Commonwealth and Empire

1. Commonwealth and Empire Out of ManyChapter 20

2. The Grange Movement • First organized in the 1870s in the Midwest, the South, and Texas. • Set up cooperative associations (stores, grain elevators, grain warehouses). • Social and educational components – picnics, concerts, lectures, etc. • Succeeded in lobbying for state “Granger Laws” to regulate RR rates & storage fees • Wabash v. Illinois (1886) overruled state regulation of RR – why? • Rapidly declined after Wabash.

3. The Farmers Alliances • Begun in the late 1870s • Texas first – the Southern Alliance • then in the Midwest—the Northern Alliance • Built upon the ashes of the Grange. • More political and less social than the Grange. • Ran candidates for office. • Controlled 8 state legislatures & had 47 representatives in Congress during the 1890s.

4. United We Stand,Divided We Fall • In 1889 both the Northern and Southern Alliances merged into one—the Farmers’ Alliance. • Will eventually seek alliance with northern industrial workers - labor unions.

5. The Populist (Peoples’) Party • Farmers’ Alliance excluded blacks & ignored issues of tenant farmers & sharecroppers – weakened it • By early 1890s, Farmers’ Alliance has produced the Peoples’ Party – a political coalition of farmers from the W & the S. • Goals: • More political power to the people (through political reform, lowering tariff) • Government intervention to aid struggling farmers – at the mercy of industrialists, banks & interest rates. • Attacked Wall Street and the “Money Trust” • Early champion: Mary Elizabeth Lease of KS – “Kansans should raise less corn and rise more hell!”

6. The Populist (Peoples’) Party • Founded by James B. Weaver& Tom Watson. • Omaha, NE Convention in July, 1892. • Got almost 1 million popular votes in ’92 election. • Several Congressional seats won. James B. Weaver, Presidential Candidate &James G. Field, VP

7. Omaha Platform of 1892 System of “sub-treasuries.” Free silver (unlimited coinage of silver). Graduated income tax. Direct election of Senators. Govt. ownership of RRs, telephone & telegraph companies. Restriction of undesirable immigration. 8-hour work day for government employees. Abolition of the Pinkerton detective agency. Australian secret ballot. Abolition of the National Bank. A single term for President & Vice President.

8. Govt.-Owned Companies

9. 1892 Election Cleveland again – only President to ever serve twonon-consecutive terms. Same old Cleveland, but different nation – debtors up in arms!

10. Major Problems in Cleveland’s Second Term: The Panic Of 1893 First large-scale depression in the new industrial economy.

11. Causes of the 1893 Panic • Began 10 days after Cleveland took office. • Several major corps. went bankrupt. • Over 16,000 businesses disappeared. • Triggered a stock market crash. • Over-extended investments. • Bank failures followed causing a contraction of credit [nearly 500 banks closed]. • By 1895, unemployment reached 3 million. • Ongoing agricultural depression. • Americans cried out for relief, but the Govt. continued its laissez faire policies!!

12. Panic Spreads! How is it “resolved” by Cleveland? Gets J.P. Morgan to loan gov’t $65 million in gold…. for which he charged a commission of 7 million!

13. Here Lies Prosperity Populist argument that farmers & laborers alikeare being victimized is strengthened.

14. Silver Issue • “Crime of ’73” demonetization of silver (govt. stopped coining silver); cries for “free silver.” • Bland-Allison Act (1878)  is the compromise: limited silver coinage to $2-$4 mil. per mo. (based on the 16:1 ratio of silver to gold); ineffective since gov’t always purchased minimum amount. • Sherman Silver Purchase Act (1890) • Next compromise attempt: The US Treasury must purchase $4.5 mil. oz. of silver a month. • Cleveland forces repeal in 1893 • U.S. has worst depression in its history • Gov’t bailed out in 1895 by Morgan’s gold loan • $65 million! • S & W wings of Democratic party desert Cleveland

15. Result of Election Returns • Populist vote increased by 40% in the bi-election year,1894. • Democratic party losses in the West were catastrophic! • But, Republicans won control of the House.

16. The 1896 Election Gold / Silver Bug Campaign Pins

17. William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925) DEMOCRAT POPULIST The “Great Commoner” – 36 years old

18. William Jennings Bryan • Revivalist style of oratory. • “A great voice rather than a great brain.”

19. Bryan’s“Cross of Gold” Speech You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns; you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold!

20. Bryan: The Farmer’s Friend 18,000 miles of campaign “whistle stops” – 600 speeches! Market ratio for silver by then was 32:1 --- so 16:1 the silver in a dollar would only be worth 50 cents

21. Democratic Party Taken Over by the Agrarian Left Platform : free silver; tariff reductions; income tax; stricter control of the trusts (esp. RRs). Bryan’s platform does NOT appeal to Eastern laborers – inflation would NOT help them and they vote for their jobs and McKinley’s “Full Dinner Pail”

22. William McKinley (1843-1901) REPUBLICAN Ohio • Former Civil War major & in Congress many years • Focus on Cleveland’s • Democratic Panic • Promises “Full Dinner Pail” • Praises protective tariff • Massive dissemination of literature

23. The Seasoned Politician vs. The “Young” Newcomer

24. Into Which Box Will the Voterof ’96 Place His Ballot?

25. 1896 Election Results

26. Significance of the 1896 Election • MARKS THE FAILURE OF THE POPULIST PARTY • Turning point in politics – future of politics in cities, not agrarian votes • Victory for big business, big cities, middle class values & financial conservatism • Republicans take White House for all but 8 of the next 36 years!

