Founder of the Founder of the National Grange of National Grange of

the Patrons of the Patrons of Husbandry Husbandry (1867)(1867)

Founder of the Founder of the National Grange of National Grange of

the Patrons of the Patrons of Husbandry Husbandry (1867)(1867)

The Grange The Grange MovementMovementThe Grange The Grange MovementMovement

First organized in the 1870s in First organized in the 1870s in the Midwest, the south, and the Midwest, the south, and Texas.Texas.

Set up cooperative associations.Set up cooperative associations.

Social and educational Social and educational components.components.

Succeeded in lobbying for Succeeded in lobbying for “Granger Laws“Granger Laws.”.”

Rapidly declined by the late Rapidly declined by the late 1870s1870s..

The Farmers The Farmers AlliancesAlliances

The Farmers The Farmers AlliancesAlliances

Begun in the late 1880sBegun in the late 1880s

Based on the Grange.Based on the Grange.

More political and less social than More political and less social than the Grange.the Grange.

Ran candidates for office.Ran candidates for office.

Controlled 8 state legislatures & had Controlled 8 state legislatures & had 4747representatives in Congress during representatives in Congress during the 1890s.the 1890s.

United United We We

Stand, Stand, DivideDivided We d We FallFall

United United We We

Stand, Stand, DivideDivided We d We FallFall

1889 Farmers’ 1889 Farmers’ Alliance.Alliance.

Price Indexes for Price Indexes for Consumer & Farm Consumer & Farm Products: 1865-Products: 1865-

19131913

Price Indexes for Price Indexes for Consumer & Farm Consumer & Farm Products: 1865-Products: 1865-

19131913

GiftGiftfor thefor theGrangeGrange

rs:rs:

The The FarmerFarmerPays Pays

for All!for All!

GiftGiftfor thefor theGrangeGrange

rs:rs:

The The FarmerFarmerPays Pays

for All!for All!

The Silver IssueThe Silver IssueThe Silver IssueThe Silver Issue Sherman Silver Purchase Act (1890)

The US Treasury must purchase$4.5 mil. of silver a month.

Govt. deposited most silver in theUS Treasury rather than circulation.

Supreme Court Supreme Court DecisionsDecisions

Supreme Court Supreme Court DecisionsDecisions

Munn vs. IllinoisMunn vs. Illinois (1877) (1877)

Gov’t has the right to Gov’t has the right to tax or tariff goods in a tax or tariff goods in a statestate

Repealed by Wabash v Repealed by Wabash v Ill (1886)Ill (1886)

The Populist The Populist (Peoples’) Party(Peoples’) Party

The Populist The Populist (Peoples’) Party(Peoples’) Party

1890 Bi-Election:1890 Bi-Election:

So. Alliance So. Alliance wanted to wanted to gain control of the Democratic gain control of the Democratic Party.Party.

No. Alliance No. Alliance ran 3 ran 3rdrd Party Party candidates.candidates.

1892 1892 800 met in St. Louis, MO 800 met in St. Louis, MO

majority were Alliance members.majority were Alliance members.

over 100 were African Americans.over 100 were African Americans.

reps. of labor organizations & other reps. of labor organizations & other reformers (Grange, Greenback reformers (Grange, Greenback Party).Party).

Platform of Platform of LunacyLunacy

Platform of Platform of LunacyLunacy

The Populist The Populist (Peoples’) Party(Peoples’) Party

The Populist The Populist (Peoples’) Party(Peoples’) Party

Founded by James B. Founded by James B. WeaverWeaverand Tom Watson.and Tom Watson.

Got almost 1 million Got almost 1 million popularpopularvotes.votes.

Several Congressional Several Congressional seatsseatswon.won. James B. Weaver, James B. Weaver,

Presidential Presidential CandidateCandidate

&&James G. Field, VPJames G. Field, VP

Platform of 1892Platform of 1892Platform of 1892Platform of 18921.1. Abolition of the National Bank.Abolition of the National Bank.

