Plight of Farmers

• Rise of Farmer Alliances

• Formation of Populism**Print notes and bring to next class: Populism notes & notes for Gilded Age politics

Key Terms & Question• Key Terms: – Grange– Populism– People’s party – Mechanization

• Essential Question: Why and how did the American farmer propose to curb the growing power of Big Business?

http://www.history.com/shows/modern-marvels/videos/modern-farm-tractors-provide-comforts#modern-farm-tractors-provide-comforts

Political Cartoon of Farmers vs. the RailroadsCartoon of a farmer fighting a train shaped like a serpent, with the caption "Which Will Win? The Farmer or the Railroad Monster?" The railroad's coils are wrapped around the dome of the U.S. Capitol.

http://www.corbisimages.com/stock-photo/rights-managed/IH165409/political-cartoon-of-farmers-vs-the-railroads

(a) Difficult Times for Farmers(a) Difficult Times for Farmerso Farmers borrow money from banks to buy

new machinery o Reliance on technology rather than manual

labor was known as agricultural mechanization

o Use of machines resulted in overproduction (too much agricultural products) and caused crop prices to fallo Farmers could not pay costs (increased debt)

Agriculture was hurting after the Civil WarFalling farm pricesUnregulated

railroadsIncreased

agricultural production in the west

Factors that harmed farmers engaged in free market economy

• Grain elevator operators stored grain when not in transit – often charged excessive rates

• Manufacturers kept raising prices on commodities – even as farmers had less disposable incomes

• Banks increased interest on credit

• Industries raised the cost of harvesters and combines

• RR industry – rising shipping prices

(b) Whose to Blame

• Farmers blame politicians and big businesses• Want government to regulate railroads (said

overcharging them to ship goods) • Interstate Commerce Act: created Interstate

Commerce Commission and regulated railroad rates

• Wanted gov. to provide subsidies• Gov. pay farmers money to cover their losses due

to overproduction

(c) What Farmers Want

Supported use of greenbacks (paper money)

Wanted dollar based on silver standard and gold standard (bimetallism) Believed would put more money in hands of

consumers (increase farm prices)

Supported use of greenbacks (paper money)

Wanted dollar based on silver standard and gold standard (bimetallism) Believed would put more money in hands of

consumers (increase farm prices)

Solution for FarmersSolution for Farmers

Formation of agriculture organizationThe Grange (Patrons of Husbandry)

Goals:Promoted the economic, social and political

welfare of the farmerFought monopolies (railroads)Supported equality for women

Song

Grange States

The National Grange is active in the 37 purple states and DC

Legislation

• As membership increased, the Grangers were able to enact laws to address abuses – Granger Laws: regulated RR and grain

elevator operators – Faced strong opposition – faced off with RR

and grain operators in court

Court Cases • Munn v. Illinois (1877)

– Court ruled that states could place regulations on RR for public good, but states could not regulate long-hauls

– RR companies responded by inflating long-haul rates• Peik v. Chicago & Northwestern Railway (1876)

– Supreme Court upheld that Granger Laws were not in violation of the federal government’s power to regulate interstate trade & commerce; states could establish their own interstate regulations

• Illinois v. Wabash (1886)– Court reversed Peik case that commerce and trade that

crossed state lines were under authority of federal gov• Congress responds with passing Interstate Commerce

Act

FORMATION OF POPULIST

PARTY

TO ADDRESS PROGLEMS FACED BY FARMERS

Populism (The People’s Party)• The concern over the farmers eventually gave rise to the Populist

Movement• Populism embraced what farmers wanted, it supported the

circulation of greenbacks (paper currency)• In 1892, under the official name of the People’s Party, the Populists

met in Omaha, Nebraska• Here they formed the Omaha Platform. Politically, Populism

appealed to the common man• It was a movement that praised agriculture as the backbone of the

country and favored farmers of the South and Wes• It also sought to break down racial divisions between white and

black farmers. Populists preached these 2 groups must unit to beat oppression of big business and corrupt politicians

Populist Platform

Supported bimetallism ($ supported by silver & goldUse of greenbacks Increased gov. regulation of business8 hour work dayGraduated income taxElection reforms

Direct election of Senators and president Secret ballot

Election of 1896• As the country approached the presidential election of 1896, it was

experiencing one of the worse economic depressions ever.• As the depression deepened in 1894, more and more people blamed

President Cleveland for the worsening condition.• Cleveland blamed the silver standard for the nation’s economic woes

and returned the US to a strict gold standard– This meant the dollar could only be backed by gold. Many people

argued it should be based on silver too. By backing money with gold & silver, money would be more plentiful

– This position supported bimetallism – Eventually populists agreed to support bimetallism and greenbacks– The silver question became a major issue of the 1896 campaign

Election of 1896

William Jennings Bryan Backed bimetallism Won the Populist vote

Democrat party vote was divided and did not win enough votes

William McKinley Won the election Marked the end

of the Populist Party

Democrats Republicans

Election 1896

• Bryan, in his famous “Cross of Gold” speech, stated you shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold

• Despite his abilities as a speaker and a national campaigner, Bryan could not overcome splits in the Democratic party to win enough votes.

• Republican William McKinley won the presidential election of 1896

• Populism faded soon after

Resources• http://www5.esc13.net/socialstudies/docs/era%206/populism_lesso

n_plan.pdf Populism lesson plan

• Farmers lesson ppt http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/agexed/aee501/organizations.html

• http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/historyonline/us25.cfm data analysis - Digital HS

• http://www.wadsworth.com/history_d/special_features/ext/am_hist/AmerHis-ch12.html#timeline resources (primary/secondary)

• http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/subtitles.cfm?titleID=30 political crisis articles

• http://www.pinzler.com/ushistory/popparplatsupp.html people’s party (preamble)

• http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap07_us_hist_frq.pdf DBQ

• http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=159 farmers and wizard of oz

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2itQkiQUOE&feature=related Wizard of Oz clip 6/8