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Plight of Farmers
• Rise of Farmer Alliances
• Formation of Populism**Print notes and bring to next class: Populism notes & notes for Gilded Age politics
Key Terms & Question• Key Terms: – Grange– Populism– People’s party – Mechanization
• Essential Question: Why and how did the American farmer propose to curb the growing power of Big Business?
http://www.history.com/shows/modern-marvels/videos/modern-farm-tractors-provide-comforts#modern-farm-tractors-provide-comforts
Political Cartoon of Farmers vs. the RailroadsCartoon of a farmer fighting a train shaped like a serpent, with the caption "Which Will Win? The Farmer or the Railroad Monster?" The railroad's coils are wrapped around the dome of the U.S. Capitol.
http://www.corbisimages.com/stock-photo/rights-managed/IH165409/political-cartoon-of-farmers-vs-the-railroads
(a) Difficult Times for Farmers(a) Difficult Times for Farmerso Farmers borrow money from banks to buy
new machinery o Reliance on technology rather than manual
labor was known as agricultural mechanization
o Use of machines resulted in overproduction (too much agricultural products) and caused crop prices to fallo Farmers could not pay costs (increased debt)
Agriculture was hurting after the Civil WarFalling farm pricesUnregulated
railroadsIncreased
agricultural production in the west
Factors that harmed farmers engaged in free market economy
• Grain elevator operators stored grain when not in transit – often charged excessive rates
• Manufacturers kept raising prices on commodities – even as farmers had less disposable incomes
• Banks increased interest on credit
• Industries raised the cost of harvesters and combines
• RR industry – rising shipping prices
(b) Whose to Blame
• Farmers blame politicians and big businesses• Want government to regulate railroads (said
overcharging them to ship goods) • Interstate Commerce Act: created Interstate
Commerce Commission and regulated railroad rates
• Wanted gov. to provide subsidies• Gov. pay farmers money to cover their losses due
to overproduction
(c) What Farmers Want
Supported use of greenbacks (paper money)
Wanted dollar based on silver standard and gold standard (bimetallism) Believed would put more money in hands of
consumers (increase farm prices)
Supported use of greenbacks (paper money)
Wanted dollar based on silver standard and gold standard (bimetallism) Believed would put more money in hands of
consumers (increase farm prices)
Solution for FarmersSolution for Farmers
Formation of agriculture organizationThe Grange (Patrons of Husbandry)
Goals:Promoted the economic, social and political
welfare of the farmerFought monopolies (railroads)Supported equality for women
Song
Grange States
The National Grange is active in the 37 purple states and DC
Legislation
• As membership increased, the Grangers were able to enact laws to address abuses – Granger Laws: regulated RR and grain
elevator operators – Faced strong opposition – faced off with RR
and grain operators in court
Court Cases • Munn v. Illinois (1877)
– Court ruled that states could place regulations on RR for public good, but states could not regulate long-hauls
– RR companies responded by inflating long-haul rates• Peik v. Chicago & Northwestern Railway (1876)
– Supreme Court upheld that Granger Laws were not in violation of the federal government’s power to regulate interstate trade & commerce; states could establish their own interstate regulations
• Illinois v. Wabash (1886)– Court reversed Peik case that commerce and trade that
crossed state lines were under authority of federal gov• Congress responds with passing Interstate Commerce
Act
FORMATION OF POPULIST
PARTY
TO ADDRESS PROGLEMS FACED BY FARMERS
Populism (The People’s Party)• The concern over the farmers eventually gave rise to the Populist
Movement• Populism embraced what farmers wanted, it supported the
circulation of greenbacks (paper currency)• In 1892, under the official name of the People’s Party, the Populists
met in Omaha, Nebraska• Here they formed the Omaha Platform. Politically, Populism
appealed to the common man• It was a movement that praised agriculture as the backbone of the
country and favored farmers of the South and Wes• It also sought to break down racial divisions between white and
black farmers. Populists preached these 2 groups must unit to beat oppression of big business and corrupt politicians
Populist Platform
Supported bimetallism ($ supported by silver & goldUse of greenbacks Increased gov. regulation of business8 hour work dayGraduated income taxElection reforms
Direct election of Senators and president Secret ballot
Election of 1896• As the country approached the presidential election of 1896, it was
experiencing one of the worse economic depressions ever.• As the depression deepened in 1894, more and more people blamed
President Cleveland for the worsening condition.• Cleveland blamed the silver standard for the nation’s economic woes
and returned the US to a strict gold standard– This meant the dollar could only be backed by gold. Many people
argued it should be based on silver too. By backing money with gold & silver, money would be more plentiful
– This position supported bimetallism – Eventually populists agreed to support bimetallism and greenbacks– The silver question became a major issue of the 1896 campaign
Election of 1896
William Jennings Bryan Backed bimetallism Won the Populist vote
Democrat party vote was divided and did not win enough votes
William McKinley Won the election Marked the end
of the Populist Party
Democrats Republicans
Election 1896
• Bryan, in his famous “Cross of Gold” speech, stated you shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold
• Despite his abilities as a speaker and a national campaigner, Bryan could not overcome splits in the Democratic party to win enough votes.
• Republican William McKinley won the presidential election of 1896
• Populism faded soon after
Resources• http://www5.esc13.net/socialstudies/docs/era%206/populism_lesso
n_plan.pdf Populism lesson plan
• Farmers lesson ppt http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/agexed/aee501/organizations.html
• http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/historyonline/us25.cfm data analysis - Digital HS
• http://www.wadsworth.com/history_d/special_features/ext/am_hist/AmerHis-ch12.html#timeline resources (primary/secondary)
• http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/subtitles.cfm?titleID=30 political crisis articles
• http://www.pinzler.com/ushistory/popparplatsupp.html people’s party (preamble)
• http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap07_us_hist_frq.pdf DBQ
• http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=159 farmers and wizard of oz
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2itQkiQUOE&feature=related Wizard of Oz clip 6/8