgas was in charge of eradicating the mosquitoes that caused Yellow Fever. 

o       Canal completed in 1914; cost was $400 million

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 1908

·         Keeping his promise, T.R. will not run for President.

·         Republicans nominate WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT.  He was T.R.’s personal choice for the nomination.  He was 6 feet tall and weighed 350 pounds. 

·         Democrats nominate William Jennings Bryan. 

·         TAFT WON EASILY.

TAFT’S PRESIDENCY

·         He was by no means a Theodore Roosevelt.

·         Roosevelt has left the country to go to Africa on a hunting safari.

·         Was not as strong a progressive as Roosevelt.

·         His approach to foreign relations was to use DOLLAR DIPLOMACY rather than the BIG STICK  policy of T.R.

·         He will be a greater “trust-buster” than TR.

·         Eventually, he will LOSE THE SUPPORT OF ROOSEVELT because of some of his policies and actions.

·         He will also LOSE THE SUPPORT OF THE PROGRESSIVES for the same reasons.

·         PROGRESSIVES and ROOSEVELT turn against Taft largely over the following:

o       Taft’s support for the PAYNE-ALDRICH BILL which did not reduce tariffs as Taft had promised and even raised tariffs on many products.

o       Taft’s support of Secretary of the Interior Ballinger’s opening up of lands in several western states for development by companies.  GIFFORD PINCHOT, head of the Department of Forestry strongly criticized this and Taft FIRED Pinchot.  Pinchot had been appointed by Roosevelt.  Conservationists strongly opposed Ballinger’s and Taft’s decisions.  This will also anger Roosevelt.

o       Taft’s support of Speaker of the House, Joe Cannon who was continuously blocking Progressive efforts in the House of Representatives.  This will be what finally results in a SPLIT WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY and ROOSEVELTS’ SPLIT WITH TAFT. 

·         Roosevelt, upon his return to the states in 1910 began to speak out against Taft and his policies.  He let it be known that he believed the national government’s power should be increased to solve the problems the nation was facing.  This will be known as NEW NATIONALISM. 

·         Then, in 1911, Roosevelt split even further with Taft when Taft pursued a suit against the UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION.  Roosevelt had supported the creation of this trust when President. 

·         Republicans lose control of the House of Representatives in the 1910 mid-term elections and only slightly keep control of the Senate.  THE PARTY IS SPLIT.

·         This brings us to the Presidential ELECTION OF 1912.

 

ELECTION OF 1912

 

·        Democrats nominate WOODROW WILSON.  He was a strong progressive, had been president of Princeton University and prior to this nomination, Governor of New Jersey.  The Democratic platform will be based on reform.   His program will be  known as NEW FREEDOM. (Google this.)

·        Republican Party will refuse to nominate Roosevelt who had sought the party’s nomination.  They will nominate WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT and Roosevelt and his supporters leave the Republican convention very angry.

·        Progressive Party will nominate THEODORE ROOSEVELT, splitting the Republican ticket.  It will also be referred to as the Bull Moose Party due to a comment by TR that he was strong as a Bull Moose.  His program will be called NEW NATIONALISM. (Google this.)

·        The Socialist Party will nominate Eugene V. Debs.  Just a note, he had been the socialist nominee in the two previous presidential elections.  He had been the leader of the American Railway Union during the Pullman Strike of 1894.  Debs and his members had refused to stop striking after the courts had issued an INJUNCTION for them to do so.  Debs was jailed for 6 months and following this be joined the Socialist Party.

·        WILSON WON overwhelmingly in the electoral vote but did not receive a majority of the popular vote.  He will be what is known as a MINORITY PRESIDENT since he does not receive a majority of the popular vote.  Roosevelt was second.  He will be ONLY THE SECOND DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT SINCE Zachary Taylor before the Civil War. (GOOGLE THIS ELECTION).

 

WOODROW WILSON’S PRESIDENCY

 

·         Terms describing Wilson:  idealist, very religious (Presbyterian), uncompromising, an intellectual, did not like journalists, stubborn.  He had a great ability to appeal to the people, especially when he was facing opposition to his program, and the people would hold their elected congressmen accountable. 

·         As part of his New Freedom, he will move to reduce the tariff, reform the banking system, and attack the trusts/monopolies.

