Farmer’s reaction to the political reform.

1. Farmer’s reaction to the political reform. By: Allishia Sewell, Ciana Hughes, & Brittanie Cole.

2. “In Essentials, Unity; In Non-essentials, Liberty; In All Things, Charity.”

3. De-De-De-DEFLATION!!! Deflation, which was frequent in the 18th and 19th centuries, worsened after the civil war. The foremost reasons why deflation deteriorated during this period was due to the rapid expansion of the economy and the money source being sporadic. Deflation was so severe that banks were foreclosing farms and houses at an increasing rate. Farmers were working hard making money and trying to sustain their farms, only to have their land foreclosed and seized by the banks. But the deflation wasn't helping the bank either, famers owed masses of debt to the bank that couldn’t be paid off.

4. Looking for a way out of their debt, farmers wanted to rally for a greater supply of money, they preferred silver over gold. They concluded that an increase in money would make their payments easier. This process would cause inflation, making their debt worth less, consequently the banks opposed the proposition. The farmers’ proposal wanted the widespread use of silver coins, and since silver was mined in the west, that plan supported the mining industry in the west along with Midwestern and Southern farmers.

5. Farming vs. Railroads With the growth of industrialization and production of wealth, poverty severely effected the public, including the farmers. In addition to the competition with the bank, farmers also felt as though the railroad industry contributed to their demise.

6. “There is something radically wrong in our industrial system. There is a screw loose. The wheels have dropped out of balance. The railroads have never been so prosperous, and yet agriculture languishes. The banks have never done a better or more profitable business, and yet agriculture languishes. Manufacturing enterprises never made more money or were in a more flourishing condition, and yet agriculture languishes. Towns and cities flourish and ‘boom’ and grow and ‘boom,’ and yet agriculture languishes. Salaries and fees were never so temptingly high and desirable, and yet agriculture languishes.” -Progressive Farmer, 1887.

7. The Crime of ‘73 In 1873, United States Congress embraced the gold standard and demonetized silver. Doing this caused farmers to loose more money. As a result it pitted poor farmers against wealthy bankers and provided an issue around which farmers could organize.

8. The Grange Movement Farmer’s Alliance By 1875 the Grange Movement had more than 1 million members. The Grangers started out allowing farmers to buy machinery and sell crops as a group (therefore reaping the benefits of economic sale). Then they endorsed political candidates and lobbied for legislation. They died out due to lack of money but were quickly replaced by the Farmers Alliances (basically an alliance supporting the farmers and their ideas). The Farmers alliance grew into a political party called the People’s Party(This was the political arm of the populist movement). Besides supporting the coinage of silver, they called for government ownership of railroads and telegraphs, a graduated income tax, direct election of U.S senators, and shorter workdays.

9. The Grange Movement cont. In 1893 the country entered a four-year financial crisis which made the populist goals more popular. In 1896 the populist party backed William Jennings Bryan in the election. Even though he was a democratic candidate, Bryan ran on a strictly populist platform. His campaign was the call for “free silver” and is best remembered for his “cross of gold” speech. Bryan lost the election, and the economy improved soon after. Due to that the populist movement ended.

10. You can remember the populist movement by thinking of ‘The Wizard of Oz’. Dorothy represents the common man, her silver slippers(changed to ruby for the movie) signifies the silver standard, the scarecrow represents the farmer, the tin man representing the industrial worker and the cowardly lion represents William Jennings Bryan.

11. POP QUIZ!

12. 1. Critical deflation occurred Directly after which important event? The 17th amendment. The election of Abraham Lincoln. The Civil War. World War I. The assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

13. C. The civil war

14. 2. The proposal of silver also benefitted which group of people? Republicans. Little Monsters. Populists. Industrialists. Miners.

15. E. MINERS

16. 3. The populist movement ended after what event? William Jennings Bryan losing the election. The release of ‘The Wizard of Oz’. The discovery of bronze. The world may never know. All of the above.

17. Bryan’s loss

18. 4. WHAT DOES DORTHY REPRESENT WHEN COMPARING ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ TO THE POPULIST MOVENT? Gold diggers Farmers Democrats The common people Women

19. D. THE COMMON PEOPLE