1. Chapter 7 Section 3
Farmers and Populism

2. Section Focus
What led to the rise of the Populist Movement, and what effect did it have?

3. Farmers Face Many Problems
Farmers know that life will be hard
Low Prices for crops
farm prices plummet
Cotton Price in 1870 = 15 cents in 1890 = 6 cents
Early 1890’s cost more to grow corn than you can sell it for
Famers mortgage their farms to survive
High costs of transportation
Farmers blame railroads for charging high rates
Farmers blame banks for charging high interest rates

4. Turned its back on the farmers
Farmers feel nation has turned its back on them.
Leaders once from farming stats with agricultural backgrounds
Jefferson etc.
Most leaders now come from industrial states.
Farmers make honest living and produce necessary goods
Bankers and Businessmen get rich.

5. Farmers Organize Seek Change
Granger movement
Organized by Oliver H. Kelly attracts 1 million members
Provide education on new farm techniques and machinery
Prompt establishment of ICC
Southern Farmers Alliance
Formed cooperatives to sell crops
Boycotts against price gouging manufacturers
Colored Farmers Alliance
Racial tensions keep groups from working together

6. Populist party
Spread of the Farmers Alliance leads to formation of The Populist Party - “The Peoples Party”
Build a new political party from the grassroots up
Grows rapidly pressures two major parties

7. Populist Goals End political corruption Unresponsive government
Inadequate money supply
“Free Silver”
Government ownership of railroads
Women’s suffrage
Reach out to factory workers
“we have the same enemy”

8. Populist Success Election of 1892
Candidate for Pers. (Weaver) gets a million votes
3 govenors
5 Senators
10 congressmen
Begin to unite Blacks and Whites in the South
Democratic party successfully uses racist tactics to divide races
Populist = “Negro Supremecy”

9. William Jennings Bryan
1893 = 4 year long economic depression
Populist election success has them thinking they can win the White house
William Jennings Bryan
“The Great Commoner”
1896 Democratic National Convention is keynote speaker
“Cross of Gold Speech”
Nominated for President as a Democrat
Populist part choose to support Bryan and the Democrats

10. Bryan runs for President
1st time a candidate tours the country giving speeches directly to the people
William Mckinley has 30 times the money as Bryan
Doesn’t campaign lets party officials campaign for him
Cast Bryan as a potential dictator and threat to the republic
Mckinley Wins

11. Populist Legacy Decision to endorse Bryan in 1896 weakens the party
Most members absorbed into the democratic party
Changes campaigns
Candidate now talk to the people

12. Section focus
What led to the rise of the Populist Movement, and what effect did it have?
Farmers organized the Grange and Farmers Alliances, leading to the creation of the Populist party, which supported economic and political reforms. Although the party did not survive, many of its ideas became law, and it persuaded politicians to listen to common people.