3. Warm Up: 2/1
Write a list of political campaigns or company commercials that are influential to you.
What do they do/say that makes them so convincing to you?
What would someone have to do to convince you to switch opinions on this certain campaign or company?

4. General Types of Techniques
Glittering Generalities
Words of praise for the product or person being talked about.
Demonizing
Trash talking an opponent or competitor.
Testimonial
Having a celebrity or well known person endorsing the product or candidate.
Plain Folks
Appealing to regular, everyday people.
Card Stacking
Manipulating facts to make something seem better than it is.

5. Farmers and Populism
FOCUS QUESTION: What led to the rise of the Populist movement, and what effect did it have?

6. 1. Price of Crops Goes Down because of overproduction!
Problems for Farmers
1. Price of Crops Goes Down because of overproduction!
- Produce too many crops, which leads to lower prices (too much supply for the demand)
Severe weather conditions/droughts
An example of overproduction? Consider Diet Coke. . .

7. Problems for Farmers 2. Rising Debt (Farmers owe $$)
Take out big loans that have high interest rates to pay for new machinery, seed, animals etc.

8. Economic Distress Farmers in Midwest are caught in a vicious cycle
Buy land on loans
Wheat Prices drop
Wheat Prices drop
Buy land on loans

9. Economic Distress Panic of 1893 Causes Effects
Failure of Reading and Philadelphia RRs
Effects
8000 Businesses close
150 RRs out of business
400 Banks close
20% Unemployment

10. Did the government help with the economic instability of the late 1800s? What more could they have done to fix the economy?

11. Problems for Farmers 3. Railroads are charging too much
Railroad companies have no competition or regulation by the government
Charge farmers very high rates to ship grain

12. Railroad: Good or Evil?
Railroads were great for transportation and shipping produce around the country
Unfortunately, they were charging outrageous prices making it difficult for farmers to make a profit
Jerks

13. Farmers Organize to Fight Back !
The Grange ( s)
Goals: education about new farming techniques; fighting the new railroad rates
Why would farmers organize?

15. Farmers Organize to Fight Back!
Farmers’ Alliances
Groups of farmers that continue to push for reform (change)
“There are three great crops raised in Nebraska. One is the crop of corn, one a crop of freight rates and one a crop of interest. One is produced by farmers who sweat and toil to farm the land. The other is produced by men who sit in their offices and farm the farmers” – Farmers’ Alliance 1890.

16. What caused farmers to organize in the late 1800s?
You tell me:
What caused farmers to organize in the late 1800s?

17. The Government Helps . . . Sort of
Interstate Commerce Commission
set up by government to regulate railroads and their prices
Laissez-Faire- how the government usually dealt with business (“Hands off”/ little regulation)

18. Farmers feel like the two major American political parties aren’t representing their interests, so they form their own!

19. The Populist (People’s) Party -
A political party formed by the
Farmers’ Alliances to
help farmers solve their problems
Original Members of the Populist Party
July 1892
Over 800 delegates from 69 Nebraska Counties met

20. The People’s Party Farmers see the need to unify under a single party
Omaha Platform
Political Change
Direct election of senators
Secret ballot
Initiatives and Referendums
Economic Change
Bimetallism
Government Control of railroads
Graduated Income Tax
Government regulation of banks

21. The Omaha Platform The platform (goals) of the Populist Party
Bimetallism: Use Silver & gold to back money instead just of Gold
There was more silver than gold
If the government used silver to create money there would be more money
This would lead to higher prices which would help farmers

22. Omaha Platform Government ownership of railroad companies
Railroad owners couldn’t overcharge the farmers and prices would go down

23. Omaha Platform Government Regulation of Banks
Banks couldn’t unfairly charge VERY high interest rates to farmers!

24. Omaha Platform Graduated Income Tax
The more you make the more you pay!

25. Cross of Gold Speech
In hopes of getting into the white house, Populist joined sided with the Democrats and chose William Jennings Bryan as their candidate in the 1896 election
Made a famous “Cross of Gold Speech” in which he showed his disdain for the gold standard.
“Having behind us the producing masses of this nations and the world, supported by the commercial interests, the laboring interests, and the toiling everywhere, we will answer the demand for the gold standard by saying to them: You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.”
-Democratic National Convention speech, Chicago, July 8, 1896

26. The Election of 1896 William Jennings Bryan (Democrat)
“Cross of Gold” speech attacks those who oppose coining silver (goldbugs)
Populists decide to support him
Campaigns directly to the people, touring the country
“You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold”
– Cross of Gold Speech by William Jennings Bryan 1896

27. Election of 1896 William McKinley (Republican)
In what was does McKinley represent the “old ways” of politics?
William McKinley (Republican)
Party campaigns for him; raise a lot of money
McKinley has $15 million (30 times what Bryan has!!)
McKinley wins election

29. Legacy of the Populist Party
Farmers & Laborers prove there is strength in numbers- uniting together helps towards progress
Populist Reforms (Successes): 16th amendment (graduated income tax); 17th amendment (direct election of senators), secret ballot, initiatives/referendums, government regulation of railroads and banks
Populist Failures: Bimetallism, never win a Presidential election

30. Political Cartoon Analysis
Labeling: Political Cartoonists tend to use a technique called labeling.
They often add captions to help guide readers.

31. Maybe the outcome could have been different!
Your Assignment: Create a campaign poster for William Jennings Bryan

32. Creating a Campaign Flyer!
Your Audience: Midwestern Farmers- Convince them to vote for your candidate William Jennings Bryan
Information:
You must specifically refer to one issue on the Populist Party’s platform (The issue will be assigned to you)
Your flyer should reflect your understanding of this issue – specifically say why this issue is important and why people should vote for the Populists to end their suffering
Required:
Catchy Slogan (something specific to the topic you are assigned)
William Jennings Bryan’s name
Reason why your issue is important and why people should vote for the Populists
Illustration that is related to your specific topic

33. The End of Populism Proved candidates should campaign directly to the people
Successes
direct election of Senators (17th amendment)
railroad regulation (ICC)
Graduated Income Tax (16th amendment)
Failures
Unable to win a presidential election
No long term silver coinage
Party dies by 1897 & Most Populist voters return to the Democratic Party.

34. What are some
characteristics
of Campaign Posters?

35. 3-2-1 3 Things of historical significance you learned
2 Things you are confused about
1 Thing you wish to know more of