Why it matters: Following the Civil War, millions of men and women migrated west in search of the American dream. However, in the late 1880’s and early.

Why it matters: Why it matters: Following the Civil War, millions of men and Following the Civil War, millions of men and women migrated west in search of the American dream. women migrated west in search of the American dream. However, in the late 1880’s and early 1890’s, their dream However, in the late 1880’s and early 1890’s, their dream began to turn into a nightmare, which, in turn, sparked a social began to turn into a nightmare, which, in turn, sparked a social and political revolt known as Populism. and political revolt known as Populism. This movement This movement displayed the dissatisfaction of millions of ordinary displayed the dissatisfaction of millions of ordinary Americans– poor farmers, small landowners, and urban Americans– poor farmers, small landowners, and urban workersworkers– and produced one of the largest third party – and produced one of the largest third party movements in American history.movements in American history.

What led to the rise of the Populist movement, What led to the rise of the Populist movement, and what effect did it have?and what effect did it have?

Farmers Face Farmers Face ProblemsProblems

Farmers Face Farmers Face ProblemsProblems Farmers were receiving low prices for their crops, yet they had to

pay high costs for transportation.

Debts climbed

Their political influence declined

Cotton dropped from 15 cents a lb. to 6 cents in just a few years.

By 1890, it was costing a farmer more to produce corn than they could get selling it so they burned it and used it as fuel.

The cost of doing business rose too.

To pay for new machinery, seed, and livestock caused farmers to increase their debts.

Many mortgaged their farms to raise funds to survive and became tenant farmers- no longer owned the farm they worked.

Written by a farmer at Written by a farmer at the end of the 19the end of the 19thth

centurycentury

Written by a farmer at Written by a farmer at the end of the 19the end of the 19thth

centurycentury

When 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 the farmer Then they'd know that the farmer

feeds them all. feeds them all.

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

Farmers Face Farmers Face ProblemsProblems

Farmers Face Farmers Face ProblemsProblems

Farmers blamed big businesses, especially railroads and banks.

Railroads were monopolies that charged whatever rates they wanted.

Banks set interest rates at ridiculously high prices.

They felt the nation had turned its back on them. Presidents and elected officials were no longer from farming, agricultural backgrounds but instead now from urban, industrial states.

Farmers Farmers OrganizeOrganizeFarmers Farmers OrganizeOrganize Farmers created a network of organizations.

Grange= organized by Oliver H. Kelley put together an organization that included providing education on new farming techniques and calling for the regulation of railroad and shipping rates.

Railroads challenged the “grange laws” in courts but the Supreme Court upheld the laws that set maximum rates for shipping and for grain storage.

Government also established the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to oversee interstate transportation.

United United We Stand, We Stand,

Divided Divided We FallWe Fall

United United We Stand, We Stand,

Divided Divided We FallWe FallIn 1889 both In 1889 both

the Northern andthe Northern andSouthern AlliancesSouthern Alliancesmerged into one—merged into one—the Farmers’ the Farmers’ Alliance.Alliance.

Farmers’ Farmers’ AlliancesAlliancesFarmers’ Farmers’ AlliancesAlliances Farmers’ Alliances became

important reform organizations.

These alliances formed cooperatives to collectively sell their crops, and the sought out the federal gov’t. to establish “sub-treasuries,” or postal banks to provide low interest loans.

Populist Party Populist Party Populist Party Populist Party The spread of the Farmers’ Alliances culminated with the

formation of the Populist Party, or People’s Party, in 1892.

Populists sought to build a new political party from the grass roots up.

They ran entire slates of candidates for local, state, and national positions.

The party proposed to fight low prices, they called for the coinage of silver, or “free silver”.

The combat high costs, they demanded gov’t. ownership of railroads.

BBi-i-MMeettaalllliissmm IIssssuuee

BBi-i-MMeettaalllliissmm IIssssuuee

Causes of the Causes of the 1893 Panic1893 Panic

Causes of the Causes of the 1893 Panic1893 Panic

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

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

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

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

Over-extended investments.Over-extended investments.

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

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

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

Here Lies Here Lies ProsperityProsperityHere Lies Here Lies ProsperityProsperity

GoldGold / Silver / Silver Bug Bug Campaign PinsCampaign Pins

GoldGold / Silver / Silver Bug Bug Campaign PinsCampaign Pins

Economic Crisis and Economic Crisis and DeclineDecline

Economic Crisis and Economic Crisis and DeclineDecline

1893, a 4 year long depression began that just worsened conditions.

All political parties failed to respond to the nation’s distress in a satisfactorily way.

Democrats nominated William Jennings Bryan as their presidential candidate and Populists supported him.

Bryan spoke for the “plain people”. Gave a famous speech known as the “Cross of Gold” speech.

He supported the coinage of silver and gold.

As a presidential candidate, he was one of the first to tour the nation, speaking directly to the people.

Republican presidential candidate= William McKinley

He allowed people to do the campaigning for him and had a bigger budget.

William Jennings Bryan William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925)(1860-1925)

William Jennings Bryan William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925)(1860-1925)

The “Great The “Great Commoner”Commoner”

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

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

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

““A Giant Straddle”: A Giant Straddle”: Suggestion for a Suggestion for a McKinley Political McKinley Political

PosterPoster

““A Giant Straddle”: A Giant Straddle”: Suggestion for a Suggestion for a McKinley Political McKinley Political

PosterPoster

Into Into Which Which

Box Will Box Will the the

VoterVoterof ’96 of ’96

Place His Place His Ballot? Ballot?

Into Into Which Which

Box Will Box Will the the

VoterVoterof ’96 of ’96

Place His Place His Ballot? Ballot?

1896 Election 1896 Election ResultsResults

1896 Election 1896 Election ResultsResults

Gold Triumphs Gold Triumphs Over SilverOver Silver

Gold Triumphs Gold Triumphs Over SilverOver Silver

1900 1900 Gold GoldStandard ActStandard Act

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

A victory for the A victory for the forces offorces ofconservatism.conservatism.

Populism’s Populism’s LegacyLegacy

Populism’s Populism’s LegacyLegacy

McKinley won the election of 1896 and went on to win reelection again beating out Bryan, in the 1900 election.

Urban workers did not like Bryan’s ideas of monetary reform.

The Populist party was no longer winning over any state outside of the South and West.

It had dwindled by the first decade of the 20th century.

The Wizard of The Wizard of OzOz

by L. Frank by L. Frank BaumBaum

The Wizard of The Wizard of OzOz

by L. Frank by L. Frank BaumBaum