Populism What was life like for the rich (think Rockefeller or Carnegie) during this period? How did that compare to the lives of ordinary people, especially in the West? Populism = politics that favors the common man over business/rich Did this come from a rich person’s house or a poor person’s?
Angry Farmers Problems Actions Poor farmers felt cheated The Grange Railroad Rates Gold Standard Farmers didn’t have much gold Low prices for farm goods The Grange Interstate Commerce Act “Greenbackers”
Rise of Populism Angry Farmers came together as the Populist Party in 1892 election Candidate was James B. Weaver; 8.5% of the votes Really peaked in 1896; William Jennings Bryan earned Democratic nomination “Cross of Gold”
The Wizard of Oz L. Frank Baum, a part-time farmer, wrote The Wizard of Oz as an allegory about the troubles of farmers “Yellow Brick Road” = Gold Standard Silver slippers (ruby in the movie) = Free Silver Dorothy = The American People Scarecrow = Farmers Tin Man = Industrial Workers Cowardly Lion = William Jennings Bryan Tornado = Political upheaval of the 1890s
Populism Today What is this cartoon about? What is the “Occupy Wall Street” movement? How has/will populism factor into the presidential election of 2016?