Farmers and Populism

1. Farmers and Populism

2. Farmers Face Many Problems Causes • New inventions & efficient techniques introduced • Lack of competition among railroads • Machinery is needed; shipping costs higher • Money is in short supply Effects • Prices of farm products decline • Farmers’ earnings decrease • Farmers are unable to pay back loans • Banks lend money to fewer farmers

3. Falling Prices and Rising Debt • Cotton prices fell in the late 19th century. • Corn = Costing more to produce it than they were making profit so many burned it to make fuel. • Farmers were planting too many crops which made their prices go down. • New machinery, seed, livestock and other needs were costing more so farmers went into debt.

4. Big Business Practices Hurt • Farmers protested big business such as railroads and banks. • Railroads = charging too high rates. Farmers claimed they were monopolies. • Banks = Charging too high interest rates. • Farmers felt like the nation had turned its back on them.

5. Here Lies Prosperity

6. TWO DIFFERENT WORLDS • The wealthy lived extravagant lifestyles and considered themselves elitists. • The common people resented their snobbish attitudes and wealth.. • 1861---------3 millionaires----------1900--------3,800 • 1900- 90% of wealth controlled by 10% of population.

8. The Grange • Organized in 1867 in response to farmers’ isolation (Oliver H. Kelley) • Helped farmers form cooperatives which bought goods in large quantities at lower prices. • The Grange also pressured government to regulate businesses on which farmers depended. Farmers’ Alliance • The Farmers’ Alliance called for political actions that many farmers could support. • The alliances won support for women’s rights. • Blacks allowed but parallel “Colored Farmers’ Alliance.” Populists • Farmers’ Alliances formed a new political party, The People’s Party or the Populists. • A national movement that was supported by farmers, the West and parts of the South…. • Populists would elect a presidential candidate in the 1892 and 1896 presidential elections. Farmers Organize and Seek Change Local and state level People’s Movement Spreads Becomes a national movement

9. The Populist (Peoples’) Party • Founded by James B. Weaver and Tom Watson. • Omaha, NE Convention in July, 1892. • Got almost 1 million popular votes. • Several Congressional seats won. James B. Weaver, Presidential Candidate &James G. Field, VP

10. Omaha Platform of 1892 • Purer democracy: more involvement of people • Women’s suffrage • Direct election of U.S. senators • Australian Secret Ballot • Term limits for Congress • Govt. ownership of RRs, telephone & telegraph companies. • Income tax • Initiative and referendum • Citizens propose and review legislation • Restriction of undesirable immigration. • 8-hour work day for government employees. • Demanded free and unlimited coinage of silver • A single term for President & Vice President. • Sherman Silver Purchase Act • 16 to 1 • Purchase silver from mines in the west

11. Populists Achieve Some Successes • 1892 = Populist candidate James Weaver won over 1 million votes for the Presidency. • Populists elected 3 governors, 5 senators, and 10 congressmen. • 1894 Populists continue to expand and gained seats in state legislatures putting their ideas up for debate.

12. William Jennings Bryan • 1860 to 1925 • William Jennings Bryan was a gifted speaker, lawyer, three-time presidential candidate, and devout Protestant. • Bryan made his career in Nebraska politics. • Served in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1890. • Defender of the small farmer and laborer, Bryan worked closely with the Populist Party.

13. William Jennings Bryan • Bryan's efforts on behalf of farmers and laborers (the so-called "common" people) earned him the title the "Great Commoner” • Ran for the presidency unsuccessfully in 3 elections as a Democrat. • Known for the “Cross of Gold Speech”

14. CROSS OF GOLD SPEECH • William Jennings Bryan's most well-known political speech delivered before the Democratic Convention in 1896. • Highlighted the Populist stance and his strong position on the issue of the "Gold-Standard." • Attacked the concept of the gold standard was the only sound backing for currency.

15. CROSS OF GOLD SPEECH • Argued the “real” business men” were farmers, agricultural workers, miners and small town merchants. • Demonstrated the true "pioneer spirit"of America • These workers were all but ignored by a governmentthat served the interests of big cities and large corporate enterprise.

16. William McKinley (1843-1901) • Born in Ohio on January 29, 1843. • Private during the Civil War and earned the rank of Major in 1865. • Served in Congress from 1876 to 1890 and became a supporter of protective tariffs. • Elected Governor of Ohio in 1891, serving a second term in 1893. • 1896, the Republican Party nominated him for president. • stressed protective tariffs • supported the gold standard.

17. Onto which box will the voter of ‘96 place his ballot?

18. 1896 Election Results

19. The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

20. 1964: Henry Littlefield’s Thesis?

21. a. The Cowardly Lion = William Jennings Bryan b. The Tin Woodsman = eastern industrial worker   c. The Scarecrow = farmer Wicked Witch of the East = Bankers Wicked Witch of the West = d. Dorothy= American Values e. Dorothy's "silver slippers" = the proposed silver standard f. The Yellow-Brick Road = the gold standard supported by financiers   g. The Wizard of Oz = President William McKinley h. Toto = average American people j. Flying monkeys= politicians 

22. Populism’s Legacy • By the 1900’s the Populist party fizzled out and most of voters who supported the Populists, returned to the Democratic Party. • Some of their proposals became a reality during the Progressive Era such as: • Graduated income tax • Regulation of railroads • More flexible monetary system