·         Major legislation during his first term:

o       Underwood Tariff, 1913:  Wilson will actually go before Congress to present what he wanted.  This had not been done since before Thomas Jefferson.  (GOOGLE THE UNDERWOOD TARIFF).

o       Federal Reserve Act, 1913:  Created the Federal Reserve Board and established 12 Federal Reserve districts with a Federal Reserve Bank in each district.  It also authorized the Federal Reserve Board to issue paper money.  This allows for the amount of money in circulation to be increased if necessary.  This was a MAJOR piece of banking legislation for the nation and was greatly needed. 

o       Federal Trade Commission Act, 1914:  Allowed a commission to investigate for business practices that were harmful to the public and practices that were monopolistic.

o       Clayton Anti-Trust Act, 1914:  listed wrongful business practices; will also prevent labor unions and agricultural organizations from being prosecuted using antitrust laws and will legalize strikes.    Was called the “Magna Carta of Labor” by Samuel Gompers. 

o       Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1916:  allows federal financial assistance  to federal civil service workers if they experienced a disability while working. 

o       Other legislation was passed by Congress to help railroad workers with an 8-hour work day if the train was involved in interstate commerce.

o       Federal Farm Loan Act, 1916:  farmers could receive credit at low interest rates.

·         Wilson’s progressivism did NOT improve the condition of blacks. 

INDUSTRIALIZATION IN THE LATTER 1800S AND THE IMPACT UPON THE UNITED STATES

The last half of the 1800s was a period of INDUSTRIALIZATION in the United States. 

"Boring" is said to describe the presidents of the period. 

Mark Twain called the period the "Gilded Age."

Characteristics of the politics of the period:

1 The parties were relatively even in their vote-getting.

2. No president between 1877 and 1897 saw his party control both houses of Congress for a full 4 year term.

3. Between 1872 and 1896, no president won a majority of the popular vote.

4. Republican Party strength was in the Northeast and Midwest and had the African-American vote.  It was a divided party, divided between STALWARTS, led by Senator ROSCOE CONKLING of New York and HALF-BREEDS, led by JAMES G. BLAINE of Maine.

5. The Democrats  voting strength was in the South and West and among the party "machines."  There was a second wing of the Democratic Party that was made up of the big city political machines and loyal immigrants.  It strongly supported states' rights and a decentralized, limited government.  They believed in white supremacy, AND BOTH PARTIES TRIED TO DISFRANCHISE MINORITIES, blacks in the South. 

6. Corruption often marked the politics.

During this period, the federal government did not interfere in the lives of the people.

Railroads were an integral part of this growth.  The growth in railroads also affected the steel industry as the railroads were buying steel for the rails and rail cars.  In 1882, the rr’s were buying 90 percent of the steel being produced.

The national government provided large amounts of money for the building of the rr’s.  Much money was to be made, and this led to the nation’s first “big” businessmen, men such as J.P. Morgan, Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, and Jay Gould.    Men such as these will be referred to as “Robber Barons.” 

 

New business practices developed as industrialization grew.  The concept of the BROKER developed as there was need for investors in these businesses.  The broker helped find these investors.  J.P. Morgan was the most famous investment banker of the period.  The predominant ECONOMIC PHILOSOPHY of the period was LIMITED GOVERNMENT.  Of course, this was to the advantage of the big businessmen.

 

Three Philosophies of the period:  LAISSEZ FAIRE, SOCIAL DARWINISM, and THE GOSPEL OF WEALTH.

 

LAISSEZ FAIRE:  the ideal promoted by Adam Smith, a Scottish thinker and professor…..wrote of this idea in THE WEALTH OF NATIONS in 1776.  His argument was that self interest is what drives individuals and he believed that individuals should be left alone by government in order to achieve their potential in business.  He believed the public interest was best served by GOVERNMENT STAYING OUT OF BUSINESS. 

 

SOCIAL DARWINISM:  a philosophy based on Charles Darwin’s theory that those species that adapted to changing environments were what survived.  He believed that nature was such that the strongest would survive.  This belief was applied by the big businessmen to justify their creating monopolies by putting the small businessman out of business.  Herbert Spencer coined the phrase, “survival of the fittest” in reference to his belief that COMPETITION is natural and therefore, the strongest will survive. 

