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The Rise and Fall of the Populist Party 1867-1896

The Rise and Fall of the Populist Party 1867-1896 . Farmers’ Problems:. Lower prices for crops Farmers had no cash . . .went further into debt. . . foreclosed on mortgages Railroads charged outrageous prices to ship crops (no regulation!). Farmers’ Demands:.

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The Rise and Fall of the Populist Party 1867-1896

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  1. The Rise and Fall of the Populist Party1867-1896

  2. Farmers’ Problems: • Lower prices for crops • Farmers had no cash . . .went further into debt. . . foreclosed on mortgages • Railroads charged outrageous prices to ship crops (no regulation!)

  3. 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 will be worth less) • 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

  4. Farmers’ Political Demands • 1 term for President & VP • secret ballot • popular election of Senators • To get industrial workers support • 8-hour workday • restrict immigration

  5. Different Groups Representing Farmers’ Interests • 1867: The Patrons of Husbandry (The Grange) • 1880s: Farmers’ Alliance and Colored Farmers’ National Alliance • 1892: Birth of the Populist, or People’s Party

  6. 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.

  7. 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

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

  9. 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

  10. The Farmers Alliances • Goals: • Graduated income tax • Government ownership of RRs • Expansion of money supply • 1873: Gold Standard

  11. 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

  12. 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)

  13. 1892 Presidential Election: Populist Candidate won over a million votes!

  14. The Depression of 1893 CAUSES Began 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.)

  15. The 1896 Election

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

  17. 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!

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

  19. 1896 Election Results

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

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

  22. The Wizard of Ozas Political Allegory

  23. The characters and who they represent

  24. Dorothy represents the American people

  25. The Scarecrow represents the western farmers (Populists)

  26. The Tin Woodsman represents the eastern workers, victims of mechanization

  27. The Cowardly Lion represents William Jennings Bryan (1860 – 1925): Bryan lost the election to William McKinley-- Bryan had a load roar, but no power.

  28. The Wicked Witch of the East Represents the eastern banking interests

  29. =

  30. The Wizard William McKinley

  31. Oz The abbreviation for an ounce of gold or silver

  32. The Yellow Brick Roadand Silver (not ruby!)Slippers

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