2.2. Direct election of Senators.Direct election of Senators.

3.3. Govt. ownership of RRs, telephone & Govt. ownership of RRs, telephone & telegraph companies.telegraph companies.

4.4. Government-operated postal savings Government-operated postal savings banks.banks.

5.5. Restriction of undesirable immigration.Restriction of undesirable immigration.

6.6. 8-hour work day for government 8-hour work day for government employees.employees.

7.7. Graduated income taxGraduated income tax

8.8. Re-monitization of silver.Re-monitization of silver.

9.9. A single term for President & Vice A single term for President & Vice President.President.

Govt.-Owned Govt.-Owned CompaniesCompanies

Govt.-Owned Govt.-Owned CompaniesCompanies

1892 Election1892 Election1892 Election1892 Election

Bi-Metallism Bi-Metallism IssueIssue

Bi-Metallism Bi-Metallism IssueIssue

Causes of the Causes of the 1893 Panic1893 Panic

Causes of the Causes of the 1893 Panic1893 Panic Begun 10 days after Cleveland took Begun 10 days after Cleveland took

office.office.

1.1. Several major corps. went bankrupt.Several major corps. went bankrupt.

Over 16,000 businesses Over 16,000 businesses disappeared.disappeared.

Triggered a stock market crash.Triggered a stock market crash.

Over-extended investments, mainly Over-extended investments, mainly RRRR

2.2. Bank failures followed causing a Bank failures followed causing a contractioncontractionof credit [nearly 500 banks closed].of credit [nearly 500 banks closed].

3.3. By 1895, unemployment reached 3 By 1895, unemployment reached 3 million.million.

Americans cried out for relief, but the Americans cried out for relief, but the Govt.Govt.continued its laissez faire policies!!continued its laissez faire policies!!

Here Lies Here Lies ProsperityProsperityHere Lies Here Lies ProsperityProsperity

Written by a Written by a Farmer at the Farmer at the End of the 19cEnd of the 19c

Written by a Written by a Farmer at the Farmer at the End of the 19cEnd of the 19cWhen the banker says he's brokeWhen the banker says he's broke

And the merchant’s up in smoke,And the merchant’s up in smoke, They forget that it's the farmer They forget that it's the farmer who feeds them all. who feeds them all. It would put them to the testIt would put them to the test If the farmer took a rest;If the farmer took a rest; Then they'd know that it's the Then they'd know that it's the farmer farmer feeds them all. feeds them all.

Coxey’s Army, Coxey’s Army, 18941894

Coxey’s Army, Coxey’s Army, 18941894

Jacob Coxey & his “Army of Jacob Coxey & his “Army of the Commonwealth of Christ.”the Commonwealth of Christ.”

March on WashingtonMarch on Washington

Purpose: Have Federal Gov’t create programs Purpose: Have Federal Gov’t create programs to provide jobs for unemployedto provide jobs for unemployed

Gold / Silver Bug Gold / Silver Bug Campaign PinsCampaign Pins

Gold / Silver Bug Gold / Silver Bug Campaign PinsCampaign Pins

William Jennings William Jennings Bryan Bryan

(1860-1925)(1860-1925)

William Jennings William Jennings Bryan Bryan

(1860-1925)(1860-1925)

The “Great The “Great Commoner”Commoner”

William Jennings William Jennings BryanBryan

William Jennings William Jennings BryanBryan

Democratic Democratic Candidate in 1896Candidate in 1896

Populists like him, Populists like him, but are hesitant to but are hesitant to supportsupport

Bryan’sBryan’s“Cross of Gold” “Cross of Gold”

SpeechSpeech

Bryan’sBryan’s“Cross of Gold” “Cross of Gold”

SpeechSpeechYou shall not You shall not press down press down upon the brow upon the brow of labor this of labor this crown of crown of thorns; you thorns; you shall not shall not crucify crucify mankind upon mankind upon aa cross of goldcross of gold!!

