How does the Populist Movement plan to rescue America?

$2.00 68¢ Farming Problems Crop prices fall (weather, bad methods) Single crop bonanza farms start hurting small farmers 68¢ 2. Farmer’s debt increases -Less printed money means causes dollar to rise!

3. Railroad shipping rates RR co’s have monopoly, “gouging” the farmers, especially for short hauls Farmers decide to organize, form the Grangers, Oliver Hudson Kelley is leader – some success with Munn v. Illinois

3) Reaper (cuts crops when ripe) Problems for Farmers Morrill Act will help farmers by giving states money to start agricultural college – new technology develops, more crops in less time 2) barbed wire 1) steel tipped plow 4) steel windmill 3) Reaper (cuts crops when ripe)

Farmers’ Alliances Grangers, other farmers and other groups form Farmer’s Alliance FA sent lecturers from town to town, topics: banks, government, the railroad Great speakers like Mary Elizabeth Lease get message spread

Populism New political party out to help farmers & workers – want drastic changes to government, led by William Jennings Bryan Bryan saw his Populist cause as “righteous” (Cross of Gold) “We seek to restore the government of the Republic to the hands of the ‘plain people’…We assert our purposes to be identical with the purposes of the National Constitution.” –People’s Party platform

Populist Party Platform 1) Increase in money supply – raises prices farmers make more $ 2) Graduated income tax – those who make more pay more 3) Senators directly elected by people 4) President/VP serve one term 5) Eight hour work day 6) Paper money backed by gold OR silver (bilmetalism)

Populist results in their 1st election -10% of popular vote -5 senators -3 governors -1,500 state legislators

Panic of 1893 Causes: 1)Industry over-expansion, especially railroads 2)Shrinking federal gold reserve

BANKRUPT COLLAPSED LOST Depression of 1893: - Panic of 1893, leads to a depression Results: BANKRUPT 1)Six major railroads 2) 500 banks COLLAPSED 3) 3 million jobs LOST

Presidential Election 1896 -Republicans back gold standard Candidate: William McKinley -Democrats back bimetallism Candidate: William Jennings Bryan -Populists back also support bimetallism Like William Jennings Bryan but not his VP, so they nominate their own candidate Result: McKinley wins, Why? Dems & Populists split vote