Farm Issues and Populism

Populist Party

Problems for farmers in the late 1800s

• Trapped in debt due to mortgaging

• Banks foreclosing on mortgages

• Railroads were taking advantage of farmers by overcharging transportation fees

• Prices of crops were falling

• Good farming land was becoming scarce

Multiple Choice

The most significant problem for farmers in the late 19th century was which of the following?

• poor machinery, low production

• too many regulatory laws

• tight credit, high interest, too many debts

Why there was a problem with railroads?

THERE WAS NO COMPETITION

•Union Pacific and Central Pacific partook in a merger and since there were no other western railroad companies

- they could charge whatever price they wanted and the farmers had no other option, so they had to pay

Multiple Choice

Which of the following always hurt farmers?

• Gold Miners

• Railroads

• Native Americans' raids

The Farmers started to fight back

In 1867 there is the formation of an organization for farmers known as the Grange and Alliances. Purpose was:

-Provide a social outlet and an educational forum for isolated farm families

-Fight monopolies

-Seek Reforms

Multiple Choice

Which of the following was a part of the Grange movement?

• Social outlet for farmers

• free seeds

• machinary maintenance

• music

The Beginning of Populism

The leaders of Grange and Alliances realized that to make far-reaching changes, they would need to build a base of political power

Populism = is any political movement claiming to represent the COMMON PEOPLE. It is also referred to as the People’s Party was created in 1892

Multiple Choice

The political party that advocated for farmers was known as the ______party.

• Republican

• Democrat

• Populist

Omaha Platform 1892

Multiple Choice

Which of the following were points of the Populist Party platform?

• increase of money supply

• Secret Ballot

• Income Tax

• All of the above

Multiple Choice

Populist sought to have a typical work day last____hours.

• 8

• 6

• 10

What to do?

• Democrats and Republicans were divided when determining a way to fix the economy

• The Issue – which metal to use as the nations monetary currency

• Both Democrats and Republicans did not think about the impact that their decisions will have on farmers

Populist Party takes a stand

The Populist Party called for

-bimetallism= a system of currency based on two metals (gold+silver)

-free coinage of silver=system in which the government gives an unlimited number of silver

Multiple Choice

Farmers support the ________standard for money.

• Bimetallism

• Gold

Multiple Choice

Why did the Populist party want unlimited coinage of silver?

• To increase the amount of money in circulation and raise farm prices

• To reduce economic inflation

• To raise campaign contribution limits

1892 FIRST NATIONAL ELECTION

Populist Party candidates ran in a national election:

-James B. Weaver lost the presidential run to Democratic candidate Grover Cleveland but he won in 4 states and  received a lot of votes

1896 SECOND NATIONAL ELECTION

The Populist Party allies with the Democratic Party

Multiple Choice

Which candidate was the Populist party's candidate?

• Andrew Johnson

• William Jennings Bryan

• William McKinley

Decline of Populist Party

-Bryan did not win/Populist Party lost

-Period of prosperity eased the demands of the farmers

-No more need of the Populist Party

-Ideas of this party carried on in the Progressive Era