1. Who were they? Who were they? Southern and Western farmers, silver miners, members of the Grange and farm alliances, old Knights of Labor, Greenbackers, other reformers

2. Why were they whining? Falling prices and land values Falling prices and land values High interest rates High interest rates Railroad abuse Railroad abuse Tariff issues Tariff issues Monopoly abuse Monopoly abuse Under representation in government Under representation in government Lack of inflation Lack of inflation

3. What did they want? Lower Tariff Lower Tariff Inflation Inflation Government control of monopolies Government control of monopolies Government control of railroads Government control of railroads Better government representation Better government representation Subtreasury system Subtreasury system Prohibition Prohibition

4. Where did they come from? The National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry: The National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry: Organized by Oliver Kelley Organized by Oliver Kelley Local organizations Local organizations By 1873 800,000 members By 1873 800,000 members Soon less social and more economic and political Soon less social and more economic and political

5. The Grange continued Some success locally with cooperatives: stores, banks, insurance companies Some success locally with cooperatives: stores, banks, insurance companies Some success at state level: Some success at state level: By Harrison’s administration 15 states had laws prohibiting combinations in restraint of trade (curbing power of monopolies) (curbing power of monopolies) And 1877 Munn v Ill. (Railroad regulation) And 1877 Munn v Ill. (Railroad regulation)

6. Farm Alliances Began in 1875 Began in 1875 Sometimes state-wide, sometimes regional Sometimes state-wide, sometimes regional Most concentrated on local problems Most concentrated on local problems Examples: The Wheel, the Texas Alliance Examples: The Wheel, the Texas Alliance Eventually they merged Eventually they merged Separate Black Alliances Separate Black Alliances

7. Women Active and outspoken in the Grange and in the Alliance System Active and outspoken in the Grange and in the Alliance System Mary Elizabeth Lease: Mary Elizabeth Lease: “Farmers should raise less corn and more hell.” “Farmers should raise less corn and more hell.”

8. The Ocala Demands Farm Alliances and Grange members sent representatives to Ocala, Florida in 1890 and came up with a list a demands Farm Alliances and Grange members sent representatives to Ocala, Florida in 1890 and came up with a list a demands The Ocala Demands became the Populist Party platform in 1892…the height of its power The Ocala Demands became the Populist Party platform in 1892…the height of its power

9. The Demands: Inflation through free coinage of silver at the legal ratio of 16:1 Inflation through free coinage of silver at the legal ratio of 16:1 Government regulation of RR’s Government regulation of RR’s Curb the power of monopolies Curb the power of monopolies Lower tariff Lower tariff Lower interest rates Lower interest rates Sub-treasury system Sub-treasury system 8 Hour day (why? To lure workers to the party..failed) 8 Hour day (why? To lure workers to the party..failed) Prohibition Prohibition Direct election of Senators Direct election of Senators Income tax Income tax

10. Election of 1892 Democrats: Cleveland (winner) 277 Democrats: Cleveland (winner) 277 Republicans: Harrison (incumbent) 145 Republicans: Harrison (incumbent) 145 Populist: Weaver (22 electoral votes) Populist: Weaver (22 electoral votes) Also by 1890 Populists had control of 12 state legislatures, 6 governors, 3 US Senators, 50 members of the House Also by 1890 Populists had control of 12 state legislatures, 6 governors, 3 US Senators, 50 members of the House BUT by 1896 was absorbed into the Democratic Party BUT by 1896 was absorbed into the Democratic Party

11. Railroad Regulation Failed to regulate Rate discrimination: products and long-haul, short-haul Rate discrimination: products and long-haul, short-haul 1877 Success (Grange) with Munn v Illinois: Court said States COULD regulate RR rates within their borders 1877 Success (Grange) with Munn v Illinois: Court said States COULD regulate RR rates within their borders 1886 Munn overturned in with the Wabash Case 1886 Munn overturned in with the Wabash Case 1887 The Interstate Commerce Act (+ICC) 1887 The Interstate Commerce Act (+ICC) but problems rebates, Court and ICC

12. Monopolies Failed to curb Sherman Anti-Trust Act 1890 Was used more often against striking workers than monopolies E.C. Knight Case (and 14 th Amendment) E.C. Knight Case (and 14 th Amendment) The Pullman Strikers The Pullman Strikers

13. Lower Tariff and Income Tax Failed on both 1890 McKinley Tariff : highest rates in history 1890 McKinley Tariff : highest rates in history 1894 Wilson-Gorman Tariff: Began as lower but 600 + changes in the Senate = higher rates on everyday items 1894 Wilson-Gorman Tariff: Began as lower but 600 + changes in the Senate = higher rates on everyday items But included an income tax rider But included an income tax rider Which was overturned in Pollach v Farmers Loan and Trust (1895) Which was overturned in Pollach v Farmers Loan and Trust (1895) 1897 Dingley Tariff: highest rates in history 1897 Dingley Tariff: highest rates in history

14. Failed to lower interest rates Eastern banks controlled credit Eastern banks controlled credit Charged farmers 10-25% interest on mortgages Charged farmers 10-25% interest on mortgages By end of 1890’s ½ farmland mortgaged By end of 1890’s ½ farmland mortgaged Had high taxes and undervalued land Had high taxes and undervalued land

15. Failed to get rising prices World-wide agricultural production increased World-wide agricultural production increased World-wide farm prices fell World-wide farm prices fell Overproduction was the problem Overproduction was the problem Partly due to farm machinery (McCormick’s reaper, combines, harvesters) Partly due to farm machinery (McCormick’s reaper, combines, harvesters) Subtreasury system doomed from the start Subtreasury system doomed from the start

16. Farm Prices Fell 1870-18731894-98 1870-18731894-98 Cotton 15.1 cents per lb5.8 cents Wheat 106.7 cents per bushel63.3 cents Corn 43.0 cents per bushel29.7 cents

17. Farm Prices continued 1899 Georgia: it cost farmers 7 cents per bushel to grow cotton but they could only sell it for 5 cents per bushel 1899 Georgia: it cost farmers 7 cents per bushel to grow cotton but they could only sell it for 5 cents per bushel 1899 Kansas: corn selling for only 10 cents per bushel so they burned it for fuel 1899 Kansas: corn selling for only 10 cents per bushel so they burned it for fuel Farmers tried everything EXCEPT limiting production! Farmers tried everything EXCEPT limiting production!

