Populism: Roots of Populism: Roots of ReformReform

The Rise and Fall of the The Rise and Fall of the

Voice of the FarmerVoice of the Farmer

I. Settlers Flock WestI. Settlers Flock West

A. 1607 Jamestown to 1870 the MississippiA. 1607 Jamestown to 1870 the Mississippi1. 263 years1. 263 years2. 400 million acres of farming and settlement2. 400 million acres of farming and settlement

B. 1870 to 1900B. 1870 to 19001. 30 years1. 30 years2. 400 million acres of farming and settlement2. 400 million acres of farming and settlement

1 Square mile has 640 Acres.1 Square mile has 640 Acres.400,000,000 Acres =625,000 square miles400,000,000 Acres =625,000 square miles

C. West transformed from desert to nation’s C. West transformed from desert to nation’s breadbasketbreadbasket

1. Federal support1. Federal supporta. Homestead Act allowed 400,000 families to receive a. Homestead Act allowed 400,000 families to receive

160 Acres of land for free if they farmed it for 5 years 160 Acres of land for free if they farmed it for 5 years (video segment)(video segment)

b. Morrill Land Grant Act—federal land given to states to b. Morrill Land Grant Act—federal land given to states to establish agricultural collegesestablish agricultural colleges

2. Transcontinental railroad2. Transcontinental railroada. Fed Gov gave land grants to RRs—170 M acresa. Fed Gov gave land grants to RRs—170 M acres

b. RRs became mega wealthy by acquiring land, selling b. RRs became mega wealthy by acquiring land, selling it, and controlling the costs of shipping goodsit, and controlling the costs of shipping goods

II. Closing of the Frontier II. Closing of the Frontier

A. 1872 gov’t set aside land for Nat’l A. 1872 gov’t set aside land for Nat’l Parks Parks

B. 1893 free and accessible land B. 1893 free and accessible land scarcescarce

C. Frederick Jackson Turner—essay on C. Frederick Jackson Turner—essay on “The Closing of the Frontier” made “The Closing of the Frontier” made clear that the American frontier was clear that the American frontier was a vital part of the American mental a vital part of the American mental state state

III. Farmers in DebtIII. Farmers in DebtA. A. Farmers borrowed heavilyFarmers borrowed heavily

1.Machinery1.Machinery2. Seed2. Seed3. Shipping costs went to railroads3. Shipping costs went to railroads

B. Problems for farmersB. Problems for farmers 1. Life was hard1. Life was hard 2. Needed cheap and accessible money (loans)2. Needed cheap and accessible money (loans)3. High railroad costs for shipping and storage3. High railroad costs for shipping and storage4. Prices for crops fell4. Prices for crops fell5. Debt relief—get out of spiral of more land and 5. Debt relief—get out of spiral of more land and

more debt more debt

IV. Farmers unite to work for IV. Farmers unite to work for solutionssolutions

A. Oliver Kelly organized Patrons of Husbandry A. Oliver Kelly organized Patrons of Husbandry (Grange) for social and educational purposes(Grange) for social and educational purposes

B. Farmers’ Alliance educated farmers about B. Farmers’ Alliance educated farmers about interest rate on loans, gov. control over RRs interest rate on loans, gov. control over RRs and banks, and increasing the money supplyand banks, and increasing the money supply

C. C. 4 million members in alliances across US4 million members in alliances across US

D. Leaders of alliance realize they need D. Leaders of alliance realize they need political powerpolitical power

V. The Populist PartyV. The Populist Party

A.A. PopulismPopulism1.1. Movement of the peopleMovement of the people2.2. Demanded reforms for farmers and workersDemanded reforms for farmers and workers

a.a. Debt reliefDebt reliefb.b. Voice in governmentVoice in governmentc.c. Increase in money supplyIncrease in money supplyd.d. Graduated income taxGraduated income taxe.e. Popular election of senatorsPopular election of senatorsf.f. Secret ballotSecret ballotg.g. 8 hour work day8 hour work dayh.h. Restrictions on immigrationRestrictions on immigration

3.3. Not as powerful as Democrats or Republican PartyNot as powerful as Democrats or Republican Party4.4. Became powerful forceBecame powerful force5.5. Ideas eventually adopted by DemocratsIdeas eventually adopted by Democrats

VI. Panic of 1893VI. Panic of 1893

A.A. Economic problems force political issues asideEconomic problems force political issues aside1.1. Economy grew too fastEconomy grew too fast2.2. Too much debt by farmers and bankersToo much debt by farmers and bankers3.3. RRs built faster than markets so many failRRs built faster than markets so many fail4.4. Industries related to RRs also failIndustries related to RRs also fail

a. Irona. Ironb. Steelb. Steelc. banksc. banks

5. Stock Market collapsed5. Stock Market collapsed 6. Gold reserves fell—price of silver fell closing 6. Gold reserves fell—price of silver fell closing

minesmines 7. Investment, wages, consumer purchases fell7. Investment, wages, consumer purchases fell 8. Unemployment rate 20%8. Unemployment rate 20%

VII. Money IssuesVII. Money Issues

A.A. Economic slump forced major political Economic slump forced major political parties to focus on their regional issuesparties to focus on their regional issues

1.1. North—businesses and bankers (Rep)North—businesses and bankers (Rep)

2.2. South & West—farmers and laborers (Dem)South & West—farmers and laborers (Dem)

B.B. Question of basis of money supply Question of basis of money supply (metal)(metal)

1.1. Silverites—bimetallism: policy where gov. Silverites—bimetallism: policy where gov. would give gold or silver in exchange for would give gold or silver in exchange for paper money or checkspaper money or checks

2.2. Gold Bugs—backing money only with goldGold Bugs—backing money only with gold

IX. Election of 1896IX. Election of 1896

A.A. Populists support bimetallism and the free Populists support bimetallism and the free exchange of silverexchange of silver

B.B. Republicans committed to gold standardRepublicans committed to gold standardC.C. Democrats favored combined gold and silver Democrats favored combined gold and silver

standard with unlimited supply of silverstandard with unlimited supply of silverD.D. Dem. William Jennings Bryan supported Dem. William Jennings Bryan supported

farmers and gave passionate “Cross of farmers and gave passionate “Cross of Gold” speech which gained him favor with Gold” speech which gained him favor with Populists Populists

E.E. Fears of inflation, support from cities, and Fears of inflation, support from cities, and finances of the Republican candidate finances of the Republican candidate (William McKinley) brought about Bryan’s (William McKinley) brought about Bryan’s loss and the collapse of Populism.loss and the collapse of Populism.

Assignment Assignment 1. Read pages 121-131: 1. Read pages 121-131: America’s America’s

JourneyJourney

Assignment Assignment

Answer questions 4-5 Answer questions 4-5 (page 131)(page 131) ID Sig all termsID Sig all terms (page 131)(page 131)