Enter the

Populists

1892-1896

Why do you think the artist used the term “Platform of Lunacy” when describing the

Populist “ship”?

The Grange MovementFirst organized in the 1870s in the

Midwest, the south, and Texas.

Set up cooperative associations.

Social and educational components.

Succeeded in lobbying for“Granger

Laws.”

Rapidly declined by the late 1870s.

The Farmers Alliances

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

Built upon the ashes of the Grange.

More political and less social than the Grange.

Ran candidates for office.

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

United We

Stand, Divided We Fall

In 1889 both the Northern andSouthern Alliancesmerged into one—the Farmers’ Alliance.

The Populist (Peoples’) Party

Founded by James B. Weaverand Tom Watson.

Omaha, NE Convention in July,1892.

Got almost 1 million popularvotes.

Several Congressional seatswon.

James B. Weaver, Presidential Candidate

&James G. Field, VP

The Populist (Peoples) Party

1890 Bi-Election:

So. Alliance wanted to gain control of the Democratic Party.

No. Alliance ran 3rd Party candidates.

1892 800 met in St. Louis, MO

majority were Alliance members.

over 100 were African Americans.

reps. of labor organizations & other reformers (Grange, Greenback Party).

Omaha Platform of 18921. System of “sub-treasuries.”

2. Abolition of the National Bank.

3. Direct election of Senators.

4. Govt. ownership of RRs, telephone & telegraph companies.

5. Government-operated postal savings banks.

6. Restriction of undesirable immigration.

7. 8-hour work day for government employees.

8. Abolition of the Pinkerton detective agency.

9. Australian secret ballot.

10. Re-monitization of silver.

11. A single term for President & Vice President.

Bi-Metallism Issue

The Prophets of the People

Mary Elizabeth Lease William Hope Harvey

Price Indexes for Consumer & Farm Products: 1865-

1913

Causes of the 1893 PanicBegun 10 days after Cleveland took office.

1. Several major corps. went bankrupt.

Over 16,000 businesses disappeared.

Triggered a stock market crash.

Over-extended investments.

2. Bank failures followed causing a contractionof credit [nearly 500 banks closed].

3. By 1895, unemployment reached 3 million.

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

Outcome of the DepressionUnemployment

Rates (approx.)1892 3.01893 11.7 1894 18.4 1895 13.7 1896 14.5

Coxey’s Army

March on DCGov’t relief needed by inflating public works

Arrested in DC for walking on the grass

Outcome of the DepressionPullman Strike

Chicago Railcar Factory: 1894

Nation wide sympathy strikesRail traffic slows heavilyEugene V. Debs leads

Blacks brought in as replacement work

Strike become violentUS Soldiers sent in by Grover Cleveland

Panic of 1893 cuts demandPullman cuts wages12 hour workdaysCut wages but no lowering of rents

Eugene V. DebsArrested and sentenced to jail

6 months for defying court order to stop strike

Developed more radical and socialist ideas in prison

Later wrote and helped grow Socialist party in US

Sound familiar???

1896Republicans

Nominated:

William McKinley

Controlled by:

Mark Hanna

Platform Called For:

Lean towards Gold only, high tariffs, blamed Democrats for Depression

1896Democrats

Nominated:

William Jennings Bryan

Rise to Fame:

Cross of Gold Speech at1896 Democratic Convention

Platform Called For:

16:1 silver to gold, lower tariff, inflationary works

1896Cross of Gold Speech

"Having behind us the producing masses ofthis nation and the world, supported by thecommercial interests, the laboring interestsand the toilers everywhere, we will answertheir demand for a gold standard by sayingto 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."

From: Coin’s Financial School

Republican Campaign Poster in 1896

1896

The Campaign:

Bryan barnstormed the nation giving speeches

McKinley stayed at home, relying on Hanna’s campaign chest to pay for results

Democrat “Goldbugs” bolted

Fear of Bryan and free silver affected factories and workers

McKinley wins finalelection: 271-176

1896-1900

1897: Dingley Tariff Bill Passed (average rate of 46.5%

1900: Gold Standard Act passed, all

redemptions in gold onlyHuge Gold discoveries in Klondike

andSouth Africa helped inflate Gold

supply