Farmer’s Problems

-weather problems

-falling prices

-increasing debt

-dependant upon railroads

-need for cheaper money

deflation and inflation

Railroad Abuses

-construction graft – using authority for political gain

-bribes

-stock watering- used in order to increase the weight of cows. Forced a cow to bloat itself with water before it was weighed for sale.

-unfair pricing

long haul

short haul

-use of rebates for large customers

The Grange

-also called the Patrons of Husbandry

-began as social group that evolved into a political group

-called for regulation of railroads

-“Granger Laws”- mid-western state laws that regulated railroad abuses

Granger laws ruled unconstitutional in Wabash v. Illinois, 1887

-ICC- Interstate Commerce Act

-Federal law that regulates commerce

-Grangers pushed for currency reform

Populism

-took the place of the Grange

-strong mid-west support

-reform based party

-Omaha Platform, 1892

increase $ supply

income tax

secret ballots

8 hour workday

Immigration control

Free Silver Crusade

-Panic of 1893

-nation enters a recession

-many people promote silver and gold standard for currency

-would create larger money supply

-”greenbacks” issued based on silver and gold bullion reserves

-Gold standard only would limit money supply as gold reserves were limited

End of the Populists

-1896 election

-William McKinley-Republican

Gold Standard – gold only currency

-William Jennings Bryan -Democrat./Populist

Free Silver

“Cross of Gold Speech”

(silver and gold should be equal)

-McKinley wins election

-Populism dies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeTkT5-w5RA