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The Power of the People

The Power of the People. The Populist Party. Causes of Populism. Increased competition, foreign and domestic Overproduction due to industrialization Abuses by railroad companies and storage facilities High tariffs lead to difficulty selling goods overseas

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The Power of the People

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  1. The Power of the People The Populist Party

  2. Causes of Populism • Increased competition, foreign and domestic • Overproduction due to industrialization • Abuses by railroad companies and storage facilities • High tariffs lead to difficulty selling goods overseas • Drop in agricultural prices worldwide • Large numbers of farmers in severe debt

  3. The Movement Begins • National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry (1867) • “Granger Laws” • Munn v. Illinois (1877); Wabash v. Illinois (1886)

  4. The Movement Grows • The Farmer’s Alliance (1877) • Supported economic changes to aid poor farmers • The People’s Party

  5. A Party is Born • People’s Party (AKA: Populists), est. 1891 • Farmers • Factory workers • Women “Raise less corn and more hell” - Mary Elizabeth Lease

  6. The People’s Party Platform The Omaha Platform (1892) Labor Finance Banking Taxes Transportation

  7. The Currency Question • The Gold Standard • “Gold Bugs” • Fair repayment of debts • Republicans • Big business • Banks • “Silverites”/“Free Silver” • “16 to 1” • Easier repayment of debts • Westerners • Populists • Some Democrats Bimetallism

  8. “…you shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.” William Jennings Bryan

  9. Election of 1896 William Jennings Bryan William McKinley Republican Pro-tariff Civil War veteran Pro-business Gold standard • Democrat • Anti-tariff • Fairly unknown Congressman • Pro-labor • Silver standard

  10. The Movement Moves On • Increase in tariff rates • Gold Standard Act (1900) • Klondike gold rush • Economy rebounds • End of Populists

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