History Chat - January 21, 2021

Link to Video

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Summary: An assessment of how the inclusion of more people who are able to participate in voting in the late 1860’s and early 1870’s affected the fear of lower class workers, immigrants, and African Americans leading to the redistribution of wealth for White Americans.

 

Timestamp 5:53: White American male industrialists have created a bureaucratic class of sorts which fears workers and women’s ability to rise as a result of the Paris Commune.

 

Timestamp 9:50: During the time the South should be rebuilding, which is perceived as an easy rebuild due to cotton, their main buyers (England) established cotton in both Egypt and India. This creates a large economic problem as their means to make money to lift themselves out of the aftermath of the Civil War is no longer an option.

 

Timestamp 15:54: Women going into college, and consequently the workforce, are taught  skills that can be used outside of the home. This long term adjusts gender roles and the changing role of women in American Society.

 

Timestamp 21:53: In the election of 1872 Grant was backed by the Republican party, and inherited an environment where Lincoln was assassinated and his predecessor was a train wreck. This makes Republicans hesitantly back Grant as they coined him a dumb drunk. Later those who hesitantly backed Grant spread stories of his corruption and start to look towards Charles Summner.

 

Timestamp 36:36:  In 1872, the People of Missori challenged Grant by claiming that he is corrupt and claiming he wants a one party state. This is highlighted by Virginia Minor and Charles’ Schultz’s involvement, as well as Jesse James being seen as a victim of the state when the new  state constitution is applied to his case. This opens the window for the Liberal Republican Party to be created, which straddles the ideas of Confederates who don't care for Equal rights and The northerners who don’t like immigrants voting but do want to end Slavery. They also advocate lower taxes and the limitation of the power of the federal government.

 

Timestamp 40:50: Horace Greely is backed by the Democratic party in  1872, and the democrats don’t have faith in his ability to lead and the Republicans fear that if he wins he will back Democrats as leaders, which will put the Democratic party in charge of the finances, which will open the door for legislation to be passed that will cause redistribution of wealth. This is where they back Grant.

 

Timestamp 42:42: With the economic crash of 1873, the power of lower class voters and the general suffrage idea is revisited and painted as a poor idea. In 1875, the year before the 1876 election, it is said that women are indeed citizens but are not permitted the right to vote.

 

Timestamp 47:11: Voting is organized by the parties themselves instead of the government institutions. This led to polling to be done in places like Saloons, and the ballots were color coded which led to no secrecy of your voter. This changed in 1890 when the transition was made to the secret ballot.

 

Timestamp 52:28: Over a short period of time, Business leaders in the South are confronted that there is knowledge that they cheated to win the vote, primarily from voter suppression, which is an issue to this day. As they are confronted, they are told they will be provided federal money if they refrain from said activity. One of the stipulations in this agreement is that Rutherford B Hayes is backed. The “Compromise” of 1876 stated that if the South supported Rutherford B Hayes that the North would not use the government to keep Republicans in power. The troops in the South are being stationed by the government, and at one point it is said that the government is no longer able to use the government to keep them down the South. They remain in the South to this day and have been pertinent in multiple Wars, including the Spanish American War and World War 1.