• Mother Nature – droughts, floods, grasshoppers, boll weevil

• High Taxes• Tariffs did not protect farmers from foreign

competition• One-Crop economy• Deflation – not enough dollars to go around

causes lower prices • Railroad Corp. – controlled trans. of crops and

the rates• Debt from purchasing new equipment• disorganized

Price Indexes for Price Indexes for Consumer & Farm Consumer & Farm Products: 1865-Products: 1865-

19131913

Price Indexes for Price Indexes for Consumer & Farm Consumer & Farm Products: 1865-Products: 1865-

19131913

Keeping up with the Competition

Farmers had to purchase new equipment to increase production in order to compete

Faced disadvantages in the shipping of farm goods

• Shipping prices were high and storage prices were high.

• Local monopolies controlled the grain storage elevators and the railroads.

• Frank Norris’ The Octopus: The Octopus was the railroad companies that wrapped its tentacles around and smothered those that relied on it.

Founder of the Founder of the National Grange of National Grange of

the Patrons of the Patrons of Husbandry Husbandry (1867)(1867)

Founder of the Founder of the National Grange of National Grange of

the Patrons of the Patrons of Husbandry Husbandry (1867)(1867)

The Grange The Grange Movement ; The Movement ; The

Rural Rural ModernizesModernizes

The Grange The Grange Movement ; The Movement ; The

Rural Rural ModernizesModernizes

First organized in the 1870s in First organized in the 1870s in the Midwest, the south, and the Midwest, the south, and Texas.Texas.

Set up cooperative associations.Set up cooperative associations.

Social and Social and educational educational components.components.

Succeeded in lobbying for Succeeded in lobbying for “Granger Laws“Granger Laws.”.”

Rapidly declined by the late Rapidly declined by the late 1870s1870s..

The Grange Preachesfor Change

• The grange set up “posts” where meetings were held that took on a religious revival atmosphere – Used the power of Christian moralism to motivate critics of an unethical status quo

• Farms were “isolated prisons” of dismal life – build associations to breakdown that lonely life

Supreme Court Supreme Court DecisionsDecisions

Supreme Court Supreme Court DecisionsDecisions

Munn vs. IllinoisMunn vs. Illinois (1877) (1877)

Wabash, St. Louis, & Wabash, St. Louis, & Pacific Railroad Pacific Railroad Company vs. IllinoisCompany vs. Illinois (1886)(1886)

The Farmers The Farmers AlliancesAlliances

The Farmers The Farmers AlliancesAlliances Begun in the late 1880s (Texas first Begun in the late 1880s (Texas first

the the Southern AllianceSouthern Alliance; then in the ; then in the Midwest Midwest the the Northern AllianceNorthern Alliance).).

Built upon the ashes of the Grange.Built upon the ashes of the Grange.

More political and less social than More political and less social than the Grange.the Grange.

Racially integratedRacially integrated

Ran candidates for office.Ran candidates for office.

Controlled 8 state legislatures & had Controlled 8 state legislatures & had 4747representatives in Congress during representatives in Congress during the 1890s.the 1890s.

United United We We

Stand, Stand, DivideDivided We d We FallFall

United United We We

Stand, Stand, DivideDivided We d We FallFall

In 1889 both In 1889 both the Northern andthe Northern andSouthern AlliancesSouthern Alliancesmerged into one—merged into one—the the Farmers’ Farmers’ AllianceAlliance..

St. Louis Convention Unites the “Victims of Conspiratory Forces”

Central Credo of:

“We meet in the midst of a nation brought to the verge of moral, political, and material ruin.”

Ignatius Donnelly

Platform of Platform of LunacyLunacy

Platform of Platform of LunacyLunacy

The Populist The Populist (Peoples’) Party(Peoples’) Party

The Populist The Populist (Peoples’) Party(Peoples’) Party

Founded by James B. Founded by James B. WeaverWeaverand Tom Watson.and Tom Watson.

Omaha, NE Convention in Omaha, NE Convention in July,July,1892.1892.

Got almost 1 million Got almost 1 million popularpopularvotes.votes.

Several Congressional Several Congressional seatsseatswon.won.

James B. Weaver, James B. Weaver, Presidential Presidential CandidateCandidate

&&James G. Field, VPJames G. Field, VP

Women Find Place to breakdown Barriers

• Populists pushed for economic independence of women

• Mary Lease – fiery eloquent lawyer/speaker “Raise less corn, and more Hell!”

