Aim: Why did the farmers revolt during the late 1800s? Do Now Read pages Answer the questions on the note sheet. Turn in your homework. Look at the HW Board for your assignment.

Let’s Discuss Today, you are late 1800s farmers, yes that’s right, you are Old McDonald…e-i-e-i-o. On your farm, you grew some corn….e-i-e-i-o. Today, you are late 1800s farmers, yes that’s right, you are Old McDonald…e-i-e-i-o. On your farm, you grew some corn….e-i-e-i-o. In 1869, the price of corn is $.75 and in 1889, the price of corn is $.28. In 1869, the price of corn is $.75 and in 1889, the price of corn is $.28. You in those years, grew 1,000 bushels of corn. So you made in 1869:_______________ and in 1889, you made:________________. You in those years, grew 1,000 bushels of corn. So you made in 1869:_______________ and in 1889, you made:________________.

Big Pimpin? However, as a farmer, you have a mortgage and back in the day, your mortgage is $400 per year. However, as a farmer, you have a mortgage and back in the day, your mortgage is $400 per year. The problem is this. You have to calculate the amount of money you made growing corn, then subtract it by your mortgage, and then tell me. In what year, were farmers making a lot of money and in what year, were farmers broke? The problem is this. You have to calculate the amount of money you made growing corn, then subtract it by your mortgage, and then tell me. In what year, were farmers making a lot of money and in what year, were farmers broke? Besides the mortgage, what other factors affected a farmer’s bottom line and what do you think farmers did to correct this problem? Besides the mortgage, what other factors affected a farmer’s bottom line and what do you think farmers did to correct this problem?

Objectives By the end of this lesson, you, red-blooded, American student, should be able to: By the end of this lesson, you, red-blooded, American student, should be able to: Describe the steps taken by the American farmer to bring about reform in the late 1800s.

4. The Revolt of the Farmers Hurt by falling prices and heavy debts, farmers were the first to feel the effects of economic change. Hurt by falling prices and heavy debts, farmers were the first to feel the effects of economic change. Because of these changes, the farmers were also the first group to actively organize for reform. Because of these changes, the farmers were also the first group to actively organize for reform.

4.1 The Plight of the Farmer In the late 1800s, the plight of the farmer was a serious one. In the late 1800s, the plight of the farmer was a serious one. During this period of time, farmers were producing more than ever before. During this period of time, farmers were producing more than ever before. 1. Number of farms increase from two million to six million. 2. Wheat production increased from 200 million bushels to over 665 million bushels a year. 3. Corn production increased from less than one million bushels to two-and-a-half billion bushels a year.

The prices that farmers received for their crops dropped because of competition from other nations of the world. The prices that farmers received for their crops dropped because of competition from other nations of the world. As farm prices were dropping, farm costs were rising. As farm prices were dropping, farm costs were rising. Farmers began to blame manufacturers and bankers for their problems. They felt the banks were offering farmers made mortgages and set prices of goods and the railroads. Farmers began to blame manufacturers and bankers for their problems. They felt the banks were offering farmers made mortgages and set prices of goods and the railroads. Farmers disliked the railroads because they controlled the warehouses and grain elevators that farmers used in the Midwest. Farmers disliked the railroads because they controlled the warehouses and grain elevators that farmers used in the Midwest. Farmers also disliked the railroads because they were forced to pay high prices to ship their goods. Since railroads were the only form of transportation, farmers had no choice but to pay the costs. Farmers also disliked the railroads because they were forced to pay high prices to ship their goods. Since railroads were the only form of transportation, farmers had no choice but to pay the costs.

1) What problems did farmers face in the late 1800s? 2) Who did farmers blame for their troubles? Why? 3) Why were farmers angry with the railroads?

