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Populism

Populism. Started by farmers & laborers 1880s Midwest. Populist Party = People’s Party. Populist Party Platform = Omaha Platform. Farmers & Laborers Direct election of senators by voters Graduated income tax Presidential term limits A working day of eight hours

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Populism

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  1. Populism

  2. Started by farmers & laborers 1880s Midwest Populist Party = People’s Party

  3. Populist Party Platform = Omaha Platform • Farmers & Laborers • Direct election of senators by voters • Graduated income tax • Presidential term limits • A working day of eight hours • Reform of immigration regulations • Easy loans for farmers • Railroad regulation • No ownership of land by foreigners • Civil service reform • Postal banks • Pensions • Revision of the law contracts

  4. Populists • No Populist presidents were elected • It took years for their ideas to become law & policy • They will lead to the Progressive Era

  5. The Wizard of Oz

  6. Discontent of Farmers • Falling crop prices – decrease profits • Rising railroad costs • Railroad abuse • In debt – couldn’t pay • Needed more equipment • Needed more land to grow crops

  7. The rich liked the gold standard (b/c they controlled the money) Money based on gold “Gold Bugs” Poor farmers & workers liked bimetallism Money based on silver & gold Would increase credit & loans Prices would rise & farmers would make more $ “Silverites” Gold Standard v. Bimetallism

  8. Social & educational organization Farmers To fight the RRs Will lead to the Populist Party The Grange

  9. National Farmers Alliances • Southern Alliance • Colored Farmers Alliance • Formal farm organizations that worked on their behalf

  10. Special price incentives for preferred customers (illegal) Payments back to the purchaser Railroads used this special pricing Rebates

  11. Paper money Banks would not allow debts paid w/greenbacks must use gold coin Did not hold its value Greenbacks

  12. Interstate Commerce Act • Federal government power to regulate interstate trade

  13. Munn v. Illinois, 1877 • (U.S. Supreme Court 1876) Munn, a partner in a Chicago warehouse firm, had been found guilty by an Illinois court of violating the state laws providing for the fixing of maximum charges for storage of grain. • He appealed, contending that the fixing of maximum rates constituted a taking of property without due process of law. • The Supreme Court upheld the Granger laws, establishing as constitutional the principle of public regulation of private businesses involved in serving the public interest.

  14. Munn v. Illinois Decision • Gov’t can set max price of private co. if for public good

  15. Wabash v. Illinois, 1889 • (Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad Company v. Illinois) • U.S. Supreme Court in 1886 • The decision narrowed earlier ones (Munn) favorable to state regulation of those phases of interstate commerce upon which Congress itself had not acted. • The court declared invalid an Illinois law prohibiting long- and short-haul clauses in transportation contracts as an infringement on the exclusive powers of Congress granted by the commerce clause of the Constitution. • The result = states can not regulate interstate rates for railroads, and the decision led to creation of the Interstate Commerce Commission.

  16. Wabash v. Illinois Decision • Created ICC (Interstate Commerce Commission) • Fed. Gov’t controls RR rates not states

  17. Populist Party Platform = Omaha Platform • Farmers & Laborers • Direct election of senators by voters • Graduated income tax • Presidential term limits • A working day of eight hours • Reform of immigration regulations • Easy loans for farmers • Railroad regulation • No ownership of land by foreigners • Civil service reform • Postal banks • Pensions • Revision of the law contracts

  18. Progressivism

  19. 1. Who was the Nez Perce chief? • 2. What case established the ICC? • 3. Who invented the steel plow? • 4. Who gave the “Cross of Gold” speech? • 5. What political party supported William Jennings Bryan? • 6. Who were the original cowboys? • 7. What was the Omaha platform? • 8. List 4 changes Populists wanted. • 9. Who was defeated at Little Big Horn? • 10. What does bimetallism mean?

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