Download Unit 1 - River Mill Academy

Day 7: Farmers and Populists
1.
How did the platform and leaders of the Populist Party
influence the presidential election of 1896 and early 20th
Century American politics?
2.
How did the collapse of the railroad industry factor into
the Panics of 1873 and 1893?
3.
How did the Panics of 1873 and 1893 impact the political
and social development of the United States, such as the
Grange movement?
4.
Why did communities in the South and West develop
agrarian political movements?
 Panic of 1873: first global depression
 Affected Europe and N. America
 Banks put $ into RR’s, RR company shuts down, leads to
financial crisis
 Panic of 1893: similar to P of 1873
 Put too much stock in RR’s, shaky financing,
overbuilding
 Results in bank failures, depression in jobs/prices
 Potentially the worst depression in US history
Populist Party-organized in 1891 out of meetings
from Farmer’s Alliances.
The Omaha Platform:
 Money-graduated income tax & better federal
loan program
 Transportation/Communication-Government
ownership of RR, telegraph & telephone.
 Government-US Senators elected by popular
vote, use of initiative, recall, and referendum.
The Populists ran James B. Weaver of Iowa for
President in 1892.
Became a struggle between economic interests and
Gold vs. Silver. Greenbacks were paper money issued
that fluctuated wildly because they were not
supported by anything.
William McKinley (Rep)-favored
the Gold Standard
 Gold standard: value of money defined by gold (used
until 1930’s)
 Bimetallism: allows both silver and gold to be exchanged
for legal tender (money) at a fixed ratio between the two
metals
Election of 1896
William Jennings Bryan (Dem)-great
speaker who favored bimetallism. He gave
the famous “Cross of Gold” speech. He
was actually the nominee of the
Democrats and the Populists. The
Populists nominated a different VP than
the Democrats.
The “Cross of Gold” Speech was given at the
Democratic Convention in 1896.
Election of 1896
Results: McKinley defeated Bryan in 1896 and 1900.
The Gold Standard Act was passed in 1900.
The Populist Party was absorbed by the
Democrats.
 Wizard of Oz Clip
 L. Frank Baum: monetary reform symbolism:
1.
Dorothy: every man and woman, Populist character from Kansas
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
(home of the populists)
Scarecrow: farmers, ag. Workers, ignorant of city things but honest.
Strong supporter of Dorothy (populism)
Tin Man: Industrial workers, dehumanized by machinery, in need of
oil (liquidity/money) to work, otherwise unemployed (idle of a year)
without oil
Cowardly lion: William Jennings Bryan, populist presidential
candidate in 1900 (When Oz was written)
Ruby slippers: (silver slippers in the book), promoting bimetallism
Kansas: a Populist stronghold
Cyclone: Free silver movement
Yellow brick Rd.: the gold way, gold standard
Emerald City: political center aka Washington D.D.
Glinda the Good: the US South, supported Bryan and reform (Eas
and West/bad witches supported McKinley)
 Read the Case
 State power to regulate businesses
 1 of 6 cases in “Granger cases”
 Why is this important for the Populists?
 1887, Created the Interstate Commerce Commission
 First true federal regulatory agency
 Shipping rates had to be “reasonable and just”
 Rates had to be published
 Secret rebates were outlawed
 Price discrimination against small markets made
illegal
 Great, but lacked $ and resources to accomplish goal!
 Create a pamphlet or brochure advertising populist
ideals, candidates, reaching out to farmers in the Great
Plains, etc.
 List reasons why populism is the best option for some
Americans
 List ways to participate in the Populist Party
 Include 2-3 illustrations to grab attention