populism & segregation
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Populism & Segregation
What hardships did Farmers face in the late
1800’s?• Many farmers in debt for their farmland.• Crop prices were falling
– More farms/more efficient machinery = increased output
– Increased output Falling prices• Large fees to use railroad to ship
produce• Large companies (bulk shipments) got
cheaper rates than farmers.
Crop Prices TankWHEAT:1881: $1.19 p/bushel1894: $0.49 p/ bushel
CORN:1881:$0.63 p/bushel1894: $0. 18 p/bushel
Source: America: The Last Best Hope – Vol 1. Bennett, William. Page 444
What group did Farmer’s start to represent their
interests?• Begun as social group
for farmers• Evolved into political
group advocating farmer’s rights
• Fought against railroads & grain elevator operators
The National Grange
Munn v. Illinois • Supreme Court declared that State’s
had the authority to regulate prices of private business interests used in the public good.
• State governments could control the prices railroads & grain elevators charged.
• Trend – Increased government control of private companies
The Grange weakened…
Farmer’s Alliance rose as politically
active group on behalf of farmers.
What monetary reform did Farmer’s Alliance
call for?• Increase the money supply by the government printing more money– Advocated silver be used (in addition to
gold) to back up money. – Print more “greenbacks” (Fiat
money)WHY?Cause Inflation – Rise in the level of
prices for goods and services** Increase value of farm produce **
Farmer’s organizations formPOPULIST
PARTY in 1892• Populist – claimed to speak,
represent & advocate common people.
Advocated:• Increasing money supply/free silver• Increased government regulation of
business• More political power for ordinary
people
BIG IDEA
VS.
William Jennings Bryan vs. William McKinley
Election of 1896
William Jennings Bryan
Becomes nominee of both the Democrat & Republican
parties
“We will answer their demands for a gold standard by saying to them: ‘You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.”
McKinley elected
• Defeat of Bryan marked the decline of Populist Party
• Merge with the Democratic party
• Many of their issues are continued by the Progressives in the 1900’s.
SEGREGATION & DISCRIMINATION
What did the 14th & 15th Amendments
legislate?14th Amendment: Gave citizenship to former slaves and prohibited State’s the right to deny equal rights to any citizen15th Amendment: State’s prohibited from denying voting rights (suffrage) based on race. African Americans given the right to vote.
How did Southern States deny African American
suffrage?• Poll Taxes
– Tax levied on citizens to vote.
• Literacy Tests • Testing reading ability before being
allowed to vote• Grandfather Clause• Could only vote if grandfather could
vote before 1867 (15th Amendment passed in 1859)
Explain the origin of the
“Jim Crow” character? • Character in minstrel
shows to stereotype black men.
• “Jim Crow” characterized as lazy, stupid, less human & unworthy of rights
• Came to be used as a racial slang for African AmericansSOURCE:
http://www.ferris.edu/jimcrow/who.htm
What Were “Jim Crow Laws?”
• Laws to force racial segregation in the South– Railroads required to have separate cars
based on race (ex. Alabama)– Illegal for whites and blacks to dine in the
same room at a restaurant (ex. Alabama)– Illegal for black and white children to learn at
the same school (ex. Florida)– Theatres to designation separate section for
blacks (ex. Virginia)SOURCE: http://academic.udayton.edu/race/02rights/jcrow02.htm
What was the Plessy v. Ferguson
ruling? • Homer Plessy (1/8 black) sat
in white-only train car• Arrested. Appeals that law
violates 13th & 14th Amendments
• Upheld Louisiana law saying that segregation did not violate Constitution as long as separation was equal.ESTABLISHES “SEPARATE BUT EQUAL”
PRINCIPLE
Who were the two main African American leaders at the turn of
the century?
Booker T. Washington W.E.B. Du Bois
How did their views differ?
• Believed blacks should accept segregation for the time being & work on improving their work skills
• Said that blacks should focus on developing vocational skills to become valuable/productive members of society
• Believed that hard work and the developing of virtues would help blacks gradually earn their rights
• Quietly used his wealth & power to fund the challenge of Jim Crow laws in the courts
Booker T. Washington
• Believed blacks must actively fight for full rights immediately
• Encouraged public protest• Believed blacks needed to pursue a
classical education and develop themselves intellectually
• Wrote of “the talented tenth” – the educated 10% of the black community that would help raise up the other 90%
W.E.B. DuBois
How did their views differ?
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