Problems for Small Farmers 1.Can’t compete with corporate farms 2.Reliance on cash crops 3.Falling prices & overproduction 4.Rising costs: expensive.

Problems for Small Farmers

1. Can’t compete with corporate farms

2. Reliance on cash crops

3. Falling prices & overproduction

4. Rising costs: expensive goods, Railroads rates, land taxes

5. Mortgage foreclosures and debts - want more $ in circulation

Price Indexes for Price Indexes for Consumer & Farm Consumer & Farm

Products: 1865-1913Products: 1865-1913

Price Indexes for Price Indexes for Consumer & Farm Consumer & Farm

Products: 1865-1913Products: 1865-1913

The Silver IssueThe Silver IssueThe Silver IssueThe Silver Issue “Crime of ’73” demonetization of

silver.

Bland-Allison Act (1878) limitedsilver coinage to $2-$4 mil. per month(16:1 ratio of silver to gold).

Sherman Silver Purchase Act (1890)

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

BUT, deposited most silver in theUS Treasury rather than in circulation.

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

Husbandry (1867)Husbandry (1867)

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

Husbandry (1867)Husbandry (1867)

The Grange The Grange MovementMovementThe Grange The Grange MovementMovement

First organized in 1868. 1870s First organized in 1868. 1870s in the Midwest, the South, and in the Midwest, the South, and Texas.Texas.

Set up Set up ““cooperative associationcooperative associationss””..

Social and educational Social and educational components.components.

Succeeded in lobbying for Succeeded in lobbying for ““Granger LawsGranger Laws..”” - regulated - regulated railroad rates and grain storagerailroad rates and grain storage

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

Supreme Court Supreme Court DecisionsDecisions

Supreme Court Supreme Court DecisionsDecisions

Munn v. IllinoisMunn v. Illinois (1877) - state (1877) - state may regulate railroads within may regulate railroads within state - farmers happystate - farmers happy

““The Wabash CaseThe Wabash Case”” (1886) (1886)

Wabash, St. Louis, & Pacific Wabash, St. Louis, & Pacific Railroad Company v. IllinoisRailroad Company v. Illinois - - states canstates can’’t regulate t regulate interstate commerce - interstate commerce - farmers sadfarmers sad

The Farmers The Farmers AlliancesAlliances

The Farmers The Farmers AlliancesAlliances

Begun in the late 1880s Begun in the late 1880s (Texas first (Texas first Southern AllianceSouthern Alliance; ; Midwest Midwest Northern Northern AllianceAlliance).).

1 million members by 1 million members by 18901890

More political than the More political than the Grange - Ran candidates Grange - Ran candidates for office.for office.

Controlled 8 state Controlled 8 state legislatures & had 47legislatures & had 47representatives in representatives in Congress during the Congress during the 1890s.1890s.

“Raise less corn and more hell!”

United United We We

Stand, Stand, Divided Divided We FallWe Fall

United United We We

Stand, Stand, Divided Divided We FallWe Fall

In 1889 both In 1889 both the Northern andthe Northern andSouthern AlliancesSouthern Alliancesmerged into one—merged into one—the the FarmersFarmers’’ AllianceAlliance..

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

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

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

Omaha Convention in July,Omaha Convention in July,1892.1892.

Almost 1 million popularAlmost 1 million popularvotes.votes.

Won Several Won Several Congressional seatsCongressional seats James B. Weaver, James B. Weaver,

Presidential Presidential CandidateCandidate

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

Omaha Platform of 1892Omaha Platform of 1892Omaha Platform of 1892Omaha Platform of 1892

1.1. ““BimetalismBimetalism”” - free silver - free silver

2.2. Replace National Bank with Replace National Bank with Government-operated postal savings Government-operated postal savings banks.banks.

3.3. System of System of ““sub-treasuriessub-treasuries””

4.4. Direct election of Senators.Direct election of Senators.

5.5. Australian secret ballot.Australian secret ballot.

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

7.7. Gov. ownership of RRs, telephone & Gov. ownership of RRs, telephone & telegraph companies.telegraph companies.

8.8. Restriction of undesirable immigration.Restriction of undesirable immigration.

9.9. 8-hour work day for government 8-hour work day for government employees.employees.

10.10. Abolition of the Pinkerton detective Abolition of the Pinkerton detective agency.agency.

Expanded the earlier “Ocala Demands” of 1890

Platform of Platform of LunacyLunacy

Platform of Platform of LunacyLunacy

1892 Election1892 Election1892 Election1892 Election

Bi-Metallism IssueBi-Metallism IssueBi-Metallism IssueBi-Metallism Issue

Causes of the 1893 Causes of the 1893 PanicPanic

Causes of the 1893 Causes of the 1893 PanicPanic

Begun 10 days after Cleveland took Begun 10 days after Cleveland took office.office.

