Agendao “The Last Stand of the Agrarians” Noteso Populist Platform Readingo Populism Video

Homework:o Finish Populist Platform Reading &

Questionso West Test Tuesday, 11/10

Do Now:• In your opinion, what role should

the government play in the economy? Do you believe in social darwinism or government intervention? Explain.

The Last Stand of the

AgrariansAgrarian Politics, Populism, and the

1896 Presidential Election

Objective:

Explain the impact of the industrial growth of business cycles on farmers, workers, immigrants, labor unions, and the Populist movement and the ways that these groups and the government responded to the economic problems caused by industry and business.

http://youtube.com/v/AMpZ0TGjbWE

Causes of the Farm ProtestRead the handout Causes of the Farm Protest and answer the following questions:1. What were 5 main complaints vs. RR’s, banks,

corporations/big business?2. According to the document, who owns most of

the western land?3. What are the causes of the farmers’ money

problems?4. Do you see any connections between the

farmers’ complaint & issues currently facing to US?

Farmers in the 19th Century• Farmers made up the largest

population of Americans• In 1888, 7,500,000 Americans worked on a

farm• New machines made farming more

accessible• Threshing Machine• The McCormick Reaper• Every McCormick Reaper freed five men to

fight for the Union

Technology & Economic Growth

Agricultural Production

● Better Technology = Increased Production

● Overproduction has consequences…○ Agricultural production

increases○ Low Prices

Although the farmers still made up the plurality of the work force in the late 19th century, they were the last to organize as an interest group.

Government Policy

Labor Unions

Farmers?

Monopolists

Farmers Unite!o Social

o The Grange

o Economico Farmers’ Alliance

o Politicalo Populist Partyo Other smaller parties

Populist PlatformRead the handout Populist Platform and answer the questions.

The Populist Platform

PoliticalReform Proposals

EconomicReform Proposals

● Direct Election of Senators

● Ballot Initiatives &

Referendum

● Secret Ballot

● Graduated Income Tax

● Unlimited Coinage of

Silver

● Nationalization of

Railroads

The Gold Standard

Sound money

Store of Value

Inflation

Bimetallismo 2 forms of currency

o Gold and silvero 16:1

o Fixed by legislationo Supported by Democrats

o Made money more accessible

The Panic of 1893o Bankruptcy and widespread economic

downfallo Reading RR goes bankrupt

o Set off series of bank failureso Inflationo Unemployment

o Coxey’s Army

Election of 1896

VS.

William Jennings Bryan William McKinleyD – NE R - OH

“Cross of Gold Speech”“If protection has slain its thousands the gold standard has slain its tens of thousands.”

- W.J. Bryan

1896 Democratic National Convention

“Cross of Gold Speech”

“You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns! You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold!”

- W.J. Bryan

1896 Democratic National Convention

Populists

Endorse Bryan

Republican

Political Cartoon

The Train vs. The Porch

The Sound Money Scareo Bottom Line:• We all want more

money, but we also want our money to be worth something.

Sound Money Wins!

...and so do the monopolists.

Significance of 1896 Electiono Republican dominance of the

presidency (7 of 9)o And both houses of Congress (17 of next 20

sessions)o Populist demiseo Urban dominanceo Beginning of modern politics

Unmasking The Wizard of OZ

Is The Wizard of OZ a musical fantasy or a parable on Populism?

Background on the Wizard of OZo L. Frank Baum (Author)

o In favor of many Populist movementso Political views may have influenced writingo Helped produce a musical which was the

premise for the 1939 MGM musicalo The Populist metaphors can be found

in…o Settingo Key Objectso Characters

Kansas in the Later 1800so Farmer discontent and Populist

politics were concentrated in Kansaso Suffering from a drought - many

farmers going through hard timeso Farmers wanted the free coinage of

silver to help them out of debt

“After a few hours the road began to be rough, and the walking grew so difficult that the Scarecrow often stumbled over the yellow brick, which were here very

uneven. Sometimes, indeed, they were broken or missing altogether, leaving holes that Toto jumped

across and Dorothy walked around. As for the Scarecrow, having no brains he walked straight

ahead, and so stepped into the holes and fell full length on the hard bricks.”

Parables for Populism???

DorothyYellow Brick RoadRuby SlippersOZScarecrowTin ManCowardly LionWinkiesWizardTwisterFlying MonkeysWicked Witch of the WestWicked Witch of the East

Dorothy...The every American

Yellow Brick Road...The Gold Standard

Ruby Slippers...Free silver

OZ/Emerald City...Washington D.C. (oz=ounce)

Scarecrow...The Farmers

Tin Man...The Industrial Workers

Cowardly Lion...William Jennings Bryan

Winkies...The enslaves/indebted working class

Wizard ...William McKinley

Twister...The Panic of 1893

Flying Monkeys...The American Indians

Wicked Witch of the West

...Drought

Wicked Witch of the East

...The Banks