Populists(The People’s Party)

• DON’T COPY DOWN words in RED• DON’T COPY DOWN slides with Black

backgrounds

Farmers

• Midwest & South – black and white– Union & Confederate

Farmers

• Midwest & South• Deflation (prices going down)– Enormous Western grain harvest– Forced to plant more– Cotton farmers face Indian and Egyptian

competition– Increased productivity in industry– Increased population– Less money in circulation

Farmers

• Midwest & South• Deflation• Needed to buy new technology - debt

Farmers

• Needed new technology – debt– John Deere Plow

Farmers

• Needed new technology – debt– McCormick Reaper

Farmers

• Needed new technology – debt– Steam tractor

Farmers

• Midwest & South• Deflation• Needed new technology• Rising railroad & grain elevator prices due to

local monopolies

Farmers

• Needed inflation• No government help• Conspiracy against them• Mary Lease – “Kansas farmers should raise

less corn and more hell!”• Formed the Populist Party in early 1890s

People's Party candidate nominating convention held at Columbus, Nebraska, July 15, 1890.

Populist Party

1. Direct election of Senators2. Federal control of railroads, telephone,

telegraph3. Sub-Treasury plan 4. Graduated income tax5. Eight hour work day for industries6. Ban on immigrants7. Free coinage of silver

Populist Party

• 11 Governors• 45 members of U.S. Congress (including 6

senators)

Presidential Election of 1892

James Weaver

Populist Party

• 1893-1897 Depression• 1896 Election - Free silver becomes a bigger

issue, DEMOCRATS take on the issue– Free Silver v. Gold Bugs

William Jennings Bryan

• Leader of Free Silver Democrats

• Cross of Gold speech– "You shall not press

down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns; you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold."

Populist Party

• Decide to ALSO nominate William Jennings Bryan

Election of 1896

• William Jennings Bryan (Democrat)• William Jennings Bryan (Populist)• William McKinley (Republican)

Election of 1896

• The heartless industrialist choose McKinley• The brainless farmers sink their candidate• WJ Bryan has rhetoric (lots to say) but lacks

the bravery to stand up for the people• McKinley is the elected puppet – the little guy

behind the scenes

Election of 1896

• The heartless industrialist choose McKinley• The brainless farmers sink their candidate• WJ Bryan has rhetoric (lots to say) but lacks

the courage to stand up for the people• McKinley is the elected puppet – the man

behind the curtain

Election of 1896

• The heartless industrialist choose McKinley

Election of 1896

• The brainless farmers sink their candidate

Election of 1896

• WJ Bryan has rhetoric (lots to say) but lacks the bravery to stand up for the people

Election of 1896

• McKinley is the elected puppet – the little guy behind the scenes

Populist Party

1. Direct election of Senators2. Federal control of railroads, telephone,

telegraph3. Sub-Treasury plan 4. Free coinage of silver5. Graduated income tax6. Eight hour work day for industries7. Ban on immigrants

William Jennings Bryan

• Runs again in 1900 (loses again to McKinley)

• Secretary of State under Woodrow Wilson

• Strong supporter of Prohibition• Scopes Monkey Trial

Diamante

Topic (noun)Two describing words (adjective)

Three action words (ing)Two words about topic; two words about antonym

Three action words (ing)Two describing words (adjective)

Antonym (noun)

Diamante

Abraham LincolnSelf-Educated, Lawyer

Preserving, Emancipating, WinningPresident, Union, Confederate, President

Seceding, Rebelling, LosingWell-Educated, Slave-owner

Jefferson Davis

Diamante

Abraham Lincoln

Self-Educated, Lawyer

Preserving, Emancipating, WinningPresident, Union, Confederate, President

Seceding, Rebelling, LosingWell-Educated, Slave-owner

Jefferson Davis

Diamante

NoblesRespected, chivalrous

Crusading, landowning, marauding

Privileged, lofty, lowly, deprivedEnduring, hard working, starving

Poor, helplessPeasants

Diamante

NoblesRespected, chivalrous

Crusading, landowning, marauding

Privileged, lofty, lowly, deprivedEnduring, hard working, starving

Poor, helplessPeasants

Your poem - POPULISTS

• Compare farmers with industrialists• Compare country with city• Compare East Coast with Middle America

Diamante

Topic (noun)Two describing words (adjective)

Three action words (ing)Two words about topic; two words about antonym

Three action words (ing)Two describing words (adjective)

Antonym (noun)