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Populism & the Election of 1896

Explore the successes and failures of the Populist Party, the most important third party in American history. Discover the major problems faced by farmers during the Gilded Age and how they organized to challenge the status quo. Learn about the impact of the Grange, Farmers Alliances, and the Populist Party on political reform and the economy.

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Populism & the Election of 1896

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  1. Populism & the Election of 1896

  2. Essential Questions: • What were the successes and failures of the Populist Party? • Why was it the most important 3rd party in American History?

  3. What were some of the major problems facing farmers during the Gilded Age ??

  4. Drought Surpluses Prices set by world market Railroad corruption Debt & monetary policies Problems of the Farmers

  5. The Grange The Southern Alliance The Coop Farmer’s Organize

  6. Written by a Farmer at the End of the 19c When the banker says he's brokeAnd the merchant’s up in smoke,They forget that it's the farmer who feeds them all.It would put them to the testIf the farmer took a rest;Then they'd know that it's the farmer feeds them all. Catalyst: 1891 = Banks began to foreclose on farm mortgages

  7. Founder of the National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry (1867)

  8. The Grange Movement • First major farmer organization. • Began as a social organization (farmers could avoid isolation). • As financial problems grew, became a political organization that challenged the railroads.

  9. The Grange Movement • Set up cooperatives - where farmers combined their resources to buy and sell goods • Succeeded in getting Congress to pass “Granger Laws.” to regulate the RR

  10. Granger Laws • Munn vs. Illinois (1877) • Allowed state legislatures to regulate RR • Interstate Commerce Act (1877) • Made railroads play fair

  11. The Farmers Alliances • A more powerful farm organization • Built upon the Grange. • More political and less social. • Ran candidates for office. • Controlled 8 state legislatures & had 47representatives in Congress during the 1890s.

  12. The Farmers Alliances • Omaha Platform, 1892 (What they lobbied for) • Graduated income tax • Government ownership of RRs • Expansion of money supply • 1873: Gold Standard (The amount of $ in circulation was limited by the amount of gold held in the treasury.)

  13. The Money Supply • 1873: Gold Standard (The amount of $ in circulation was limited by the amount of gold held in the treasury.) • Caused a decrease in the amount of money in circulation • Lowered prices (bad for farmers trying to sell crops) • Farmers Alliance wanted to back $ supply with silver

  14. The Populist (Peoples’) Party • Formed when Farmers Alliance did so well in 1890 election. • Platform included most of Farmers Alliance ideas • Government ownership of RR, telegraphs, telephone • Graduated income tax • Return all excess RR land to government James B. Weaver, Presidential Candidate &James G. Field, VP

  15. The Populist (Peoples’) Party • Also wanted political reform • Direct election of senators • Secret ballot • Initiative (laws can be suggested by average people) • Referendum (laws can be voted by average people) James B. Weaver, Presidential Candidate &James G. Field, VP

  16. 1892 Election

  17. Bi-Metallism Issue

  18. The Panic of 1893

  19. Causes of the 1893 Panic • Begun 10 days after Cleveland took office. • Several major corps. went bankrupt. • Bank failures followed causing a contractionof credit [nearly 500 banks closed]. • By 1895, unemployment reached 3 million. • Americans cried out for relief, but the Govt.continued its laissez faire policies!! (They did nothing.)

  20. Here Lies Prosperity

  21. The 1896 Election

  22. Gold / Silver Bug Campaign Pins • Populists and other free-silver proponents advocated unlimited coinage of silver in order to inflate the money supply, thus making it easer for cash-strapped farmers and small businessmen to borrow money and pay off debts.

  23. William Jennings Bryan • Democratic Candidate • Supports free silver • Endorsed by the Populist Party The “Great Commoner”

  24. You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns; you shall not crucify mankind upon across of gold!

  25. Mark Hanna: The “Front-Porch” Campaign

  26. William McKinley • Republican Candidate • Conservative platform • Gold standard (sound $)

  27. The Seasoned Politician vs. The “Young” Newcomer

  28. 1896 Election Results

  29. Gold Triumphs Over Silver • 1900  GoldStandard Act • confirmed thenation’s commitment tothe gold standard.

  30. If they lost the presidential election, why was the Populist Party considered a success? • 16th Amendment—Graduated Income Tax • 17th Amendment—Direct Election of Senators • Initiative & referendum • Australian (secret) ballot

  31. What happened to Populism? McKinley won (not Bryan) Farmers economic conditions begin to improve. Populism dies but lays groundwork for future reform.

  32. The Wizard of Ozby L. Frank Baum

  33. 1964: Henry Littlefield’s “Thesis”?

  34. “Parable of the Populists”? • Tornado  ? • Dorothy  ? • Toto  ? • Kansas  ? • Wicked Witch of theEast  ? • Tin Woodsman  ? • Scarecrow  ? • Cowardly Lion  ? • Silver Slippers  ? • Emerald City  ? • Oz  ? • The Wizard  ? • Munchkins  ? • Wicked Witch of the West  ? • Yellow Brick Road  ?

  35. Heyday of Western Populism

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