Download Immigration and Industrialization III Unit 9 Corruption and Unions

IMMIGRATION AND INDUSTRIALIZATION III
UNIT 9
CORRUPTION AND UNIONS
Immigrants were faced with many challenges once they entered the United States. To survive in America, immigrants
needed jobs, housing, and food which were made available to them by political machines for a small cost  their vote
political machines – informal political organization designed to gain and keep power led by a party boss
- provided jobs, food, and housing for immigrants in exchange for their vote in elections
Tammany Hall (1860s-1870s) – political machine in New York City led by Boss Tweed who used construction
of a courthouse to embezzle large sums from the budget  Tweed is eventually caught and prosecuted for
graft (obtaining money dishonestly)
Thomas Nast – political cartoonist who brought corruption of political machines to everyone attention in his
cartoons  he especially targeted Boss Tweed (also contributed the elephant’s association with Republican Party)
To keep political machines from influencing voters, many cities took up secret ballots where a voter's choices are
confidential to ensure that voters record a sinere choice  prevents influence by intimidation or bribery
POLITICAL CORRUPTION
Ulysses S. Grant’s Presidency
Credit Mobilier Scandal – Credit Mobilier was a railroad construction company, formed by insiders of the
Union Pacific Railway who hired themselves to build a railroad line using government money
they then charged more than it cost for the actual construction and pocketing the profit offering
stocks for Union Pacific Railroad below market price to Congressmen as a bribe to ensure
government money continued to pour in and to stop suspicion in Congress
Whisky Ring Scandal –members of Grants Administration file false tax returns on income earn by the sell
of Whisky
To cut down on patronage (spoils system) which many believe led to political corruption, President Hayes reformed the
civil service system by appointing trustworthy officials to office, replacing officials who owed their position to political
machines.
1881 – President Garfield is shot and killed by man rejected for government job pointing to need for civil service form
Chester Arthur’s Presidency
Pendleton Act – created it response to Garfield’s assassination, it created a merit system for those people
wanting federal government jobs requiring them to pass an exam and interview process given by a bipartisan
Civil Service Commission  ended the spoils system in many government positions
PARTY FLIP-FLOP
Grover Cleveland Presidency – Cleveland becomes the 1st Democrat elected president since 1856 (before the Civil War)
- his election was greatly helped by Republicans who supported his proposal for reform and voted for him
called mugwumps (Republicans who voted for Cleveland believing in the needs of the nation outweighed the needs of
their party)
-
his election is plagued by high tariffs in place since the Civil War  lowering them cost him reelection
Benjamin Harrison’s Presidency – Harrison was heavily supported by big business that helped him win the election
in 1889
- increased tariffs to the highest yet (McKinley Tariff)
- under immense pressure by the people, the now Republican controlled government began to do something
about the power welded by trusts
Sherman Antitrust Act – outlawed monopolies and any organization that restricted trade or competition
- did not apply to manufacturing (United States v. E.C. Knight, Co.) E.C. Knight Company was such a
company controlling over 98 percent of the sugar-refining business in the United States
Grover Cleveland – wins the election of 1892 becoming the first president to serve two nonconsecutive terms
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WORKERS UNITE
Industry grew in the late 1800s as business leaders merged and formed powerful trusts and corporations that dominated
the era. However, industrial growth came at a cost as employers took advantage of their workers. Soon, workers
organized and formed their own groups to fight back and gain rights for themselves.
unions – organization of workers in same occupation (craft union) or skill (trade union) formed for the purpose of
advancing its members’ interests
strikes – one of the first labor union strategies in which workers refuse to work
Opposition to unions led many companies to employ their own strategies to deal with unions
yellow-dog contract- requirement by an employer that workers agree not to join a union
mediation/arbitration - negotiation conducted by an neutral 3rd party to resolve issues  arbitration is legally
binding
lockout – employers prevent unions from forming by denying them entry to work
strike-breaker (scab) – replacement workers hired to fill the position of a striker
blacklist- list of people considered troublemakers by employers, who tried to organize a union or strike
The Great Strike of 1877- involved workers for the railroad company protesting a cut in wages by walking off the job
and smashing equipment  the first organized strike in U.S. history
- over 80,000 workers from 11 different states (affected 2/3 of the nations railways)
- President Hayes sent the army to reopen the railroads and stop the violence (100 dead, millions of dollars of
machinery destroyed)
Union leaders realized the need to be better organized after the failure of the Great Strike. Consequently, larger and
more organized labor unions emerged
Knights of Labor - the first labor union that opened membership to EVERY worker who wanted it (except Chinese,
doctors, lawyers, stockbrokers, liquor manufactures)
-
supported 8 hour workdays, equal pay for women, an end to child labor, and a progressive income tax
Haymarket Affair (1886) - police break up a rally supporting a nationwide strike for an 8-hour workday in Chicago
- was peaceful until a bomb is thrown at police who return fire resulting in 11 people dead and the police
arrest of 8 German immigrants suspected of being anarchists  all 8 convicted and 4 executed
American Federation of Labor (1886) – combination of several unions that merge into one under the leadership of
Samuel Gompers to promote three union aims:
collective bargaining – negotiations between workers and employers
closed shops – system in which companies could only hire union members
also promoted an 8-hour workday
Homestead Strike (1892) – workers strike at one of Carnage’s steel mills after wages are cut
scabs were brought in leading to armed conflict leading to 12 deaths
American Railway Union (1893) – the largest industrial union of its time founded by socialist Eugene V. Debs
socialism – an economic and political system that promotes government ownership of all industries, businesses,
and services as well as equal wealth distribution
Pullman Strike (1894) – Pullman Company slashed workers wages
- Pullman Company employees lived in company owned housing and bought goods at a company owned
store  cut in wages meant difficulty paying rent or buying goods
- when three workers who complained were fired, a strike began
- the company arranged for U.S mail cars to be attached to help break the strike
allow mail cars to pass  strike broken
don’t allow mail cars to pass  breaking federal law leading to arrest
- President Cleveland sent troops to help deliver the mail will the courts ordered an injunction - court
order to prohibit a party from doing or continuing to do a certain activity
- both the strike and the American Railway Union collapsed  Debs jailed
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