1. -No one can earn a million dollars honestly.
William Jennings Bryan

2. The Populist Party
Farmers, facing problems with prices and transportation, form the Grange, an organization of farmers fighting for reform.
The Grange gives rise to other organization like the Farmers Alliance.
These groups come together to form the Populist Party, a third party group.

3. Bimetallism – promotes the use of silver and gold to back paper money and checks to put more money into circulation.
Free coinage of silver- use silver to back money – increase $ in circulation
William Jennings Bryan – Delivers the Cross of Gold Speech to support Bimetallism in his campaign speech
William McKinley, Republican, ultimately wins.

4. Remember the Market Revolution
Remember the Market Revolution? How do these inventions lead towards Westward Expansion?
Vulcanized Rubber
Steamboats
Telegraph
Canals
Railroad
Sewing Machine
The Market Revolution

5. By the end of today, you should be able to address the following questions…
How does the expansion of the railroad not only promote westward expansion, but create problems for farmers?
How does the expansion of Industry promote expansion?
What issues are settlers facing as they move westward?
How did the Populist Party platform aim to help western farmers?

6. Why did Settlers move westward?
The Homestead Act – Free land up to 160 acres. Applicant must improve the land.-
Exodusters – freed slaves moving west –post reconstruction for an economic opportunity.
The Morill Act – set up schools to educate settlers about farming
Bonanza Farms – Huge one crop farms

7. How did Railroads impact the West?
Transcontinental RR – Connects eastern cities with western farms to move goods and people quickly.
George M. Pullman – Inventor of the connected RR car and track system
Munn v. Illinois – Supreme Court ruled that STATES have the right to regulate and tax RR’s
Interstate Commerce Act – Federal Gov’t right to set fair and consistent RR prices.

8. The Growth of Industry
Bessemer Process – Drastically increased and modernized steel production (led to growth of factories and RR)
Thomas Edison – Harnesses power of electricity to make the first filament light bulb
Why is this important?