Populists and Progressives Changing the conditions for America

Populists and Progressives Before the Progressive movement took over there were the Populists Before the Progressive movement took over there were the Populists Populists: Farmers who in the late 1800s sought to limit the power of big business owners and grant more rights to individual workers Populists: Farmers who in the late 1800s sought to limit the power of big business owners and grant more rights to individual workers

Populists and Progressives People living in rural life felt isolated and alone and joined organizations to help each other through the hard times People living in rural life felt isolated and alone and joined organizations to help each other through the hard times They were losing control of their farms or small business to big business and asked the gov’t for help They were losing control of their farms or small business to big business and asked the gov’t for help Would the gov’t help them? Would the gov’t help them?

Populists and Progressives If you can’t beat them, join them If you can’t beat them, join them Little gov’t help resulted in the populists forming their own party Little gov’t help resulted in the populists forming their own party The Populist Party The Populist Party

Populists and Progressives Populist Party: A political party fighting for change in working conditions and for farmers rights Populist Party: A political party fighting for change in working conditions and for farmers rights What did they want? What did they want? Free Silver, Graduated income tax, Gov’t owned RR, direct election of US Senators, graduated income tax, women's suffrage, improved working conditions in factories Free Silver, Graduated income tax, Gov’t owned RR, direct election of US Senators, graduated income tax, women's suffrage, improved working conditions in factories

Populists and Progressives Free Silver would make money more valuable so farmers could pay off their debts easier Free Silver would make money more valuable so farmers could pay off their debts easier This became the chief issue in the election of 1896 This became the chief issue in the election of 1896

Populists and Progressives Read The People’s Party Read The People’s Party

Populists and Progressives

The Populist Party slowly disappears after 1900 but their ideas spread to the cities The Populist Party slowly disappears after 1900 but their ideas spread to the cities Soon the work of the Populists spread to labor unions and the common worker Soon the work of the Populists spread to labor unions and the common worker

Populist and Progressives Who were the Progressives? Who were the Progressives? Optimists Optimists City Dwellers City Dwellers Middle/Lower Class Middle/Lower Class

Populists and Progressives Who helped them? Who helped them? Volunteer Organizations Volunteer Organizations Magazines and Newspapers Magazines and Newspapers Improved Economy Improved Economy

Populists and Progressives

What did they fight for? What did they fight for? Better: living conditions, education, healthcare Better: living conditions, education, healthcare Women and African American rights Women and African American rights To reform the gov’t To reform the gov’t Regulate big business/better working conditions Regulate big business/better working conditions

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