 Can handle the hard life but…  Can’t handle  low prices for crops  high RR costs  High interest rates  Loose their political influence  Everything was going up in price but their profits  The more crops they produced the less they made  Supply exceeded demand This means their bills are going up but they are making less $$$!

 The Government:  Had turned its back on farmers, only cared about industry  Banks:  Set interest rates too high  Continuous debt  Railroad Companies:  Said that RR’s charged whatever they wanted but gave rebates (discounts) to who they wanted to  but farmers depend on RR to transport their goods back east

 The Grange wanted:  government regulation of railroad rates  Did get some maximum rates set  Education on new farming techniques  The government to oversee interstate transportation

 Wanted government regulation of railroads and banks  Believed that through farmer cooperation they could achieve their goals  National Farmer’s Alliance  Southern Farmer’s Alliance  Colored Farmer’s Alliance: had to form their own due to discrimination…major weakness in Farmer’s Alliance because they weren’t really united

 Munn vs. Illinois:  Allowed states to regulate RR rates within their own borders (intrastate)  Wabash vs. Illinois:  severely limited the rights of states to control interstate commerce  Led to the creation of the Interstate Commerce Act  Created the Interstate Commerce Commission to regulate railroads  No longer regulated by states

 Farmer’s Alliances formed cooperatives to collectively sell their crops  Store their crops until prices level out  While they were waiting it out RR’s would be forced to lower their rates  Didn’t always work

1. Why was the plight of farmers so different from other Americans? a. Only they paid income taxes b. They couldn’t pay their debts due to high shipping costs c. They did not have the right to vote 2. What led to the growth of the Granger movement? a. increase cooperative farms b. declining prices and rising debt c. development of the steel plow 3. Why were there two different farmers’ alliances in the South? a. There was a high farming population b. Racism c. Fees were very high in one alliance but not the other 4. How did the Supreme Court demonstrate sympathy with the farmers?

 Idea of using both silver and gold to back money  Supported by some Populists  “Silverites”: support the use of silver  “Goldbugs”: promote the use of gold only

 Farmer’s Alliances spread creating a new political party, the Populists Party or People’s Party  Omaha Platform (beliefs of the party)  Warned  against dangers of political corruption  Inadequate monetary supply  And unresponsive government  Wanted the free coinage of silver because it would help them payoff debts quicker  Government ownership of RR’s instead of private companies owning RR’s…new idea

 Farmers and Industrial Workers  Needed to gain both black and white voters in the South, try to fuse the Populist party with Black Republicans  Democrats play the race card Wilmington (NC) Race Riots of 1898

 Supporter of Populism  Receives Democratic nomination for President in 1896 after delivering his “Cross of Gold Speech”  Because of Bryan’s nomination the Populists bow out of the race  Bryan looses the race and the Populists Party looses momentum “You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.”

1. Which group supported bimetallism? a. Famers b. Foreign investors c. Industrialists 2. What was the most important goal of Populism? a. Increasing money in circulation b. Regulating big business c. Creating an 8-hour workday 3. What caused the Wilmington race riots? 4. Do you think bimetalism would have helped the US famers?