1. Farmers and Populism

2. How were farmers doing at the end of the 19th Century?

3. Farmers were struggling
Overproduction caused crop prices to fall
Prices for shipping rose debt increased
Many farmers lost their farms and homes
Farmers felt the nation had turned its back to them.

4. What industry controlled the shipping costs?

5. Railroads
Expansion of railroads made it possible for crops raised in the Great Plains to be exported to other areas.

6. But the railroad Robber Barons…
Vanderbilt and others charged super high prices
They got rich, but…
This caused farmers to sink deeper into debt

7. How did farmers respond?

8. The Grange The Grange and Farmers’ Alliances
Main Goal: Fought against railroad companies and tried to pass new laws calling for government regulation of the railroads.
Interstate Commerce Act – railroads had to tell customers how much the charge is.
Other Goals:
Organized co-ops to help farmers
But the Grange needed more power…

9. The Populist Party forms…
Spread quickly
Help farmers and workers get more voice in government

10. What was the Populist Party platform? What did they believe in and want?

11. Populist Party Platform
Populists met in Omaha, Nebraska and created the Omaha Platform.
Omaha Platform:
Increase in money supply = bimetallism
Using gold and silver
Government ownership of railroads
Graduated income tax
Federal loans program
Election of Senators by popular vote
Secret ballot
8 hour workday
Restrictions on immigration

12. Why would they want restrictions on immigration?
Immigration = Cheap Labor
Immigrant workers competed with white workers from the U.S. for jobs

13. Gold Standard vs. Bimetallism—What’s the difference?

14. Gold Bugs and Silverites
Who they were
Bankers and businessmen
Farmers and laborers
What they wanted
-Gold standard
-Less money in circulation
-Bimetallism
-More money in circulation
Why
Loans would be repaid in stable money
Products would be sold at higher prices
Effects
Deflation
-Prices fall
-Value of money ↑
-Fewer people have money
Inflation
-Prices rise
-Value of money ↓
-More people have money

15. Pro-Silver or Pro-Gold

16. Pro-Silver or Pro-Gold

17. Pro-Silver or Pro-Gold

18. Pro-Silver or Pro-Gold

19. William Jennings Bryan
Election of 1896
William McKinley
Republican Party
Gold Standard
William Jennings Bryan
Democratic Party and Populist endorsement
Bimetallism

20. How did Bryan feel about gold again?

21. Cross of Gold Speech Gold = Financial Death

22. And the winner is…

23. McKinley!

24. Populists lose, but make an Impact
Poor people could organize and have an impact
Most of their reform ideas got passed later
Direct election of senators, referendum, initiative, secret ballot

25. Political reforms
Secret ballot: individual’s votes would be kept secret, not published
Referendum: allows citizens to vote directly on important issues rather than leave the issues in the hands of elected officials
Recall: allows voters to remove an elected official from office before their term is up
Initiative: allows voters to force elected officials to vote on a certain issue

26. Why did the Populist Party Attract Millions of Supporters?
Sourcing: Where is Bryan speaking? What is his purpose?
2. Context: Based on the speech, how do you think farmers and workers were feeling about business and industry? Find a quote to support your answer.
3. Close reading: What is the main point of his speech?
4. Close reading: What makes the speech so powerful? Pick the line that you think is most powerful and explain your choice.
5. Corroboration: What are two similarities between this speech and the speech by Mary Elizabeth Lease?