1. Several major corps. went bankrupt 1. Several major corps. went bankrupt (sparked by railroad overinvestment).(sparked by railroad overinvestment).

Over 16,000 businesses collapsed.Over 16,000 businesses collapsed.

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

2. Bank failures caused a contraction2. Bank failures caused a contractionof credit - nearly 500 banks closed - of credit - nearly 500 banks closed - panic!panic!

3. By 1895, unemployment - 3 million.3. By 1895, unemployment - 3 million.

Americans cried out for relief, but the Americans cried out for relief, but the Government & Cleveland = laissez faire Government & Cleveland = laissez faire policiespolicies

Here Lies Here Lies ProsperityProsperityHere Lies Here Lies ProsperityProsperity

CoxeyCoxey’’s Army, s Army, 18941894

CoxeyCoxey’’s Army, s Army, 18941894

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

March on Washington March on Washington ““hayseed hayseed socialists!socialists!”” arrested for trespassing arrested for trespassing

Result of 1894 ElectionResult of 1894 ElectionResult of 1894 ElectionResult of 1894 Election

Populist voteincreased by40%.

Democratic party losses in

the West werecatastrophic!

But, Republicanswon control of

the House.

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 The ““Great CommonerGreat Commoner””

William Jennings William Jennings BryanBryan

William Jennings William Jennings BryanBryanPrairie avenger, Prairie avenger,

mountain lion, mountain lion,Bryan, Bryan, Bryan, Bryan, Bryan, Bryan,

Bryan, Bryan,Gigantic troubadour, Gigantic troubadour,

speaking like a speaking like a siege siege gun, gun,Smashing Plymouth Smashing Plymouth Rock Rock with his boulders with his boulders from the West. from the West.

Revivalist style of oratory.

BryanBryan’’ss““Cross of GoldCross of Gold”” Speech Speech

BryanBryan’’ss““Cross of GoldCross of Gold”” Speech Speech

““You 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 golcross of goldd!! ””

Bryan: The Farmers Bryan: The Farmers FriendFriend

(The Mint Ratio)(The Mint Ratio)

Bryan: The Farmers Bryan: The Farmers FriendFriend

(The Mint Ratio)(The Mint Ratio)

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

DemocratDemocratic Party ic Party Taken Taken

Over by Over by the the

Agrarian Agrarian LeftLeft

DemocratDemocratic Party ic Party Taken Taken

Over by Over by the the

Agrarian Agrarian LeftLeft

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

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

Mark Hanna: Mark Hanna: The The ““Front-PorchFront-Porch””

CampaignCampaign

Mark Hanna: Mark Hanna: The The ““Front-PorchFront-Porch””

CampaignCampaign

Mark Hanna to Mark Hanna to Candidate Candidate

McKinleyMcKinley

Mark Hanna to Mark Hanna to Candidate Candidate

McKinleyMcKinley

““A Giant StraddleA Giant Straddle””: : Suggestion for a Suggestion for a

McKinley Political PosterMcKinley Political Poster

““A Giant StraddleA Giant Straddle””: : Suggestion for a Suggestion for a

McKinley Political PosterMcKinley Political Poster

The The SeasoneSeasone

d d PoliticianPolitician

vs.vs.

The The ““YoungYoung”” NewcomNewcom

erer

The The SeasoneSeasone

d d PoliticianPolitician

vs.vs.

The The ““YoungYoung”” NewcomNewcom

erer

Into Into Which Which

Box Will Box Will the the

VoterVoterof of ’’96 96

Place His Place His

Ballot?Ballot?

Into Into Which Which

Box Will Box Will the the

VoterVoterof of ’’96 96

Place His Place His

Ballot?Ballot?

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.

McKinleyMcKinley’’s campaign was s campaign was well-well-organized and highly funded organized and highly funded by big business $$$$$$$.by big business $$$$$$$.

Gold Triumphs Over Gold Triumphs Over SilverSilver

Gold Triumphs Over Gold Triumphs Over SilverSilver

1900 1900 GoldGoldStandard ActStandard Act

A victory for the A victory for the

forces offorces ofconservatism.conservatism.

Why was the 1896 Election so significant?

1. End of the stalemate and stagnation of Gilded Age

2. Era of Republican dominance (7 of next 9 presidential elections and both Houses for 17 of next 20 sessions) as the party of business, industry and strong national government

3. Demise of Populists - but many goals live on and will be adopted by Progressives & FDR

4. Urban dominance of America5. Beginning of modern politics - media & $$$$