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Populism & the Election of 1896

Learn about the major problems farmers faced during the Gilded Age and the rise of the Populist movement in the 1896 election. Discover the impact of the Grange, Farmers Alliances, and the silver issue.

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Populism & the Election of 1896

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  1. Populism & the Election of 1896

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

  3. Populism: An Agrarian Revolt

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

  5. The Grange Movement • First organized in the 1870s in the Midwest, the south, and Texas. • Set up cooperative associations. • Social and educational components. • Succeeded in lobbying for “Granger Laws.” • Rapidly declined by the late 1870s.

  6. The Farmers Alliances • Begun in the late 1880s • Based on the Grange. • More political and less social than the Grange. • Ran candidates for office. • Controlled 8 state legislatures & had 47representatives in Congress during the 1890s.

  7. United We Stand, Divided We Fall • 1889 Farmers’ Alliance.

  8. Price Indexes for Consumer & Farm Products: 1865-1913

  9. Giftfor theGrangers: The FarmerPays for All!

  10. The Silver Issue • Sherman Silver Purchase Act (1890) • The US Treasury must purchase$4.5 mil. of silver a month. • Govt. deposited most silver in theUS Treasury rather than circulation.

  11. Supreme Court Decisions • Munn vs. Illinois (1877) • Gov’t has the right to tax or tariff goods in a state • Repealed by Wabash v Ill (1886)

  12. The Populist (Peoples’) Party • 1890 Bi-Election: • So. Alliance  wanted to gain control of the Democratic Party. • No. Alliance  ran 3rd Party candidates. • 1892  800 met in St. Louis, MO • majority were Alliance members. • over 100 were African Americans. • reps. of labor organizations & other reformers (Grange, Greenback Party).

  13. Platform of Lunacy

  14. The Populist (Peoples’) Party • Founded by James B. Weaverand Tom Watson. • Got almost 1 million popularvotes. • Several Congressional seatswon. James B. Weaver, Presidential Candidate &James G. Field, VP

  15. Platform of 1892 Abolition of the National Bank. Direct election of Senators. Govt. ownership of RRs, telephone & telegraph companies. Government-operated postal savings banks. Restriction of undesirable immigration. 8-hour work day for government employees. Graduated income tax Re-monitization of silver. A single term for President & Vice President.

  16. Govt.-Owned Companies

  17. 1892 Election

  18. Bi-Metallism Issue

  19. The Panic of 1893

  20. Causes of the 1893 Panic • Begun 10 days after Cleveland took office. • Several major corps. went bankrupt. • Over 16,000 businesses disappeared. • Triggered a stock market crash. • Over-extended investments, mainly RR • 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!!

  21. Here Lies Prosperity

  22. 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.

  23. Coxey’s Army, 1894 • Jacob Coxey & his “Army of the Commonwealth of Christ.” • March on Washington • Purpose: Have Federal Gov’t create programs to provide jobs for unemployed

  24. The 1896 Election

  25. Gold / Silver Bug Campaign Pins

  26. William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925) The “Great Commoner”

  27. William Jennings Bryan Democratic Candidate in 1896 Populists like him, but are hesitant to support

  28. Bryan’s“Cross of Gold” Speech You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns; you shall not crucify mankind upon across of gold!

  29. Bryan: The Farmers Friend(The Mint Ratio) 18,000 miles of campaign “whistle stops.”

  30. Democratic Party Taken Over by the Agrarian Left Platform  tariff reductions; income tax; strictercontrol of the trusts (esp. RRs); free silver.

  31. William McKinley (1843-1901)

  32. Mark Hanna to Candidate McKinley

  33. “A Giant Straddle”: Suggestion for a McKinley Political Poster

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

  35. Joshua A. Levering: Prohibition Party

  36. Into Which Box Will the Voterof ’96 Place His Ballot?

  37. 1896 Election Results

  38. Why Did Bryan Lose? • His focus on silver underminedefforts to build bridges to urbanvoters. • He did not form alliances withother groups. • McKinley’s campaign was well-organized and highly funded.

  39. Gold Triumphs Over Silver • 1900  GoldStandard Act • confirmed thenation’s commitment tothe gold standard. • Will be the standard until 1964

  40. Heyday of Western Populism

  41. Why Did Populism Decline? The economy experienced rapid change. Crop prices and income for farmers rose. Race divided the Populist Party, especially in the South. The Populists were not able to breakexisting party loyalties. Most of their agenda was adopted bythe Democratic Party.

  42. But, Populism Still Lives! Al Gore (Dem) in 2000

  43. But, Populism Still Lives!

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