18. Mother Nature’s 2 cents 1880’s-1890’s Drought on Plains Drought on Plains Flooding in lower Mississippi Valley Flooding in lower Mississippi Valley Blizzards on high Plains Blizzards on high Plains Impact on land and livestock Impact on land and livestock

19. Failed on Electoral Reform: Did not get: Initiative Initiative Referendum Referendum Recall Recall Australian Ballot Australian Ballot Direct Election of Senators Direct Election of Senators

20. Failed to get Inflation through Free Silver Inflation through free coinage of silver at a legal ratio of 16 to 1 was THE election issue of 1896 Republicans against inflation as they were the creditors Democrats favored inflation largely due to the impact of the Panic of 1893 The Populists were destroyed when the Democrats adopted this issue

21. Background of the bi-metallic standard Act of 1792: established ratio of silver to gold at 15:1 Act of 1792: established ratio of silver to gold at 15:1 371.25 grams of silver = 1 dollar at the mint 24.75 grams of gold = 1 dollar at the mint 1834 16:1 1834 16:1 1849 14.8:1 (new gold finds in California) 1849 14.8:1 (new gold finds in California) THEN 1853 silver from Comstock lode THEN 1853 silver from Comstock lode Silver miners sold to jewelers rather than mint The mint paid well only at 16:1 or higher

22. After 20 years…. No one had sold silver to the mint in 20 years so No one had sold silver to the mint in 20 years so 1873 The Coinage Act: The mint would no longer buy silver 1873 The Coinage Act: The mint would no longer buy silver 1874 Gold found in Black Hills (Dakotas) 1874 Gold found in Black Hills (Dakotas) So…happy miners went to the mint So…happy miners went to the mint And found out about the Coinage Act! And found out about the Coinage Act! They called it “The Crime of ’73” They called it “The Crime of ’73”

23. Upset over Silver led to Congressional Compromises 1878 The Bland Allison Act: Authorized government purchase of $2-4 million monthly at market prices (BUT NEVER COINED IT!) 1878 The Bland Allison Act: Authorized government purchase of $2-4 million monthly at market prices (BUT NEVER COINED IT!) Ratio fell 20:1 Ratio fell 20:1 1890 The Sherman Silver Purchase Act Government would buy 4-5 million ounces of silver monthly (BUT NEVER CIRCULATED!) 1890 The Sherman Silver Purchase Act Government would buy 4-5 million ounces of silver monthly (BUT NEVER CIRCULATED!)

24. Prices on Silver still falling Cleveland: Coxey’s Rebellion Cleveland: Coxey’s Rebellion Deal with J.P. Morgan Deal with J.P. Morgan Cleveland convinced agitation over silver was part of the problem so…he urged congress to Cleveland convinced agitation over silver was part of the problem so…he urged congress to 1893 Repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act! 1893 Repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act!

25. Election 1896 (again) McKinley (Republican) said that inflation would hurt everyone…especially farmers (WRONG) McKinley (Republican) said that inflation would hurt everyone…especially farmers (WRONG) William Jennings Bryan (Democrat) stole inflation issue from the Populists William Jennings Bryan (Democrat) stole inflation issue from the Populists Bryan gave “Cross of Gold” speech Bryan gave “Cross of Gold” speech

26. From the 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." [1] "You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns; you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold." [1] [1]

27. The End of the Populists Populists had a choice: Populists had a choice: 1. Could remain a party with no chance of winning as many who supported inflation would vote for the Democrats 2. Could dissolve their party, sacrifice other issues and maybe the Democrats would win and inflation was better than nothing 2. Could dissolve their party, sacrifice other issues and maybe the Democrats would win and inflation was better than nothing

28. The End of the Populists (still) Gold Democrats split from party and adopted all of the populist issues EXCEPT inflation Gold Democrats split from party and adopted all of the populist issues EXCEPT inflation Populists dissolved themselves Populists dissolved themselves The Democrats were divided The Democrats were divided McKinley won and raised the Tariff McKinley won and raised the Tariff And went on the Gold Standard (1901) with the Currency Act And went on the Gold Standard (1901) with the Currency Act

29. Doomed! AND THEN: Gold found in Alaska (A LOT) AND THEN: Gold found in Alaska (A LOT) So the economy was inflated So the economy was inflated AND crop failures in Europe AND crop failures in Europe Farmers sold surplus and Happy Days for All! Farmers sold surplus and Happy Days for All!

30. The Wizard of Oz (Baum) An Allegory An Allegory Dorothy and her shoes, her friends, her enemies, the yellow brick road, Emerald City, the Wizard, the flying monkeys and her little dog too! Dorothy and her shoes, her friends, her enemies, the yellow brick road, Emerald City, the Wizard, the flying monkeys and her little dog too! So…Why did the Populists Fail? So…Why did the Populists Fail? No government reps, No good leaders, the silver issue took too much time and attention, and no support from American middle class and failed to join with Black farmers and failure to lure the factory worker to their party…