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Defensive Driving Alive at 25, 2 nd edition

Explore the struggle of farmers against exploitation, the rise of the Populist Party, and key events like the Election of 1896 in response to economic challenges and social injustices in late 19th-century America.

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Defensive Driving Alive at 25, 2 nd edition

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  1. The Closing of the West, the Farmers’ Movements & the Rise of the Populists

  2. Turner’s Frontier Thesis • Reaction to the U.S. Census Bureau’s declaration that the “frontier had been settled” almost completely • “The Significance of the Frontier in American History” (1893) • Habit of independence and individualism • Social leveler • Inventive, practical-minded but wasteful of natural resources • Turner troubled: • Fresh start no longer possible • Potential for class division/social conflict

  3. Farmers’ Problems • Crop prices fell • Farmers had no cash, went further into debt, and their lenders foreclosed on their mortgages • The railroad companies charged outrageous prices to ship crops (no regulation!)

  4. Farmers’ Demands • Regulate the railroad companies (Stop them from charging such high rates) • Make cash more available (back the dollar with silver, not gold, so dollar would be worth less) • Constitutional demands: single term for President and Vice-President, secret ballot, popular election of Senators • To get industrial workers to support them: 8-hour workday, restrict immigration

  5. The Granger Movement • The1stattempttoorganizefarmers began with the Grangers: • Grangers grew angry at the exploitive practices of Eastern bankers,railroads,&wholesalers • Grangers formed co-op stores, banks, & grain elevators • TheGrangedied in the depression of the 1870s, but established the precedent of farmer organization

  6. The National Farmers’ Alliance • In 1890, the National Farmers’ Alliance replaced the Grange as the leading farmers’ group • In 1890, made Ocala Demands: • Allow farmers to store crops in gov’t silos when prices are bad • Free-coinage of silver, a federal income tax, & regulation of RRs • Direct election of U.S. senators

  7. The Populist Party • In 1890, farmers & factory workers formed the Populist Party: • Their platform included the Ocala Demands, an 8-hour day, gov’t control of RRs & banks, the breakup of monopolies, & tighter immigration restrictions • Populists emerged as a powerful 3rd party & got numerous state & national politicians elected 3 governors, 10 congressmen, 5 senators, & dominated the state governments of Idaho, NV, CO, KS, & ND

  8. 1892 Presidential Election: Populist candidate won over a million votes!

  9. 1896 Election • Democrats – 1890s • Southerners • Wealthy farmers • Supported low tariffs (wanted other countries to buy their crops) • Republicans – 1890s • Northerners • Wealthy business men (connected to the railroad) • Southern African Americans (poor farmers) • Supported high tariffs (didn’t want to compete with other countries’ products)

  10. 1896 Election • Populists decide to improve their chances by supporting the Democratic candidate, William Jennings Bryan, who agreed to support the silver-backed dollar. • Republicans nominated William McKinley

  11. The Election of 1896 “Having behind us the producing masses…we will answer their demand for the gold standard ‘You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.’”

  12. Bryan: The Farmers’ Friend 18,000 miles of campaign “whistle stops”

  13. The election of 1896 killed the Populist Party, but key Populist ideas (income tax, secret ballot, & direct election of Senators) would be enacted by other parties The Election of 1896

  14. Central Historical Question Whydid the Populist Party attract millions of supporters?

  15. Mary Elizabeth Lease • Before we read…take notes in the margins of this document on the following: • Who wrote this? When? • What was going on for farmers at the time? Lease is a woman who is speaking to a group of women. What does this say about women’s involvement in politics in the 1890s

  16. Mary Elizabeth Lease • Read paragraph 1: How is this supposed to make the audience feel? Why might she use religious references? • Read the 2nd and 3rd paragraphs: How was this supposed to make the audience feel? Who are the good guys? Who are the bad guys? What emotions does she appeal to? • Read the final paragraph: How was this supposed to make the audience feel?

  17. William Jennings Bryan • This is a passage from the the famous “Cross of Gold Speech” • Volunteer to read the document • With a partner, answer the guiding questions.

  18. Do this in class, finish for HW if necessary • This is a passage from the the famous “Cross of Gold Speech” • Volunteer to read the document • With a partner, answer the guiding questions. • Collaborate to write the paragraph as noted at the bottom of the handout.

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