HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON1

The American NationThe American NationHOLTHOLT

IN THE MODERN ERAIN THE MODERN ERA

Chapter 8Chapter 8

POLITICS IN THE GILDED AGEPOLITICS IN THE GILDED AGE

Section 1:Section 1: Political Machines Political Machines

Section 2:Section 2: Restoring Honest Government Restoring Honest Government

Section 3:Section 3: The Populist Movement The Populist Movement

HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON2

The American NationThe American NationHOLTHOLT

IN THE MODERN ERAIN THE MODERN ERA

Objectives:Objectives:What factors led to economic hardships for farmers?What factors led to economic hardships for farmers?What did the farmers’ movements hope to achieve, What did the farmers’ movements hope to achieve,

and what weakened their efforts?and what weakened their efforts?Why did farmers support money backed by silver?Why did farmers support money backed by silver?What issues did the Populist Party support?What issues did the Populist Party support?How did silver affect the economy and the 1896 How did silver affect the economy and the 1896

presidential election?presidential election?

Section 3: The Populist MovementSection 3: The Populist Movement

HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON3

The American NationThe American NationHOLTHOLT

IN THE MODERN ERAIN THE MODERN ERA

Economic hardships for farmersEconomic hardships for farmersheavy debtsheavy debtshigh freight and machinery costshigh freight and machinery costsfalling crop pricesfalling crop prices

Section 3: The Populist MovementSection 3: The Populist Movement

HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON4

The American NationThe American NationHOLTHOLT

IN THE MODERN ERAIN THE MODERN ERA

Farmer’s movementsFarmer’s movementshoped to pressure states to regulate freight andhoped to pressure states to regulate freight and

grain-storage ratesgrain-storage ratesformed cooperativesformed cooperativesoffered low-cost insuranceoffered low-cost insurancelobbied for graduated income taxlobbied for graduated income taxweakened by government limits on the powerweakened by government limits on the power

of ICCof ICCweakened by racial segregationweakened by racial segregation

Section 3: The Populist MovementSection 3: The Populist Movement

HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON5

The American NationThe American NationHOLTHOLT

IN THE MODERN ERAIN THE MODERN ERA

Money backed by silverMoney backed by silverFarmers supported money backed by silver because Farmers supported money backed by silver because they wanted to increase the paper money supply. As they wanted to increase the paper money supply. As long as only gold was allowed to back paper, the long as only gold was allowed to back paper, the money supply was restricted by how much gold the money supply was restricted by how much gold the treasury had.treasury had.

Section 3: The Populist MovementSection 3: The Populist Movement

HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON6

The American NationThe American NationHOLTHOLT

IN THE MODERN ERAIN THE MODERN ERA

Populist Party issuesPopulist Party issuesgraduated income taxgraduated income taxbank regulationbank regulationgovernment ownership of railroad and telegraph government ownership of railroad and telegraph

companiescompaniesfree coinage of silverfree coinage of silverimmigration restrictionsimmigration restrictionsshorter workdayshorter workdayvoting reformsvoting reforms

Section 3: The Populist MovementSection 3: The Populist Movement

HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON7

The American NationThe American NationHOLTHOLT

IN THE MODERN ERAIN THE MODERN ERA

The effects of silverThe effects of silverSilver was a central issue in the 1896 presidential Silver was a central issue in the 1896 presidential

campaign.campaign.Populists supported Bryan because of his stand on Populists supported Bryan because of his stand on

silver.silver.William McKinley won the election with the support William McKinley won the election with the support

of business leaders who opposed free silver.of business leaders who opposed free silver.

Section 3: The Populist MovementSection 3: The Populist Movement