Bryan: The Bryan: The Farmers FriendFarmers Friend(The Mint Ratio)(The Mint Ratio)

Bryan: The Bryan: The Farmers FriendFarmers Friend(The Mint Ratio)(The Mint Ratio)

18,000 miles of campaign “whistle 18,000 miles of campaign “whistle stops.”stops.”

DemocDemocratic ratic Party Party Taken Taken Over Over

by the by the AgrariAgrari

an an LeftLeft

DemocDemocratic ratic Party Party Taken Taken Over Over

by the by the AgrariAgrari

an an LeftLeft

Platform tariff reductions; income tax; strictercontrol of the trusts (esp. RRs); free silver.

William McKinley William McKinley (1843-1901)(1843-1901)

William McKinley William McKinley (1843-1901)(1843-1901)

Mark Hanna to Mark Hanna to Candidate Candidate

McKinleyMcKinley

Mark Hanna to Mark Hanna to Candidate Candidate

McKinleyMcKinley

““A Giant A Giant Straddle”: Straddle”:

Suggestion for a Suggestion for a McKinley Political McKinley Political

PosterPoster

““A Giant A Giant Straddle”: Straddle”:

Suggestion for a Suggestion for a McKinley Political McKinley Political

PosterPoster

The The SeasonSeason

ed ed PoliticiPolitici

anan

vs.vs.

The The “Young“Young

” ” NewcoNewco

mermer

The The SeasonSeason

ed ed PoliticiPolitici

anan

vs.vs.

The The “Young“Young

” ” NewcoNewco

mermer

Joshua A. Joshua A. Levering: Levering:

Prohibition PartyProhibition Party

Joshua A. Joshua A. Levering: Levering:

Prohibition PartyProhibition Party

Into Into Which Which Box Box Will Will the the

VoterVoterof ’96 of ’96 Place Place His His

BallotBallot? ?

Into Into Which Which Box Box Will Will the the

VoterVoterof ’96 of ’96 Place Place His His

BallotBallot? ?

1896 Election 1896 Election ResultsResults

1896 Election 1896 Election ResultsResults

Why Did Bryan Why Did Bryan Lose?Lose?

Why Did Bryan Why Did Bryan Lose?Lose?

His focus on silver His focus on silver underminedunderminedefforts to build bridges to efforts to build bridges to urbanurbanvoters.voters.

He did not form alliances He did not form alliances withwithother groups.other groups.

McKinley’s campaign was McKinley’s campaign was well-well-organized and highly funded.organized and highly funded.

Gold Triumphs Gold Triumphs Over SilverOver Silver

Gold Triumphs Gold Triumphs Over SilverOver Silver

1900 1900 GoldGoldStandard ActStandard Act

confirmed theconfirmed thenation’s nation’s commitment tocommitment tothe gold the gold standard.standard.

Will be the Will be the standard until standard until 19641964

Heyday of Heyday of Western Western PopulismPopulism

Heyday of Heyday of Western Western PopulismPopulism

Why Did Why Did Populism Populism Decline?Decline?

Why Did Why Did Populism Populism Decline?Decline?1.1. The economy experienced rapid The economy experienced rapid

change.change.

2.2. Crop prices and income for farmers Crop prices and income for farmers rose.rose.

3.3. Race divided the Populist Party, Race divided the Populist Party, especially in the South.especially in the South.

4.4. The Populists were not able to The Populists were not able to breakbreakexisting party loyalties.existing party loyalties.

5.5. Most of their agenda was adopted Most of their agenda was adopted bybythe Democratic Party.the Democratic Party.

But, Populism But, Populism Still Lives!Still Lives!

But, Populism But, Populism Still Lives!Still Lives!

Al Gore (Dem) in Al Gore (Dem) in 20002000

But, Populism Still Lives!But, Populism Still Lives!