1. The 1890s
Boy, did they stink

2. The Harrison Administration
President Benjamin Harrison
the “Billion Dollar Congress: first time govt. budget over $1billion; gives most money to Civil War veterans
The McKinley Tariff – raises tariff to highest levels yet; causes much unrest in the South and Midwest

3. Labor Violence Eventually put down by PA state militia and US military
Carnegie tainted permanently as anti-labor
The Homestead Strike (1892) – steel workers strike at Carnegie’s Homestead plant
Pinkertons and strikers clash
Many wounded or killed
Pinkertons defeated

4. Growth of Populism
Populism: a political viewpoint that places the “common man” over corporations and special interests
Made up of mostly farmers, with labor and reformers, as well

5. The Birth of the Populist Party
1890 – Ocala, Florida: made up of three groups
Organized labor
Farmers
Social reformers
Tom Watson
William
Peffer
“Raise less corn and more H-E-double toothpicks!” – Mary E. Lease

6. Early Success
Populists win state legislatures in several Midwestern states, sends five Senators and 12 members to the House
1892 – James B. Weaver wins over 1 million votes and 22 electoral votes

7. The Omaha Platform No. 1 demand:
silver in the money supply at a 16:1 ratio to gold
Platform adopted by Populist Party for 1892 election; source for many reforms to come into the future
Proposals:
8 hour working day
govt. ownership of RRs
term limits on politicians
popular election of senators
income tax

8. The Depression of 1893 Second worst in American history Causes:
overproduction of manufactured goods
repeal of limited silver in the money supply
loss of gold reserves, causing deflation
Growing unemployment and farm foreclosures

9. The Depression of 1893 – 98
1894 – Pullman Strike: wages cut by 10%, but rent and prices stay the same in company town of Pullman, IL
Strike turns violent
RRs workers strike in support; most rail traffic stopped

10. The Depression of 1893 – 98
Cleveland ends strike by sending US military
Labor leaders arrested
Eugene V. Debs

11. The Depression of 1893 – 98
President Cleveland pursues laissez-faire approach; violence and protests increase
1894 – Jacob Coxey leads a march on DC; thousands join in demands for jobs

12. The Depression of 1893 – 98
J. P. Morgan and partners lend the government $65 million in gold reserves to stabilize money supply
Weakens Cleveland politically

13. The Election of 1896 Republicans nominate William McKinley
Considered safe, reliable
Democrats enter convention with no clear frontrunner
Cleveland rejected by Democratic Party for 3rd term

14. The Election of 1896
William Jennings Bryan and 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.”

15. The Election of 1896
1/3 Populists and 2/3 Democrats merged (“fused”) to recreate the Democratic Party
More populist in ideology; endorsed Omaha Platform
Remainder of Populist Party eventually dissolved by 1908

16. The Election of 1896: The Candidates:
Democrat – Bryan Republican – McKinley
Gold Democrats:
John Palmer
Prohibition:
Joshua Levering

17. William Jennings Bryan
3 term House member from Nebraska
Youngest man to run for president (36)
Populist in ideology, supporter of 16:1
Nominated on 5th ballot; unknown outside NE
Changed politics by campaigning personally

18. The Election of 1896 Republican advantages: More money
raised by Mark Hanna
Support from newspapers and big business
Opposition from conservative Democrats

19. The Election of 1896
The media depicts Bryan as a dangerous lunatic, or foolish dreamer; workers threatened if they vote for Bryan

20. The Election of 1896
Results – McKinley wins; Bryan makes it close