1. Rise of Farmer Alliances Formation of Populism
Plight of Farmers
Rise of Farmer Alliances
Formation of Populism
**Print notes and bring to next class: Populism notes & notes for Gilded Age politics

2. 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?

3. Political Cartoon of Farmers vs. the Railroads
Cartoon 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.

4. (a) Difficult Times for Farmers
Farmers borrow money from banks to buy new machinery
Reliance on technology rather than manual labor was known as agricultural mechanization
Use of machines resulted in overproduction (too much agricultural products) and caused crop prices to fall
Farmers could not pay costs (increased debt)

5. Agriculture was hurting after the Civil War
Falling farm prices
Unregulated railroads
Increased agricultural production in the west

7. 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

8. (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

9. (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)

10. Solution for Farmers Formation of agriculture organization Goals:
The Grange (Patrons of Husbandry)
Goals:
Promoted the economic, social and political welfare of the farmer
Fought monopolies (railroads)
Supported equality for women
Song

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

13. 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

14. 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

17. FORMATION OF POPULIST PARTY TO ADDRESS PROGLEMS FACED BY FARMERS

19. 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

20. Populist Platform Supported bimetallism ($ supported by silver & gold
Use of greenbacks
Increased gov. regulation of business
8 hour work day
Graduated income tax
Election reforms
Direct election of Senators and president
Secret ballot

21. 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

22. Election of 1896 Democrats Republicans 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

23. 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

24. Resources
Populism lesson plan
Farmers lesson ppt
data analysis - Digital HS
resources (primary/secondary)
political crisis articles
people’s party (preamble)
DBQ
farmers and wizard of oz
Wizard of Oz clip 6/8