Populism, Jim Crow, Immigration, and Empire in late 19th Century

Module 3

farmers alliance

response to tenuous economic position of small farmers in the south and west due to debt peonage. all work together to grow and buy crops and equipment

wants:

• government oversight and rate controls of railroads

• limits on crop production in order to ensure that demand remains high

• bimetalism

• subtreasury system

bimetalism

coinage of silver and gold, putting money in circulation, better for poor and people in debt

subtreasury system

government controlled warehouse store crops and resell them at steady pace (keeping demand and prices high)

People’s Populist Party

political variant of farmers’ alliance

The American Federation of Labor (AFL)

influential after decline of knights of labor

more conservative than knights of labor. seek to improve the lot of workers within the capitalist system

not open to unskilled labor, most immigrants or women

William Jennings Bryan

populist democrat

supported bimetalism

want public (government) control of railroads because they believe it would be cheaper

Franchise

the right to vote

defranchisement

denying or taking away the right to vote

15th Amendment

the right of citizens of the united states to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the united states or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude

poll taxes

annual fee must be paid to vote

disfranchisement technique

literacy test

must prove ability to read

disfranchisement technique

understanding clause

must explain a passage from the constitution or other document

disfranchisement technique

grandfather clause

protects white voters. If your grandfather voted in 1860, you’re excused from tests

disfranchisement technique

segregation

dividing the physical space of the south by race

certain spaces reserved for white or blacks

theory: black spaces are equal to white ones but in practice they are inferior

Plessy v. Ferguson

man tests the Louisiana law by sitting in the white section

arrested, court rules “separate but equal”

Lynching

mob murder of an individual or group of people often in response to an alleged crime

victims tended to be black by majority

were political, making clear statements about power and lines of belonging

Jim Crow

the display of power via:

• disfranchisement

• segregation

• lynching

New Immigrants

increasing immigration from southern and eastern Europe

• Italians

• greeks

• poles

• slavs

• russian jews

new nativism

spikes during economic downturns (“they take our jobs”)

the fear and discomfort around immigrants

immigrant restriction league

educated elite in boston who seek to end immigration

Chinese Exclusion Act

Ban of Chinese immigration and prohibits current immigrants from becoming citizens of the US

boom of asian/chinese immigration during an economic depression were blamed and described as heathens and uncivilized

workingmen’s party

california labor based organization led by Dennis Kearney

opposes Chinese immigration

Anti-Chinese violence

day to day violence of organized mobs to drive out chinese

Rock Springs Massacre - white coal miners kill 28 chinese miners

Imperialists

US should create an empire for military and economic reasons

Us would be a benevolent colonizer. it would uplift and teach its colonies not oppress them

Race: it is acceptable for white nation like the US to take non-white territories as its colonies

Anti-Imperialist

is a violation of the nations founding creed and the legacy of the american revolution

constitution does not allow for US colonies

Race: it is not desirable to incorporate non-white populations into the US body politics

Spanish American War

“A splendid Little War”

explosion of the USS Maine was the cause

war was over in a few months after Admiral Dewey destroys the Spanish Fleet in Manila Harbor (Philippines)

CUBA

granted independence. The Platt amendment in their constitution grants the US the right to intervene in international affairs at will

Puerto Rico

becomes an incorporated territory. neither a nation nor a US state. power is split between the island and the us mainland. not entitled to full protection under the US constitution

Philippenes

largely governed by the US as a traditional colony. revolutionaries led by Aguinaldo fough for independence for seven years

Hawaii

american sugar corporations established plantations

queen Liluokalani works to increase native influence

• overthrown and request annexation