1. Farmers & the Populist Movement
Chapter 13 Section 3

2. Farmers’ Problems Low prices for crops
Could not pay mortgages – banks foreclosed
Railroads charged more for short hauls than long hauls

3. Farmers create organizations
The Grange (1867)
Founded by Oliver Hudson Kelley
Social & lobbying group
Farmers Alliances
Educated farmers about loans
Lobbying group

4. The Populist Party Aka The People’s Party Created in 1892
Created to give people more of a voice in govt (esp. farmers & workers)
Platform addressed farmers’ concerns

5. Farmers’ Demands:
Regulate the railroad companies! (stop them from charging such high rates)
Make cash more available (back the dollar with silver, not gold, so dollar will be worth less)
Political demands: single term for President and Vice-President; secret ballot; popular election of Senators
To get industrial workers to support them: 8-hour workday; restrict immigration

6. Panic of 1893 Started when railroads started going bankrupt
Stock market crashed
Businesses & banks failed

7. Election of 1896
Central issue: what would be the basis of the nation’s monetary system?
2 sides: Silverites (favored bimetallism) vs. Goldbugs (favored gold standard)

8. Republican Party: William McKinley
Democratic Party: William Jennings Bryan (Cross of Gold Speech)
Populist Party: endorsed W.J. Bryan
Bryan
McKinley

9. Results William McKinley wins
Populist Party collapses but ideas remain important