the populists and the election of 1896 libertyville hs

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The Populists and The Populists and the Election of 1896 the Election of 1896 Libertyville HS Libertyville HS

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The Populists and the The Populists and the Election of 1896Election of 1896

Libertyville HSLibertyville HS

Rise of the Populist PartyRise of the Populist PartyPopulists were mainly Populists were mainly

western farmerswestern farmersCalled for regulation, Called for regulation,

reform of national reform of national politicspolitics

Supported “free Supported “free silver”silver”

Wanted gov’t help to Wanted gov’t help to stop deflation of stop deflation of agriculture pricesagriculture prices

Wanted gov’t help to Wanted gov’t help to fight back against fight back against RRs, other companiesRRs, other companies

Rise of the Populist PartyRise of the Populist PartyWhy form a new Why form a new

political party?political party?D, R parties were not D, R parties were not

responsive to responsive to demands of W farmersdemands of W farmers

Both parties Both parties supported gold supported gold standardstandard

Both parties seen as Both parties seen as corruptcorrupt

Both parties seen as Both parties seen as controlled by big controlled by big businessbusiness

1892 Omaha Convention1892 Omaha Convention Populist party Populist party

platformplatform Abolition of national Abolition of national

banksbanks Graduated income Graduated income

taxtax Direct election of Direct election of

US senatorsUS senators

Civil service reformCivil service reform Eight hour work dayEight hour work day Gov’t control of Gov’t control of

RRs, telegraphs, RRs, telegraphs, telephonestelephones

BimetallismBimetallism

Convention delegates

BimetallismBimetallism Gold, Silver and Gold, Silver and

“Bimetallism”“Bimetallism” Raw gold was brought Raw gold was brought

to US mint and made to US mint and made into coins for into coins for depositor, at rate of depositor, at rate of $20 per oz$20 per oz

““Free silver” Free silver” movement wanted movement wanted raw silver treated in raw silver treated in same way as gold, at same way as gold, at rate of $1 per ozrate of $1 per oz

Result of policy would Result of policy would have been increase in have been increase in money supply and money supply and inflationinflation

Gold vs. SilverGold vs. Silver Following Civil War, US Following Civil War, US

in deflationary period in deflationary period (prices, wages going (prices, wages going down)down)

Silver would have Silver would have increased wages (helped increased wages (helped farmers, debtors pay off farmers, debtors pay off fixed debt)fixed debt)

Regional interestsRegional interestsEast = gold backed East = gold backed

money (int’l trade)money (int’l trade)Midwest, West = silver Midwest, West = silver

moneymoney

Merging of Populists & Merging of Populists & DemocratsDemocrats

Democratic party Democratic party adopted many adopted many populist causespopulist causes

In 1896, populists In 1896, populists nominated William nominated William Jennings Bryan Jennings Bryan (orator, populist – (orator, populist – “The Great “The Great Commoner”)Commoner”)

At Convention, Bryan At Convention, Bryan gave “Cross of Gold” gave “Cross of Gold” speech (supported speech (supported bimetallism)bimetallism)

““Cross of Gold” SpeechCross of Gold” Speech

““Having behind us the producing masses Having behind us the producing masses of this nation and the world, supported of this nation and the world, supported by the commercial interests, the by the commercial interests, the laboring interests and the toilers laboring interests and the toilers everywhere, we will answer their everywhere, we will answer their demand for a gold standard by saying to demand for a gold standard by saying to them: You shall not press down upon the them: You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.”gold.”

Election of 1896Election of 1896 Considered one of the Considered one of the

most dramatic in US most dramatic in US historyhistory

Realigning electionRealigning election Campaigning Campaigning

candidatescandidates Private fundraising Private fundraising Campaigning based on Campaigning based on

class conflictclass conflict New Democratic New Democratic

coalition emergedcoalition emerged1896 Election returns, Groton CT

Election of 1896Election of 1896 New Democratic coalitionNew Democratic coalition

Democrats (minus their Democrats (minus their pro-business wing)pro-business wing)

PopulistsPopulists SouthSouth ““Silver Republicans” (GOP Silver Republicans” (GOP

from western states, from western states, supporting bimetallism)supporting bimetallism)

New Republican coalitionNew Republican coalition BusinessmenBusinessmen ProfessionalsProfessionals Skilled factory workersSkilled factory workers Prosperous farmersProsperous farmers

Election of 1896Election of 1896 Issues in electionIssues in election

BimetallismBimetallism Gold StandardGold Standard Free SilverFree Silver TariffTariff

Bryan campaigned for Bryan campaigned for president!president! Gave over 500 Gave over 500

speeches in 100 daysspeeches in 100 days Targeted swing statesTargeted swing states

Mark Hanna, Mark Hanna, campaign manager campaign manager for McKinleyfor McKinley

ResultMcKinley 271 ECV / 7.1 millionBryan 176 ECV / 6.5 million