27. The Next President of the U. S. • McKinley will be cautious and conservative • Will give business free rein ; no regulation of trusts • Tariff (Dingley) will be high (46.5%)

28. Gold Triumphs Over Silver • 1900 - Gold Standard Act • Confirmed the nation’s commitment to the gold standard. • Paper currency could be freely redeemed in gold • New gold discoveries in AK & S.Africa will finally stop deflation • A victory for the forces ofconservatism.

29. Why Did Populism Decline? The economy experienced rapid change. The era of small producers and farmers was fading away. Race divided the Populist Party, especially in the South. The Populists were not able to breakexisting party loyalties; most of their agenda was co-opted by the Democrats.

30. Why Did Populism Decline? Failure of farmers and industrial workers of the Northeast to unite. Gold strike in AK in 1898 – increased $ supply (& farmers’ access to credit). Crop failures in Europe by 1900 – led to increase in grain exports. Immigration in massive numbers to urban areas – more markets & higher prices for agrarian products.

31. Populist Goals that Survived: • 16th Amendment – income tax • 17th Amendment – direct election Senators • Secret ballot • Direct primary elections

32. CAUSES OF THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR: • MANIFEST DESTINY!! • Increased population, wealth, & industrial production gave Americans a sense of power • Manufacturers were looking for overseas markets • To control the oceans required overseas naval bases • Social Darwinism also justified overseas expansion • HUMANITARIAN REASONS – protection of Cubans: • Reports published of inhumane treatment of the Cubans by the Spanish

33. CAUSES OF THE WAR: • YELLOW JOURNALISM!! • Rival NY newspapermen Wm. Hearst & Joseph Pulitzer tried to scoop each other to sell papers • misleading pictures like this one common • women were searched by other women not men • de Lôme Letter - Feb. 9, 1898 published by Hearst - Spanish ambassador insulted McKinley • “Remember the Maine!” articles on the mysterious explosion in Feb. 1898

34. USS Maine, 15 Feb 1898

35. WAR DECLARED!! • McKinley asks & Congress declares war – April 25, 1898 • Congress adds TELLER AMENDMENT to War Declaration: • Promises freedom to liberated Cubans after Spanish are defeated

36. War! • Although it was a war to liberate the Cuban people, the SAW actually started in the Philippines. • May 1, 1898 - Dewey’s Victory at Manila Bay,, took all of 6 hours to complete just 6 days after war was declared. “Fire when ready, Gridley.” Commodore George Dewey

37. Meanwhile back in Cuba . . . • American forces invaded in June • Teddy Roosevelt, the “Rough Riders” (& black 10th Cavalry) successfully take San Juan Hill • Rough Riders: college athletes, miners, cowboys, law officers, etc. formed into a cavalry unit by Teddy Roosevelt Charge at San Juan Hill, Frederick Remington

38. Victory! • The Spanish fleet was destroyed outside of Santiago harbor on July 3 • Spanish surrendered July 17, 1898 • Armistice signed on Aug. 12 • U.S. troops march into & occupy Puerto Rico • Hawaii also annexed at this time - Why?

39. TREATY OF PARIS • U.S. GETS: • PHILIPPINES – AT COST OF $20 MILLION • PUERTO RICO • GUAM • SPAIN GIVES UP CONTROLOVER CUBA • CUBA IS NOW ANINDEPENDENT NATION • 5000 U.S. lives lost in thiswar but mostly due to . . . ? • Yellow Fever

40. EFFECTS OF THE WAR • U.S. has moved to a foreign policy of imperialism. • U.S. is now seen as a world power to be respected. • Naval expansion • Large increase in U.S. Hispanic population • U.S. became a player in the Far East • this would help involve us in future wars • Defeating yellow fever ended epidemics in the southeast & made the Panama Canal possible • Acquisition of Hawaii • valuable as a naval base • The last “romantic war” • The last use of cavalry in war

41. THE PHILIPPINES • Major issue of foreign policy – should the Philippines be annexed? • Very Difficult to Govern: • 7,100 islands • 7.5 million people • 43 ethnic groups; 87 languages • Varying lifestyles: city dwellers to tree dwellers

42. FILIPINO RESENTMENT: • Thought U.S. had come to give independence from Spanish control, not make them part of U.S. • Wage war against the U..S. , 1899 - 1902 • Led by Emilio Aguinaldo • Why is this ironic?

43. Teddy Roosevelt helps to overcome the Filipino resentment: • Appoints William Howard Taft as Governor: • Teaches self-government (encourages Filipino representatives in territorial gov’t) • Establishes public schools • Returns property confiscated by Spanish back into hands of rightful Filipino owners

44. INDEPENDENCE! Finally granted to the Philippines in 1946

45. PuertoRico • FORAKER ACT gave limited self-government but • NOT citizens • Tariffs on PR goods into US • Legal problem: did US laws apply to these newly acquired territories? • Did the Constitution “follow the flag?” • Supreme Court said “NO” & gave Congress a free hand in the matter (Insular Cases) • US citizenship & territorial status in 1917

46. CUBA • Teller Amendment: U.S. had pledged to withdraw but…. • Military rule under Gen. Leonard Wood for 3 years: • Education, agriculture, & public health reforms; set up gov’t • Greatest success: totally eradicated yellow fever (Army Dr. Walter Reed) • The US withdrew from Cuba in 1902 leaving behind the Platt Amendment: • Governs Cuban/U.S. relations for next 33 years • Establishes Cuba as a PROTECTORATE of U.S.

47. Platt Amendment: • TERMS: • Cuba cannot enter into agreements with foreign nations that would weaken its independence • Cuba must allow U.S. use of naval bases • Cuba must not get into debt • Cuba must allow U.S. to intervene whenever necessary to protect Cuban independence • Seen as true compromise (Cuba independent but also protected) • BUT, actually kept U.S. and Cuba from true friendly relations – Why?