1. USHC-4.4a
Explain the impact of industrial growth and business cycles on farmers, workers, immigrants, labor unions, and the Populist movement and the ways that these groups and the government responded to the economic problems caused by industry and business.

2. Farmers and Populism:
****Agricultural Mechanization- new machinery, like the steel plow and mechanical reaper, allowed farmers to produce more goods. This was good at first because they could sell more, but it also led to overproduction, which caused farm prices to drop drastically. Since they borrowed money for the machinery they quickly got into debt. Many blamed businessmen and politicians for their problems.

3. Farmers Complaints and Demands
***Regulate Railroads- farmers thought they were being over charged by the railroads for shipping their goods to market.
1887 Interstate Commerce Act- eventually did regulate railroad rates.
Some farmers wanted the government to pay subsidies to cover their losses.
Farmers wanted inflation- they supported the circulation of ***greenbacks (paper money) and having the dollar backed by silver as well as gold.

5. The Farmers come together- The Grange
***To protect their interests the farmers began banding together to protect their interests and formed a cooperative called The Grange. It’s members are called Grangers
***They pooled resources to buy new machinery and supplies and to sell products without paying the middleman.
By 1874 the Grange had 14,000 member co-ops.
The Grange died, but banding together the farmers showed political power that would eventually led to the Populist Party.

6. Granger Laws
 Series of laws passed in several midwestern states of the United States, namely Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois, in the late 1860s and early 1870s
Make pricing of railroad rates more favorable to farmers
Supreme Court Cases
Munn vs. Illinois: Government can regulate private business
Wabash vs. Illinois: limited the rights of STATE to regulate railroads; led to the Interstate Commerce Act

7. The Populist Party (The People’s Party, mostly farmers; embraced what farmers wanted)
Wanted bimetallism
***Circulation of greenbacks
***Increased regulation of business by government
***Eight hour work day
***Graduated income tax
Various election reforms
Direct elections of Senators
Secret ballot
Recall elections
Initiative ballots- people vote directly for a piece of legislation.

9. The Omaha Platform
In 1892 the ***Populist Party issued its political demands.
Its platform praised agriculture as the backbone of the country, favored the working class in the Northeast, and black farmers in the South and West.
They thought they must bank together to overcome oppression of big business and corrupt politicians.

10. The Populist Party (The People’s Party, mostly farmers; embraced what farmers wanted)
Wanted bimetallism
***Circulation of greenbacks
***Increased regulation of business by government
***Eight hour work day
***Graduated income tax
Various election reforms
Direct elections of Senators
Secret ballot
Recall elections
Initiative ballots- people vote directly for a piece of legislation.

11. The Election of 1896
As 1896 approached the country was in an economic depression.
President Cleveland repealed the Sherman Silver Act, which put the country back on the Gold Standard.
Silver and its use as money or to back money became the big issue in the election.
William Jennings Bryan a democrat gives a famous speech in support of Populist ideals about money. It is called the “Cross of Gold Speech.” and it ends, “You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns; you shall not crucify mankind on a cross of gold.”

14. EOC Sample Questions: 1. Which of the following was a problem faced by farmers in the late 1800s?
A. Falling railroad prices interfered with their ability to ship products.
B. High farm prices caused financial problems because few people could afford their products.
C. Overproduction of agricultural products led to falling farm prices and made it hard to make profit.
D. Because their was too much money in circulation it was impossible for farmers to get the price they needed for their goods.

15. 2. Which of the following statements BEST describes reasons for joining the grange?
A. The grange provided a means by which farmers could protect their interest collectively.
B. The grange was a political movement which farmers and low income workers felt represented their needs.
C. The grange gave a voice to railroad industrialists who felt unfairly criticized by angry farmers.
D. The grange provided a place where farmers could fight to protect laissez-faire economics.