Price Indexes for Consumer & Farm Products:

The Silver Issue  “Crime of ’73”  demonetization of silver (govt. stopped coining silver).  Bland-Allison Act (1878)  limited silver coinage to $2-$4 mil. per mo. (based on the 16:1 ratio of silver to gold).  Sherman Silver Purchase Act (1890) ‏  The US Treasury must purchase $4.5 mil. oz. of silver a month.  Govt. deposited most silver in the US Treasury rather than circulation.

4.2 The Grange Movement This movement allowed farmers to learn that they were not alone in their problems. This movement allowed farmers to learn that they were not alone in their problems. The first group which helped the plight of the farmer was the National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry. This group was formed in 1867 by Oliver Kelley. The first group which helped the plight of the farmer was the National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry. This group was formed in 1867 by Oliver Kelley. By 1875, the Grange Movement had nearly 800,000 members. By 1875, the Grange Movement had nearly 800,000 members.

4) What is a cooperative? Cooperatives were established with the hope of selling farm machinery, insurance and warehousing at far cheaper costs than those in big business. Cooperatives were established with the hope of selling farm machinery, insurance and warehousing at far cheaper costs than those in big business. 5) What was the purpose of farmer cooperatives?

As problem became worse for farmers, members of the Grange became more active in politics. Members of the Grange controlled the state legislatures in the Midwest, including Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. As problem became worse for farmers, members of the Grange became more active in politics. Members of the Grange controlled the state legislatures in the Midwest, including Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. 6) How did farmers attempt to regulate the railroads?

The railroad companies were very much against the Granger Laws. They believed that the states had no right to regulate trade, the only group who could regulate trade is Congress. The railroad companies were very much against the Granger Laws. They believed that the states had no right to regulate trade, the only group who could regulate trade is Congress. The railroad companies said that states, by regulating trade, were taking away the income of the railroad without the due process of law. This went against the 14 th Amendment. The railroad companies said that states, by regulating trade, were taking away the income of the railroad without the due process of law. This went against the 14 th Amendment. The Supreme Court helped to bring about the decline of the Grange Movement. The Supreme Court helped to bring about the decline of the Grange Movement. 1. Munn v. Illinois (1877): stated that the states could set grain elevator rates. 2. Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railroad Company v. Illinois (1886): stated that Illinois could not regulate the rates because the railroad company carried freight across state borders. The Supreme Court also stated that the Congress regulates the rates. 3. The United States Supreme Court also stated that the 14 th Amendment could protect businesses. 7) How did the United States Supreme Court view towards the Granger Laws?

 Munn vs. Illinois (1877)  Wabash, St. Louis, & Pacific Railroad Company vs. Illinois (1886) ‏ Supreme Court Decisions

Founder of the National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry (1867)‏

The Grange Movement  First organized in the 1870s in the Midwest, the south, and Texas.  Set up cooperative associations.  Social and educational components.  Succeeded in lobbying for “Granger Laws.”  Rapidly declined by the late 1870s.

Gift for the Granger s: The Farmer Pays for All!

4.3 Farmers’ Alliances Were started in the 1890s in an attempt at reform. Were started in the 1890s in an attempt at reform. In Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and the Dakotas formed the Northwest Alliance. In Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and the Dakotas formed the Northwest Alliance. In the South, white farmers joined the Southern Alliance, while Blacks formed the Colored Farmers’ Alliance. In the South, white farmers joined the Southern Alliance, while Blacks formed the Colored Farmers’ Alliance. These alliances won control of a number of state legislatures in the south and west and more than 50 members were elected to Congress. These alliances won control of a number of state legislatures in the south and west and more than 50 members were elected to Congress. 8) What were some of the farmers’ alliances?

The Farmers Alliances  Begun in the late 1880s (Texas first  the Southern Alliance; then in the Midwest  the Northern Alliance).  Built upon the ashes of the Grange.  More political and less social than the Grange.  Ran candidates for office.  Controlled 8 state legislatures & had 47 representatives in Congress during the 1890s.

United We Stand, Divided We Fall  In 1889 both the Northern and Southern Alliances merged into one—the Farmers’ Alliance.