• Women used Populist Party to push for suffrage in the states

Omaha Platform Omaha Platform of 1892of 1892

Omaha Platform Omaha Platform of 1892of 18921.1. System of System of “sub-“sub-

treasuries.” treasuries.” (provided (provided farmers with loans and farmers with loans and warehouse to store goods warehouse to store goods until prices were better)until prices were better)

2.2. Govt. ownership Govt. ownership (Nationalizing) of RRs, (Nationalizing) of RRs, telephone & telegraph telephone & telegraph companies.companies.

3.3. Re-monitization of silver.Re-monitization of silver.

4.4. Direct Election of SenatorsDirect Election of Senators

5.5. Graduated Income taxGraduated Income tax

Govt.-Owned Govt.-Owned CompaniesCompanies

Govt.-Owned Govt.-Owned CompaniesCompanies

Bi-Metallism Bi-Metallism IssueIssue

Bi-Metallism Bi-Metallism IssueIssue

1892 Election1892 Election1892 Election1892 Election

Causes of the Causes of the 1893 Panic1893 Panic

Causes of the Causes of the 1893 Panic1893 Panic Begun 10 days after Cleveland took Begun 10 days after Cleveland took

office.office.

1.1. Several major corps. went bankrupt.Several major corps. went bankrupt.

Over 16,000 businesses Over 16,000 businesses disappeared.disappeared.

Triggered a stock market crash.Triggered a stock market crash.

Over-extended investments.Over-extended investments.

2.2. Bank failures followed causing a Bank failures followed causing a contractioncontractionof credit [nearly 500 banks closed].of credit [nearly 500 banks closed].

3.3. By 1895, unemployment reached 3 By 1895, unemployment reached 3 million.million.

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

Here Lies Here Lies ProsperityProsperityHere Lies Here Lies ProsperityProsperity

Written by a Written by a Farmer at the Farmer at the End of the 19cEnd of the 19c

Written by a Written by a Farmer at the Farmer at the End of the 19cEnd of the 19cWhen the banker says he's brokeWhen the banker says he's broke

And the merchant’s up in smoke,And the merchant’s up in smoke, They forget that it's the farmer They forget that it's the farmer who feeds them all. who feeds them all. It would put them to the testIt would put them to the test If the farmer took a rest;If the farmer took a rest; Then they'd know that it's the Then they'd know that it's the farmer farmer feeds them all. feeds them all.

Coxey’s Army, Coxey’s Army, 18941894

Coxey’s Army, Coxey’s Army, 18941894

Jacob Coxey & his “Army of Jacob Coxey & his “Army of the Commonweal of Christ.”the Commonweal of Christ.”

March on Washington March on Washington “hayseed “hayseed socialists!”socialists!”

Result of Election Result of Election ReturnsReturns

Result of Election Result of Election ReturnsReturns

Populist voteincreased by40% in the bi-election year,1894.

Democratic party losses in

the West werecatastrophic!

But, Republicanswon control of

the House.

Gold / Silver Bug Gold / Silver Bug Campaign PinsCampaign Pins

Gold / Silver Bug Gold / Silver Bug Campaign PinsCampaign Pins

William Jennings William Jennings Bryan Bryan

(1860-1925)(1860-1925)

William Jennings William Jennings Bryan Bryan

(1860-1925)(1860-1925)

The “Great The “Great Commoner”Commoner”

William Jennings William Jennings BryanBryan

William Jennings William Jennings BryanBryanPrairie avenger, Prairie avenger,

mountain lion, mountain lion,Bryan, Bryan, Bryan, Bryan, Bryan, Bryan,

Bryan, Bryan,Gigantic troubadour, Gigantic troubadour,

speaking like a speaking like a siege siege gun, gun,Smashing Plymouth Smashing Plymouth Rock Rock with his boulders with his boulders from the West. from the West.

Revivalist style of oratory.

Bryant’sBryant’s“Cross of Gold” “Cross of Gold”

SpeechSpeech

Bryant’sBryant’s“Cross of Gold” “Cross of Gold”

SpeechSpeechYou shall not You shall not press down press down upon the brow upon the brow of labor this of labor this crown of crown of thorns; you thorns; you shall not shall not crucify crucify mankind upon mankind upon aa cross of goldcross of gold!!

