1. FOCUS AND DIRECTION OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY The Populist Movement The Election of 1896

2. The Politics of Stalemate Pres = symbol of power Congress = real power LTD government and Laissez faire Issue Avoidant – don’t alienate the voter Patronage Party = part of cultural identity The Billion Dollar Congress ---  Election of 1890

3. The Issues: Tariff  McKinley tariff Civil Service Reforms  Stalwarts, Half Breeds, Mugwumps  Pendleton Act (Garfield assassination) Pensions for Civil War vets Monopolies and trusts Monetary Standards  Gold only, Silver and Gold, Greenbacks

4. The Silver Issue  “Crime of ’73”  demonetization of silver (govt. stopped coining silver).  Bland-Allison Act (1878)  limited silver coinage to $2-$4 mil. per mo. (based on the 16:1 ratio of silver to gold). Sherman Silver Purchase Act (1890)  The US Treasury must purchase $4.5 mil. oz. of silver a month.  Govt. deposited most silver in the US Treasury rather than circulation.

5. Regulation of Monopolies Granger Laws: Concerns over the prices charged by RR for hauling products Munn V Ill(1877) ideas of public good  States CAN regulate RR rates Wabash v Ill (1886)  Overturned Munn – interstate commerce – federal gov’t only Interstate Commerce Commission(1887)  Federal regulation of RR – prices, pools, rebates  Prototype of federal regulatory agency – administrative laws

6. Regulation of Monopolies Sherman Anti-trust Act (1890)  Regulate trusts for public good –  Weak, vague US v EC Knight (1895)  Limits the power of the SAT – divided manufacturing and trade/sales  “toothless dog” ---but precedent of regulation by the federal government

7. Grievances of Farmers Real? Perceived? Prices of products  Over production/ under consumption RR rates Banks and mortgages Tariffs - Competition- world market Valuing - Declining importance and respect – anxiety, fear loss of opportunity and status – the need for “somebodiness”

8. Price Indexes for Consumer & Farm Products: 1865-1913

9. The Agrarian Revolution The Grange – social, co-ops, influenced laws – decline by late 1870s Gift for the Grangers: The Farmer Pays for All

10. The Agrarian Revolution The Farm Alliance – challenges the impact of capitalism and challenged race and class issues  Begun in the late 1880s (Texas first  the Southern Alliance; then in the Midwest  the Northern Alliance).  More political and less social than the Grange. Ran candidates for office.  Controlled 8 state legislatures & had 47 representatives in Congress during the 1890s. Regional and state political success

11. The Agrarian Revolution Northern and Southern Alliances united in 1889 to form the Farm Alliance Power in unity – farmer “corporateness” Parallels idea of unions

12. The Ocala Demands System of “sub-treasuries.” System of “sub-treasuries.” Abolition of the National Bank & end of protective tariffs Abolition of the National Bank & end of protective tariffs Direct election of Senators. Direct election of Senators. Govt. ownership of RRs, telephone & telegraph companies. Govt. ownership of RRs, telephone & telegraph companies. Government-operated postal savings banks. Government-operated postal savings banks. Re-monitarization of silver (free coinage) Re-monitarization of silver (free coinage)

13. The Ocala Demands Eight hour day for federal employees Australian ballot Graduated income tax - (Pollack v Farm Trust and Loan(1895) Initiative, referendum & recall One term presidency Ltd land purchase by foreigners Immigration restriction (Omaha Platform) Right of workers to form unions

14. Nationalize for Public Good

15. The Populist Party - 1892 No response from the major parties on key issues – thus formed own party Ocala Demands -> platform Mostly alliance members – 800+ and about 100 African Americans Ran James B. Weaver

16. Platform of Lunacy

17. 1892 Election

18. The Panic of 1893  Several major corps. went bankrupt.  Over 16,000 businesses disappeared.  Triggered a stock market crash.  Over-extended investments.  Bank failures followed causing a contraction of credit [nearly 500 banks closed].  Unemployment rate = 20-22%  Ripples through economy 1893-1901 Gov’t response – LF– no relief for citizens Gov’t response – LF– no relief for citizens

19. Here Lies Prosperity

20. Crisis of Confidence Fears – class warfare, socialism Coxey’s Army –March on Washington Pullman Strike Miners strike immigration

21. Politics is DESTABILIZED The Agrarian Revolt and Populists  Movement Culture – VOICE, The individual empowered through group action  Goodwyn – SOMEBODINESS  Ties to Grapes of Wrath  Pushing Gov’t to deal with public welfare of ALL the people (Pollack; Hofstadler)  The dark side – racism, nativism The Economic Crisis 1893-1901  Lack of effective government response

22. Gold Only Gold and Silver Gold Only Order, progress Property, control Morality, civilization POWER Sanctity of contracts LF capitalism Business World outlook Haves Bi-Metal – Gold & SilverS-of SILVER” The people’s money Protection from exploitation Access to opportunity Restored prosperity Liberation from the POWERFUL VOICE – EMPOWERMENT Have not so much The Mystique of SILVER FTheREE SILVER! Free Dorothy Monetary Issue = Symbolic – emotion - power

23. The Battle of the Standards

24. The Election of 1896 Bryan McKinley

25. Populists 1894 – vote increases 40% - Dems lost the West; Reps control Congress 1896 – decide to support the Democrats

26. The Campaign ISSUES Tariff Trust regulation Income tax Monetary Policy STYLE/METHODS Bryan – Active The whistlestop Electrifying speeches McKinley – PR The Front Porch The war chest

28. William Jennings Bryan – preaching tent revival style Prairie avenger, mountain lion, Bryan, Bryan, Bryan, Bryan, Gigantic troubadour, speaking like a siege gun, Smashing Plymouth Rock with his boulders from the West.

29. The Cross of Gold Speech You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns; you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold!

30. The WhistleStop – 18,000 miles

31. Democratic party shaped by the Agrarian Populists Platform Bi-metallism- free coinage of silver Reduce tariff Increase regulation of trusts and monopolies Income tax

32. Marcus Hanna (think Rove) The Front Porch Controlled and financed campaign

33. Political Cartoons

34. Monetary Issue

35. Voters

36. The Election of 1896

37. Gold Victory 1900  Gold Standard Act 1900  Gold Standard Act confirmed the nation’s commitment to the gold standard. confirmed the nation’s commitment to the gold standard. A victory for the forces of conservatism. (Business interests) A victory for the forces of conservatism. (Business interests) Bryan – little support from other groups, labor Bryan – little support from other groups, labor

38. Significance of the Election Destroys the Populist party – issues are co-opted Political realignment on issues – Rep party of business and the monopoly; Dem party the little people – class and power Modern campaign techniques –finance, active campaign, PR & press Affirms the industrial and urban direction of society as the future – over the agrarian and the rural – Values issues emerge (Twenties) Jeffersonian Agrarianism “fading”

39. The Wizard – Monetary Debate? Consider the symbols and the metaphors OZ 16:1

40. The Wizard of OZ - Greenfield

41. Populist Strength

42. Populism still a political theme Gore – 2000 Edwards – 2004 & 2008 Huckabee – 2008 Issue of social class and empowerment – VOICE Tea party Movement

43. Populism 2008

44. McKinley’s Program Business and trade centered Dingley Tariff - Gold Standard Act Spanish American War – federal power & external focus New century – regulation and reform