Aim: How did industrialization impact farmers? The Grange Movement & The Populist Party

Farmers’ Problems In the late 1800’s (after the Civil War—1865) an economic downturn hurt farmers. Prices for their products were falling while the cost of seeds and farm machinery was increasing. Banks were foreclosing on farms when loans went unpaid. Railroads were charging unfair high rates for transporting farm goods to markets.

Decreasing Wheat Prices YEAR Bushels Grown (millions) Price per bushel (dollars) 1866 170 $2.06 1875 254 $1.04 1880 502 $.92 1885 400 $.77 1890 449 $.84 1895 542 $.51 1900 599 $.62

Farmers Demand inflation After the Civil War, the economy was in a Deflation period where there was little money in circulation. Deflation forced prices down which helped consumers but hurt the farmers as prices for their products also decreased. Farmers wanted more cash or “Greenbacks” printed and put into circulation and unlimited coins of silver to bring about a period of Inflation to increase the selling prices for their products infla

The Grange Movement The Grange Movement was founded in 1867, as a social and educational organization for farmers and their families. The Grangers had more members in the Midwest region The Grangers wanted; State governments to investigate illegal deals between railroads and big business. State governments to regulate railroad freight (cargo) rates (they wanted a fair an reduced cost for transporting their farm products) Improved living conditions of the farmers.

The Populist Party The Grange and other farmer’s alliances and organizations joined to create the Populist or People’s Party (1892) Although originally a farmer’s organization, the Populist demands also included the interests of the poor, the workers, and the middle class American.

Populist Demands Financial demands: Increase in the money supply (create inflation) Graduated income tax system (more $= pay higher taxes) Provide Federal loans to farmers (gov. lends $$ to farmers at a low interest charge) Political demands: Direct election of state senators by popular vote (people vote for their Senators instead of the major and governor selecting the Senators) secret ballots in election (this would prevent intimidation of voters at ad corruption at the polls) An 8 hour work day Government restrictions on immigration (Populists believed that immigrants took jobs from Americans)

What was the campaign slogan of the 1892 Populist Party Presidential campaign? In the 1892 Presidential election, they ran the first Populist presidential candidate He did extremely well, considering he was a not well known third-party candidate.

Based on this campaign poster from the Democratic party, what influence did the Populist Party have over the 1896 election campaign? In 1896, they realized that to gain more attention from the nation, they had to support one of the major candidates. William Jennings Bryan was a Democratic candidate who pledged to support the silver issue (printing more silver coins to create inflation and help the farmers).

William Jennings Bryan lost but carried most of the South and West

Throughout United States History, third parties have never won an election…. Despite their lack of success, third parties can shift national attention to specific issues! Third Parties can affect American politics in a number of ways: Introduce new ideas: Third parties propose many government policies and practices. Third-party candidates can take votes away from major political party candidates, influencing the outcome of elections.