 

THE GOSPEL OF WEALTH:  the idea that man was supposed to work hard and become successful.  Success was good and was NOT AGAINST the principles of Christianity.  ANDREW CARNEGIE and HORATIO ALGER were strong proponents of this idea.  

 

OPPONENTS OF THESE PHILOSOPHIES:  Edward Bellamy in his book, Looking backward, advocated a UTOPIAN society in which the government owned the means of production and distributed wealth equally among all citizens.  He also strongly attacked the abuse of the worker by the industrialists.  Henry George, in his book, Progress and Poverty, attacked the growing materialism in our society and the growing gap between rich and poor.  Advocated a 100 percent tax on land sales. 

 

To try and stop the abuses of big business due to consolidation and monopolies, states regulated railroads.  COURTS OFTEN SIDED WITH THE BUSNESSES.  The public begins to push Congress for REGULATION.  The INTERSTATE COMMERCE ACT and THE SHERMAN ANTITURST ACT were responses to this.  Very little impact was made by made by these but the ESTABLISHED THE PRECEDENT for FEDERAL REGULATION OF INDUSTRY. 

 

During this period, there was a growing movement of people from agricultural work into FACTORY work.  This means there was a GROWING DEPENDENCE upon someone else for one’s wages rather than being self-employed.  By 1900, 2 out of 3 Americans depended on their wages coming from someone else.

 

There was very little mobility for the worker.  This affects attitudes toward immigrants and women in the workplace.  There will be more women working outside the home and child labor also increased. 

 

Some inventions resulting from the industrialization:  typewriter, cash register, adding machine, flush toilet came from England in 1870s, the tin can, refrigerated railcars, telegraph, telephone (AT&T Company formed). 

 

Thomas Edison, the Wizard of Menlo Park, had many inventions, incandescent light bulb being only one of many. 

 

American shopping changed as the result of the changes in business.  The large DEPARTMENT STORE was introduced.   Macy’s was born in New York City, Sears Roebuck and Company, Montgomery Ward, Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company (first chain store), Woolworth”s “five and ten cent” store.  These are just a few. 

 

American advertising boomed. 

 

A DEMAND FOR REGULATION OF THE BIG BUSINESSES GREW AMONG THE AMERICAN PUBLIC and government regulation began with the RAILROAD. 

 

MASS TRANSIT will develop as people move to the cities.  DISEASE grows in the cities as overcrowding occurs and poor sanitation. 

 

The POLITICAL MACHINE was born…….a political organization in the city that was run by a very powerful, influential party BOSS.  Develop strong followings among the poor and immigrant.  One of the most famous was the TWEED RING in New York City. WILLIAM MARCY TWEED, “Boss” Tweed, headed this political machine.  He controlled city government in NYC and CORRUPTION was widespread due to his control.  He will be brought to justice by the CARTOONS of THOMAS NAST.

 

American entertainment changed and grew.  The VAUDEVILLE HOUSE was the most popular form of public entertainment.  AMUSEMENT PARKS developed and were popular, the most famous was CONEY ISLAND in New York.  BASEBALL was the MOST POPULAR of the new sports. 

 The major political issues of the period were PATRONAGE,  the MONEY SUPPLY, and  HIGH TARIFFS.

PATRONAGE was the handing out of jobs based on party loyalty, not on qualification.

The MONEY SUPPLY issue revolved around the following: 

1. whether or not to print more paper money unbacked by gold or silver.  Results in the formation of the GREENBACK PARTY.

2. the coinage of more silver money which had been stopped by Congress in 1873 due to so little silver being mined and this meant that you could not pay your bills in silver; tis meant that the value of  gold only determined the value of money. 

The TARIFF ISSUE WAS WHETER OR NOT TO CONTINUE A HIGH TARIFF TO PROTECT American industry.   Democratic western farmers wanted reduced tariffs and Republican businessmen supported high tariffs.

Conditions for FARMERS became worse during this period.  The GRANGE was developed by farmers to help their condition.   The Greenback Movement was another effort.   the Greenback Labor Party was formed.  Farmer’s Alliances were also formed to help farmers. 

 

THE PEOPLE’S PARTY, also known as the POPULISTS, was formed.  One unique idea that they promoted was the GRADUATED INCOME TAX.

 

The ABUSES resulting from America’s growing industrialization led to one of the nation’s largest REFORM movements, THE PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT.