Rise of Farmer Alliances Formation of Populism Plight of Farmers Rise of Farmer Alliances Formation of Populism **Print notes and bring to next class: Populism notes & notes for Gilded Age politics

Key Terms & Question Key Terms: Grange Populism People’s party Mechanization Essential Question: Why and how did the American farmer propose to curb the growing power of Big Business? http://www.history.com/shows/modern-marvels/videos/modern-farm-tractors-provide-comforts#modern-farm-tractors-provide-comforts

Political Cartoon of Farmers vs. the Railroads Cartoon of a farmer fighting a train shaped like a serpent, with the caption "Which Will Win? The Farmer or the Railroad Monster?" The railroad's coils are wrapped around the dome of the U.S. Capitol. http://www.corbisimages.com/stock-photo/rights-managed/IH165409/political-cartoon-of-farmers-vs-the-railroads

(a) Difficult Times for Farmers Farmers borrow money from banks to buy new machinery Reliance on technology rather than manual labor was known as agricultural mechanization Use of machines resulted in overproduction (too much agricultural products) and caused crop prices to fall Farmers could not pay costs (increased debt)

Agriculture was hurting after the Civil War Falling farm prices Unregulated railroads Increased agricultural production in the west

Factors that harmed farmers engaged in free market economy Grain elevator operators stored grain when not in transit – often charged excessive rates Manufacturers kept raising prices on commodities – even as farmers had less disposable incomes Banks increased interest on credit Industries raised the cost of harvesters and combines RR industry – rising shipping prices

(b) Whose to Blame Farmers blame politicians and big businesses Want government to regulate railroads (said overcharging them to ship goods) Interstate Commerce Act: created Interstate Commerce Commission and regulated railroad rates Wanted gov. to provide subsidies Gov. pay farmers money to cover their losses due to overproduction

(c) What Farmers Want Supported use of greenbacks (paper money) Wanted dollar based on silver standard and gold standard (bimetallism) Believed would put more money in hands of consumers (increase farm prices)

Solution for Farmers Formation of agriculture organization Goals: The Grange (Patrons of Husbandry) Goals: Promoted the economic, social and political welfare of the farmer Fought monopolies (railroads) Supported equality for women Song

Grange States The National Grange is active in the 37 purple states and DC

Legislation As membership increased, the Grangers were able to enact laws to address abuses Granger Laws: regulated RR and grain elevator operators Faced strong opposition – faced off with RR and grain operators in court

Court Cases Munn v. Illinois (1877) Court ruled that states could place regulations on RR for public good, but states could not regulate long-hauls RR companies responded by inflating long-haul rates Peik v. Chicago & Northwestern Railway (1876) Supreme Court upheld that Granger Laws were not in violation of the federal government’s power to regulate interstate trade & commerce; states could establish their own interstate regulations Illinois v. Wabash (1886) Court reversed Peik case that commerce and trade that crossed state lines were under authority of federal gov Congress responds with passing Interstate Commerce Act

FORMATION OF POPULIST PARTY TO ADDRESS PROGLEMS FACED BY FARMERS

Populism (The People’s Party) The concern over the farmers eventually gave rise to the Populist Movement Populism embraced what farmers wanted, it supported the circulation of greenbacks (paper currency) In 1892, under the official name of the People’s Party, the Populists met in Omaha, Nebraska Here they formed the Omaha Platform. Politically, Populism appealed to the common man It was a movement that praised agriculture as the backbone of the country and favored farmers of the South and Wes It also sought to break down racial divisions between white and black farmers. Populists preached these 2 groups must unit to beat oppression of big business and corrupt politicians

Populist Platform Supported bimetallism ($ supported by silver & gold Use of greenbacks Increased gov. regulation of business 8 hour work day Graduated income tax Election reforms Direct election of Senators and president Secret ballot

Election of 1896 As the country approached the presidential election of 1896, it was experiencing one of the worse economic depressions ever. As the depression deepened in 1894, more and more people blamed President Cleveland for the worsening condition. Cleveland blamed the silver standard for the nation’s economic woes and returned the US to a strict gold standard This meant the dollar could only be backed by gold. Many people argued it should be based on silver too. By backing money with gold & silver, money would be more plentiful This position supported bimetallism Eventually populists agreed to support bimetallism and greenbacks The silver question became a major issue of the 1896 campaign

Election of 1896 Democrats Republicans William Jennings Bryan Backed bimetallism Won the Populist vote Democrat party vote was divided and did not win enough votes William McKinley Won the election Marked the end of the Populist Party

Election 1896 Bryan, in his famous “Cross of Gold” speech, stated you shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold Despite his abilities as a speaker and a national campaigner, Bryan could not overcome splits in the Democratic party to win enough votes. Republican William McKinley won the presidential election of 1896 Populism faded soon after

Resources http://www5.esc13.net/socialstudies/docs/era%206/populism_lesson_plan.pdf Populism lesson plan Farmers lesson ppt http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/agexed/aee501/organizations.html http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/historyonline/us25.cfm data analysis - Digital HS http://www.wadsworth.com/history_d/special_features/ext/am_hist/AmerHis-ch12.html#timeline resources (primary/secondary) http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/subtitles.cfm?titleID=30 political crisis articles http://www.pinzler.com/ushistory/popparplatsupp.html people’s party (preamble) http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap07_us_hist_frq.pdf DBQ http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=159 farmers and wizard of oz http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2itQkiQUOE&feature=related Wizard of Oz clip 6/8