1. Populism and Progressivism: Vocab
Farmers’ Alliance
Grange
Populist Party
Goldbugs
Silverites

2. The Problems Farmers Face
Prices for farmers’ crops began to fall.
Trying to make more money, farmers grew more. This only made prices even lower
Farmers went into debt to pay for land, tools, machines, etc.

3. Big Business Hurting Farmers
Big Business was successful, but they did things that hurt farmers
Railroad companies charged high rates
Banks set extremely high interest rates

4. Farmers Band Together Oliver H. Kelley formed the Grange
Focused on educating farmers on the best farming techniques/practices
Lobbied government to regulate Railroads rates

5. Farmers Band Together Farmers’ Alliance
Farmers collectively sell crops and help supply each other
Pushes for the govt to give farmers low-interest loans
Drive cost of farming down and prices up

6. The Populist Party The Populist Party: A Party of the People
Omaha Platform:
Coinage of “free silver” to increase money supply and rise prices
Graduated Income Tax
Govt regulation of Railroads & Banks
Other reforms include:
Women’s Suffrage
Combating Political Corruption

7. The Gold Standard vs. Silverites
Gold Standard: Govt used only gold to back up our paper currency
Limited amount of money was in supply….prices go down

8. The Gold Standard vs. Silverites
Silverites: Wanted the government to use gold AND silver to back up the money supply
Called “Bimetallism” and would cause inflation
Raising prices

9. Gold Bugs Silverites Bankers and businessmen
ONLY GOLD back the money supply (Gold Standard)
Prices would be low (good for businessmen) and the value of money would be stable
Farmers
BOTH silver and gold to back up the money supply (Bimetallism)
Food prices would go up. Benefits farmers

10. Warm up: Progressive Vocab
William Jennings Bryan
“Cross of Gold”
William McKinley

11. Early Success of the Populists
In elections during 1892, the Populist party did well
3 governors, 5 senators, 10 in Congress

12. William Jennings Bryan
Known for his strong speech/debating skills
Populists and Democrats would both nominate him to run for president in 1896
Choose Democrat

13. Bryan’s “Cross of Gold” Speech
Bryan’s impassioned speech in favor of bimetallism at DNC in 1896
“You shall not press down upon this brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold”

14. Election of 1896 William McKinley won the election of 1896
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
William McKinley won the election of 1896
Populists belief in bimetallism did not appeal to urban workers who would suffer from higher prices
The Populist party would fall apart

15. Legacy of the Populists
Programs the Populist party pushed for that become a reality
Graduated income tax
Regulation of Railroads
Flexible monetary system
wealthy pay higher taxes, poorest pay lowest rate
With over 500 speeches in 1896, Bryan invented the national stumping tour in an era when other presidential candidates stayed home.