1. Emergence and Exit of Populism

2. What is Populism? Where did it come from?  Populism is the movement in the late 1800’s to try and solve some problems that many farmers had in their economic lives  The emergence of big business hurt farmers  Machines helped and hurt farmers

3. Where did Populism come from cont.  Overproduction for farmers led to a drop in product prices (supply v. demand)  Farmers had to borrow from banks (at high interest rates)  They would use this money to buy new machines to make more products  What would this do to their prices?

4. Where did Populism come from cont.  Railroads also hurt farmers  Railroads were the only way farmers could get their products to market  They would charge very high rates  There were no set rates (unregulated railroads)

5. The Grange  The Grange was the first real farmers organization  They helped farmers by:  1. pooling money together to form stores  2. Developing farmers insurance companies  3. Providing buildings to farmers to store food

6. The Political Arm of the Grange  The Grange also tried to pass laws (Granger Laws)  Laws against price gouging for railroads (federal government struck the laws down…..why?)  Many of these laws were passed in the western U.S.  Led to the creation of the ICC

7. Populism in Politics  The Grange eventually turned into the Populist Party  3 demands:  1. Free Silver (add silver to coinage making process)  2. Inflation (more money in circulation)  3. End gold standard (what the value of your money was based on)

8. Omaha Platform  The Omaha Platform consisted of Populists demands (last 3 items)  Radical change to capitalist system  Gained power in politics in the West (22 electoral votes 1892)  William Jennings Bryan as a Populist candidate

9. End of Populism  Bryan loses his bid for the presidency and Populism dies out  Legacy: leads to Progressive, the west becomes a force in American politics, regulation of industry (RXR)

10. OTHER FORCES OF REFORM  Temperance Movement: Support Prohibition (WCTU + Anti-Saloon League)  Also fought for prison reform, protective labor laws and women’s suffrage  Susan B. Anthony and NWSA

11. Socialism and Its Impact  Capitalism vs. Socialism  Many workers and common people looked to socialism to solve America’s problems (Why is it appealing to workers)  Eugene V. Debs

12. Impact of These Revolutionaries  Really each revolutionary idea led to something in the United States  Women’s right to vote in 1920  Limits on child labor  Regulations on business and industry  We won’t see this until the Progressive Movement