Changes

But while the Republicans controlled the presidency from 1868 to 1912 (with the exception of Grover Cleveland), the Democratic Party controlled much of local politics.  "Tammany Hall" was the name of the Democratic Party organization that controlled New York City.  It was a completely corrupt "machine" that elected people, gave out jobs, and even stole money from the City.  Eventually, it was the New York Times and America's most famous cartoonist, Thomas Nast, who mocked its leader, "Boss" Tweed, with tremendous effectiveness.  Thomas Nast's cartoons whipped the public into scorning Boss Tweed and demanding that he be brought to justice.  When Boss Tweed was eventually sent to jail, Nast cheered Tweed's humiliation.  This demonstrated the influence of political cartoons in changing the course of history.

But while the Republicans controlled the presidency from 1868 to 1912 (with the exception of Grover Cleveland), the Democratic Party controlled much of local politics.  "Tammany Hall" was the name of the Democratic Party organization that controlled New York City.  It was a completely corrupt "machine" that elected people, gave out jobs, and even stole money from the City.  Eventually, it was the New York Times and America's most famous cartoonist, Thomas Nast, who mocked its leader, "Boss" Tweed, with tremendous effectiveness.  Thomas Nast's cartoons whipped the public into scorning Boss Tweed and demanding that he be brought to justice.  When Boss Tweed was eventually sent to jail, Nast cheered Tweed's humiliation.  This demonstrated the influence of political cartoons in changing the course of history.

The Republicans did win presidential elections easily in the late 1800s.  The presidential contest of 1876 was virtually a tie, and former Ohio Governor Rutherford B. Hayes was able to win it only due to a post-election deal between the Republican and Democratic parties.  The deal, as mentioned in the last lecture, was for the Republicans to end Reconstruction in the South in exchange for the Democrats agreeing to the swearing in of Hayes as President.  Hayes served for only one-term.  He was considered a "moderate" and the Hayes Administration was uneventful.  It was free of the scandals that plagued the Grant Administration before him.

The Republicans did win presidential elections easily in the late 1800s.  But the presidential contest of 1876 was virtually a tie, and former Ohio Governor Rutherford B. Hayes was able to win only due to a post-election deal between the Republican and Democratic parties.  The deal, as mentioned in the last lecture, was for the Republicans to end Reconstruction in the South in exchange for the Democrats agreeing to the swearing in of Hayes as President.  Hayes served for only one-term.  He was considered a "moderate" and the Hayes Administration was uneventful.  It was free of the scandals that plagued the Grant Administration before him.

In the period just after the end of Reconstruction, many African Americans moved away from discrimination into the South towards the Midwest, especially Kansas.  These migrants are known as the "Exodusters".

In the period just after the end of Reconstruction, many African Americans moved away from discrimination into the South towards the Midwest, especially Kansas.  These migrants are known as the "Exodusters".