Populism“My Life Has Value!”

What is Populism?A People’s MovementA movement seeking to aid

interests of farmers and the working class against the rich

Who were the Populists?White cotton farmers in the

South◦AND

Hard-pressed wheat farmers in the Plains States

Populism in the United StatesPolitical Party formed1892-1896 (Active Years)Hostile towards

◦Railroads◦Banks◦Elites

Supported◦Pro-farmer legislation◦Coalitions with labor unions

Farm ProblemsBecoming a minority in American

societySmall farms struggled against

mechanized onesResults

◦Falling Prices for Crops◦Rising Costs (Transportation)◦Foreclosures (Banks)

What problems did farmers have with railroads?Railroads charged high prices for

shipping cropsOften made secret deals with

suppliers to set market pricesAssumed to be controlled by the

wealthy

What did the Populists Want?Established a platform of ideas

they supportedOmaha, Nebraska 1892

Directions 1. What type of workers are being addressed? 2. Who should own the railroads? 3. Did the Populists favor the use of gold? Silver?

Both? 4. What is a graduated income tax? 5. Thoughts on alien ownership of land? 6. Thoughts on immigration? Why? 7. What groups are made up of organized

workmen? 8. What is a subsidy? Why are Populists opposed

to subsidies to private corporations? 9. Do you see any problems with the amount of

issues the Populists cared about? Explain.

Election of 1896

William McKinley (Republicans) William Jennings Bryan (Democrats)

What was bimetallism? What did each Party favor?

Republicans Populists (some Democrats)

Favored the Gold Standard

Bankers + Businessmen

Low Prices for goodsEffect: fewer people

have money

Favored Gold + Unlimited coinage of silver

Farmers + LaborersHigh Prices for goodsEffect: More people

have money

What was the Cross of Gold Speech?William Jennings Bryan stirring

speech at Democratic National Convention

Denounced the Republicans + Gold Standard

What were two important legacies left behind by the Populists?1. The poor could be a powerful

political force2. major reform ideas that

would be adopted during 20th century.

Outside Information to Focus On

Oliver Hudson Kelley The Grange Farmers’ Alliance Bimetallism Gold Standard William McKinley William Jennings Bryan Mary Elizabeth Lease Colored Farmers’

National Alliance Populist Party Platform Election of 1892 Credit Mobilier Scandal

Bank Foreclosures Farming land becoming

scarce Industrialization Urbanization Greenbacks Falling Wheat Prices Bland Allison Act of 1878 Cycles of Credit and

Debt The Panic of 1893 Election of 1896 Cross of Gold Speech