USH - 20.4 - Social and Labor Unrest in the 1890s

USH - 20.4 - Social and Labor Unrest in the 1890s

by Richard Alkire

​Lesson Objectives

​1. Explain how the Depression of 1893 helped the Populist Party to grow in popularity in the 1890s.

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​2. Understand the forces that contributed to the Populist Party's decline following the 1896 election.

​All Americans, not just farmers, were hurting...

​Industrial workers and cities were hit hard.

​

​Many of the them looked to the Populist Party as a possible solution.

​

​This expanded the Populists' past just a "farmers" movement.

​Depression hits in 1893

​During Cleveland's second term, the WORST economic depression to that point occured.

​

​Unemployment reached 19%

​

​Americans looked for a strong national government to guide it, but the government was weak

Multiple Choice

The Depression of 1893 included unemployment at what rate?

• 3%

• 13%

• 19%

• 50%

Multiple Choice

Who was the President when the Depression of 1893 hit?

• Grant

• Cleveland

• Bryan

• Harrison

​Coxey's Army

​In 1894, Jacob Coxey, an Ohio Businessman led a hundred protesters on a march all the way to Washington D.C. to call for the FEDERAL government to intervene in the Depression by creating public works jobs to employ people.

​

​The movement gained thousands as they marched East.

​Coxey stopped in D.C.

​Coxey and other leaders of the march were arrested for trespassing and the protest ended.

​

​However, it had a lasting impact on Americans in demanding action from their National government.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes "Coxey's Army"

• Civil War veterans who were looking to overtake Washington, D.C.

• Former Slaves marching to protest 

• A handful of citizens who grew to thousands as they marched from Ohio to D.C.

• A group of Congressmen who stood up to the President.

Multiple Choice

Coxey's Army was successful as the President did everything they called for once they arrived in Washington D.C.

• True

• False

​Did Baum base the Wizard of Oz on Coxey?

​While not established for certain, many theorized the Wizard of Oz was based on "Coxey's Army". Baum had witnessed the march in 1894

​

​Scarecrow=American Farmer

​Tin Woodman= Industrial Worker

​Cowardly Lion=William Jennings Bryan

​Oz=Powerless President or Federal Government

Multiple Choice

In the theory that the Wizard of Oz is an allegory for Coxey's Army, who is "Oz"?

• Coxey

• The President and/or Government

• The Governor of Ohio

• The industrial worker

​Pullman Strike (American Railway Union)

​Victor Eugene Debs - Leads a successful strike against the POWERFUL railroads in 1894

​

​Eventually "broken" by President Cleveland, it still had a lasting impression on Americans that "average" workers/citizens could rise up against the POWERS of society.

​Populism Grows...

​The Populist Party became more popular and a force by the 1896 Election due to the Depression.

​

​William Jennings Bryan, a popular national figure and "Silverite" (calling for Silver Standard or Bimetallism (both Gold and Silver as Standard for currency) takes the Populist cause and wins Democratic Nomination for President.

Multiple Choice

The Pullman Strike was not ultimately successful for the Railway Union but it was an important symbol of the power of the people over Big Business.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Bimetallism calls for the American Money Standard to be....

• Gold

• Silver

• Fiat

• Both Gold and Silver

​How does a Populist become the Democratic Candidate?

​You do not have to 'belong' to the party to get its nomination for President.

​

​Example)Bernie Sanders is an Independent and almost won the Democratic nomination in 2016 and 2020

​

​This is how Jennings gets nominated in 1896

Multiple Choice

In order to win the "nomination" of the Democratic or Republican Party you MUST first join the party.

• True

• False

​"Cross of Gold"

​Name for a famous speech given by Bryan during the campaign for President.

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​Bimetallism - Political position supporting a COMBINATION of gold and silver as the money standard

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​Populist Themes = Advocate for the average, working American.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the best description of the BIG IDEA of the "Cross of Gold" speech?

• America should follow the Gold Standard.

• America was a corrupt and unfixable society.

• Government should favor the common man over strong businesses or politicians.

• America needs Jesus.

​Election of 1896

​The Republican candiate William McKinley will defeat William Jennings Bryan the Democrat-Populist

​

​While Jennings loses he gets more votes than ever before for a Democrat.

​

​Americans choose McKinley with a MANDATE for ACTION.

Multiple Choice

Who won the Presidency in 1896?

• Cleveland

• McKinley

• Bryan

• Coxey

​Populism loses the Election but wins INFLUENCE

​The Democratic Party adopts Populist ideas

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​The Republican Party, too

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​BOTH support a national government that takes MORE ACTION on issues in the nation (as opposed to leaving issues to local governments).

​Why did the economy rebound in the 1890s

​The Klondike Gold Rush (also known as "Yukon Gold Rush") in the last few years of the Century (started in 1896), gives the United States plenty of gold reserves to compete economically on the "Gold Standard", ending the sluggish economy.

​

​This happened mostly during McKinley's first term as President.

​While it NEVER won national election, the movement started by Farmers grew to TRANSFORM American politics by 1900.

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​Moving into the 20th Century, American politicians were moved to ACT on their political power to combat society's ills

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​Some see this as positive, some negative.

​BIG IDEA: Populism

Multiple Choice

Where was the fortunate Klondike (or Yukon) Gold Rush during the last 5 years of the 19th century that helped the American economy recover from Depression?

• Colorado

• California

• Oregon

• Alaska

Multiple Choice

Populism in the 1890s was a failure that never really influenced the United States.

• True

• False