Bryan: The Bryan: The Farmers FriendFarmers Friend(The Mint Ratio)(The Mint Ratio)

Bryan: The Bryan: The Farmers FriendFarmers Friend(The Mint Ratio)(The Mint Ratio)

18,000 miles of campaign “whistle 18,000 miles of campaign “whistle stops.”stops.”

DemocDemocratic ratic Party Party Taken Taken Over Over

by the by the AgrariAgrari

an an LeftLeft

DemocDemocratic ratic Party Party Taken Taken Over Over

by the by the AgrariAgrari

an an LeftLeft

Platform tariff reductions; income tax; strictercontrol of the trusts (esp. RRs); free silver.

“The Populist and Silver Convention Will Be Friendly

to Bryan.”

William McKinley William McKinley (1843-1901)(1843-1901)

William McKinley William McKinley (1843-1901)(1843-1901)

Mark Hanna: Mark Hanna: The “Front-Porch” The “Front-Porch”

CampaignCampaign

Mark Hanna: Mark Hanna: The “Front-Porch” The “Front-Porch”

CampaignCampaignPres. of Republican National Committee

Campaign Manager

Raised $16 million

Trickle Down Theory

“Belly Vote”

The The SeasonSeason

ed ed PoliticiPolitici

anan

vs.vs.

The The “Young“Young

” ” NewcoNewco

mermer

The The SeasonSeason

ed ed PoliticiPolitici

anan

vs.vs.

The The “Young“Young

” ” NewcoNewco

mermer

Into Into Which Which Box Box Will Will the the

VoterVoterof ’96 of ’96 Place Place His His

BallotBallot? ?

Into Into Which Which Box Box Will Will the the

VoterVoterof ’96 of ’96 Place Place His His

BallotBallot? ?

1896 Election 1896 Election ResultsResults

1896 Election 1896 Election ResultsResults

Why Did Bryan Why Did Bryan Loose?Loose?

Why Did Bryan Why Did Bryan Loose?Loose?

His focus on silver His focus on silver underminedunderminedefforts to build bridges to efforts to build bridges to urbanurbanvoters. (consumers did not voters. (consumers did not want inflationary policies)want inflationary policies)

He did not form alliances He did not form alliances withwithother groups.other groups.

McKinley’s campaign was McKinley’s campaign was well-well-organized and highly funded.organized and highly funded.

Gold Triumphs Gold Triumphs Over SilverOver Silver

Gold Triumphs Gold Triumphs Over SilverOver Silver

1900 1900 GoldGoldStandard ActStandard Act

confirmed theconfirmed thenation’s nation’s commitment tocommitment tothe gold the gold standard.standard.

A victory for the A victory for the

forces offorces ofconservatism.conservatism.

The The Wizard Wizard of Ozof Oz by L. by L. Frank Frank BaumBaum

The The Wizard Wizard of Ozof Oz by L. by L. Frank Frank BaumBaum

1964: Henry 1964: Henry Littlefield’s Littlefield’s “Thesis”? “Thesis”?

1964: Henry 1964: Henry Littlefield’s Littlefield’s “Thesis”? “Thesis”?

What Are the What Are the Metaphors?Metaphors?

What Are the What Are the Metaphors?Metaphors?

Dorothy Dorothy ? ?

Kansas Kansas ? ?

Wicked Witch of theWicked Witch of theEast East ? ?

Tin Woodsman Tin Woodsman ? ?

Scarecrow Scarecrow ? ?

Cowardly Lion Cowardly Lion ? ?

Yellow Brick Road Yellow Brick Road ??

Silver Slippers Silver Slippers ? ?

Emerald City Emerald City ? ?

Oz Oz ? ?

The Wizard The Wizard ? ?

Munchkins Munchkins ? ?

Wicked Witch of the Wicked Witch of the West West ? ?

Flying Monkeys Flying Monkeys ? ?

Legacy

• Federal Income Tax – 15th Amendment• Direct Election of Senators – 16th

Amendment• Hepburn Act 1906 – More Federal control of

the railroads and strengthens ICC• Flexible Currency – no gold standard – after

Depression• Progressive push for Initiative, Referendum,

and Recall