1. Populism “My Life Has Value!”

2. What is Populism? A People’s Movement A movement seeking to aid interests of farmers and the working class against the rich

3. Who were the Populists? White cotton farmers in the South ◦ AND Hard-pressed wheat farmers in the Plains States

4. Populism in the United States Political Party formed 1892-1896 (Active Years) Hostile towards ◦ Railroads ◦ Banks ◦ Elites Supported ◦ Pro-farmer legislation ◦ Coalitions with labor unions

5. Farm Problems Becoming a minority in American society Small farms struggled against mechanized ones Results ◦ Falling Prices for Crops ◦ Rising Costs (Transportation) ◦ Foreclosures (Banks)

6. What problems did farmers have with railroads? Railroads charged high prices for shipping crops Often made secret deals with suppliers to set market prices Assumed to be controlled by the wealthy

7. What did the Populists Want? Established a platform of ideas they supported Omaha, Nebraska 1892

8. Directions 1. What type of workers are being addressed? 2.Who should own the railroads? 3.Did the Populists favor the use of gold? Silver? Both? 4.What is a graduated income tax? 5.Thoughts on alien ownership of land? 6.Thoughts on immigration? Why? 7.What groups are made up of organized workmen? 8.What is a subsidy? Why are Populists opposed to subsidies to private corporations? 9.Do you see any problems with the amount of issues the Populists cared about? Explain.

9. Election of 1896 William McKinley (Republicans)William Jennings Bryan (Democrats)

10. What was bimetallism? What did each Party favor? RepublicansPopulists (some Democrats) Favored the Gold Standard Bankers + Businessmen Low Prices for goods Effect: fewer people have money Favored Gold + Unlimited coinage of silver Farmers + Laborers High Prices for goods Effect: More people have money

11. What was the Cross of Gold Speech? William Jennings Bryan stirring speech at Democratic National Convention Denounced the Republicans + Gold Standard

12. What were two important legacies left behind by the Populists? 1.The poor could be a powerful political force 2.major reform ideas that would be adopted during 20 th century.

13. Outside Information to Focus On Oliver Hudson Kelley The Grange Farmers’ Alliance Bimetallism Gold Standard William McKinley William Jennings Bryan Mary Elizabeth Lease Colored Farmers’ National Alliance Populist Party Platform Election of 1892 Credit Mobilier Scandal Bank Foreclosures Farming land becoming scarce Industrialization Urbanization Greenbacks Falling Wheat Prices Bland Allison Act of 1878 Cycles of Credit and Debt The Panic of 1893 Election of 1896 Cross of Gold Speech