4.4 A New Political Party After the elections of 1890, farm leaders decided to form a new political party to protect their own interests. This party became known as the Populist Party. After the elections of 1890, farm leaders decided to form a new political party to protect their own interests. This party became known as the Populist Party. 9) What reforms did the Populists favor?

The Populist (Peoples’) Party 1890 Bi-Election:  1890 Bi-Election: So. Alliance  wanted to gain control of the Democratic Party. So. Alliance  wanted to gain control of the Democratic Party. No. Alliance  ran 3 rd Party candidates. No. Alliance  ran 3 rd Party candidates.  1892  800 met in St. Louis, MO majority were Alliance members. over 100 were African Americans. reps. of labor organizations & other reformers (Grange, Greenback Party).

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

Omaha Platform of 1892  System of “sub-treasuries.”  Abolition of the National Bank.  Direct election of Senators.  Govt. ownership of RRs, telephone & telegraph companies.  Government-operated postal savings banks.  Restriction of undesirable immigration.  8-hour work day for government employees.  Abolition of the Pinkerton detective agency.  Australian secret ballot.  Re-monitization of silver.  A single term for President & Vice President.

Bi-Metallism Issue

The reforms included: The reforms included: 1. Reforms which returned power to the citizens. 2. The secret ballot. 3. Direct elections of United States Senators. 4. The initiative. 5. The referendum. 6. The recall.

10) What is an initiative? 11) What is a recall? 12) What is a referendum? The Populists also wanted to take over the railroad companies, telegraph companies and steamships. The Populists also wanted to take over the railroad companies, telegraph companies and steamships. The Populists also favored a graduated income tax. The Populists also favored a graduated income tax. 13) What is a graduated income tax?

In 1892, James Weaver was the Populist candidate for President. In 1892, James Weaver was the Populist candidate for President. In 1894, Populist candidates received 1,500,000 votes. In 1894, Populist candidates received 1,500,000 votes. Most of the Populist support came from the Midwest, the South and the Rocky Mountains. Most of the Populist support came from the Midwest, the South and the Rocky Mountains. When push came to shove, many people saw the decline of the Populist Party. When push came to shove, many people saw the decline of the Populist Party.

Result of Election Returns  Populist vote increased by 40% in the bi-election year,  Democratic party losses in the West were catastrophic!  But, Republicans won control of the House.

William Jennings Bryan ( )‏ The “Great Commoner”

William Jennings Bryan  Revivalist style of oratory. Prairie avenger, mountain lion, Bryan, Bryan, Bryan, Bryan, Gigantic troubadour, speaking like a siege gun, Smashing Plymouth Rock with his boulders from the West.

Bryant’s “Cross of Gold” Speech You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns; you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold!

Bryan: The Farmers Friend (The Mint Ratio)‏ 18,000 miles of campaign “whistle stops.”

Democr atic Party Taken Over by the Agraria n Left Platform  tariff reductions; income tax; stricter control of the trusts (esp. RRs); free silver.

William McKinley ( )‏

“A Giant Straddle”: Suggestion for a McKinley Political Poster

The Seasone d Politicia n vs. The “Young” Newcom er

Into Which Box Will the Voter of ’96 Place His Ballot?

1896 Election Results

Why Did Bryan Loose?  His focus on silver undermined efforts to build bridges to urban voters.  He did not form alliances with other groups.  McKinley’s campaign was well- organized and highly funded.

Gold Triumphs Over Silver  1900  Gold Standard Act  confirmed the nation’s commitment to the gold standard.  A victory for the forces of conservatism.

Heyday of Western Populism

Review Questions What happened to the farm prices between 1860 and 1900? What happened to the farm prices between 1860 and 1900? What was the purpose of the Grange in the early days? What was the purpose of the Grange in the early days? What were the reforms called for by the Populists? What were the reforms called for by the Populists?