THE POPULISTS

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THE POPULISTS
An Agrarian and People's Revolt
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THE POPULISTS
What were some of the major problems
facing farmers during the Gilded Age ??
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In the period after the Civil War, production on
all fronts industrial and agricultural
increased. Greater supply accordingly led to a
drop in prices. For many farmers, lower prices
meant trouble, as they were locked into long-term
debts with fixed prices.
THE POPULISTS

• Causes
• New inventions efficient techniques introduced
• Lack of competition among railroads
• Machinery is needed shipping costs higher
• Money is in short supply
• Effects
• Prices of farm products decline
• Farmers earnings decrease
• Farmers are unable to pay back loans
• Banks lend money to fewer farmers

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Poor Midwestern and Southern farmers suffered
economically due to low prices for their crops,
which they blamed on Northeastern business
interests.
Price Indexes for Consumer FarmProducts
1865-1913
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FARMER'S COMPLAINT
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FARMER'S COMPLAINT
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Looking for a solution to their problem, farmers
came to support a more generous money supply. An
increase in available money, they correctly
figured, would make payment easier. It would
also cause inflation, which would make the
farmers debts (held by Northern banks) worth
less. Not surprisingly, the banks opposed the
plan, preferring for the country to use gold to
back its money supply.
FARMER'S COMPLAINT
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So they started a movement to support the use of
SILVER coins, instead of GOLD coins

• Before 1873 U.S. currency was on a bimetallic
  standard, consisting of gold and silver
• Using silver would mean a more generous money
  supply
• Inflation An increase in available money would
  make payment easier for them, which made the
  farmers debts worth less

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The banks opposed the plan, preferring the
country to use GOLD to back its money supply

• Silver was mined in the West
• Western miners supported silver
• Thus, this controversial issue had a regional
  component
• Pitted poor farmers against wealthy bankers
• Elements of class strife

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Bi-Metallism Issue
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The farmers plan called for the liberal use of
silver coins, and because silver was mined in the
West, this plan had the added support of Western
miners along with that of Midwestern and Southern
farmers. Thus, the issue had a regional
component. Because it pitted poor farmers
against wealthy bankers, it also had elements of
class strife. Although a complicated matter, the
money issue was potentially explosive.
SILVERITES VS GOLD BUGS

• The Bland-Allison Act of 1878
• Gold standard enraged the silverites, mostly
  silver-mining interest and western farmers.
• Silverites called for free silver (precious white
  metal), the unlimited coining of silver dollars
  to increase the money supply.
• Federal government was to purchase and coin more
  silver, thereby increasing the money supply and
  causing inflation
• Vetoed by President Hayes because he opposed the
  inflation.
• Congress overrode the veto.
• Treasury Department refused to buy more than the
  minimum amount of silver required by the act.
• The act had limited effect.

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SILVERITES VS GOLD BUGS

• Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890
• Increased the amount of silver that the
  government was required to purchase every month
• The law required the Treasury to buy the silver
  with notes that could be redeemed for either
  silver or gold.
• Many people turned in their silver Treasury notes
  for gold dollars, thus depleting the gold
  reserves.
• In 1893, President Cleveland pushed for and
  succeeded in repealing the Silver Purchase Act.
• New gold mines allowed for the US to go back on
  the gold standard.

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The silver vs. gold debate provided an issue
around which farmers could organize
Print illustrating a granger's procession and
mass meeting, in "History of the Grange Movement"
(National Publishing Co., 1874).

• 1) Grange Movement,
• By 1875 had more than one million members.
• Started out as cooperatives
• Purpose Allow farmers to buy machinery and sell
  crops as a group, and therefore, reap the
  benefits of economies of scale
• Soon, they began to endorse political candidates
  and lobbied for legislation

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Gift for the GrangersThe Farmer Pays for All!
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The Granges ultimately died out due to lack of
money, but were replaced by Farmers Alliances.

• Grew into a political party called the Peoples
  Party, the political arm of the Populist movement.

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United We Stand, Divided We Fall

• In 1889 both the Northern and Southern
  Alliances merged into onthe Farmers
  Alliance.

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The Peoples Party ran for the presidency in 1892

• Supported the generous coinage of silver
• Called for government ownership of railroads and
  telegraphs
• Demanded a graduated income tax, direct election
  of US senators, and shorter workdays
• Although their 1892 presidential candidate came
  in third, he won more than one million votes (9
  of popular vote)

The Independent People's Party (Populist)
Convention at Columbus, Nebraska, where Omer Kem
was nominated for Congress, July 15, 1890, photo
by Solomon D. Butcher.
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The silver vs. gold debate provided an issue
around which farmers could organize. They did
just that. First came the Grange Movement, which
by 1875 had more than one million members. They
Granges started out as cooperatives, with the
purpose of allowing farmers to buy machinery and
sell crops as a group, and therefore, reap the
benefits of economies of scale. Soon, the
Granges endorsed political candidates and lobbied
for legislation. The Granges ultimately died out
due to lack of money, but they were replaced by
Farmers Alliances. The Farmers Alliances were
even more successful than the Grange movement,
and they soon grew into a political party called
the Peoples Party, the political arm of the
Populist movement.
THE POPULISTS Grassroots Movement
Local and state level
Peoples Movement Spreads
Becomes a national movemnt
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As Cleveland took office in 1893, the country
entered a four-year financial crisis. Hard
economic times made Populists goals more popular,
particularly the call for easy money. Most
people at the time, after all, had no money at
all.
1892 Presidential Election
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The Peoples Party held a conviction in 1892.
(The platform it drew up presented many of the
ideas that would later be championed by the
Progressives it will come up in the next
lecture).
The Populist (Peoples) Party

• Founded by James B. Weaver and Tom Watson.
• Omaha, NE Convention in July, 1892.
• Got almost 1 million popular votes.
• Several Congressional seats won.

James B. Weaver, Presidential Candidate James
G. Field, VP
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Aside from supporting the generous coinage of
silver, the Populists called for government
ownership of railroads and telegraphs, a
graduated income tax, direct election of US
senators, and shorter workdays. Although their
1892 presidential candidate came in third, he won
more than one million votes, awakening Washington
to the growing Populist movement.
Omaha Platform of 1892

• Purer democracy more involvement of people
• Womens suffrage
• Direct election of U.S. senators
• Term limits for Congress
• Govt. ownership of RRs, telephone telegraph
  companies.
• Income tax
• Initiative and referendum
• Citizens propose and review legislation
• Restriction of undesirable immigration.
• 8-hour work day for government employees.
• Demanded free and unlimited coinage of silver
• A single term for President Vice President.
• Sherman Silver Purchase Act
• 16 to 1
• Purchase silver from mines in the west

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As Cleveland took office in 1893, the country
entered a four-year financial crisis.

• Hard economic times made Populists goals more
  popular, particularly the call for easy money
• Most people at the time, after all, had no money
  at all
• Times got so bad that even more progressive (even
  radical) movements gained popularity
• Eg In 1894 the Socialists, led by Eugene V.
  Debs, gained support.

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LAWS TO REGULATE BIG BUSINESS
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THE POPULIST REVOLT

• In 1893, Jacob Coxey, of Massillon, Ohio, and
  some 20,000 men and women began a march to
  Washington, DC.
• Demanded US Govt. public works programs, mainly
  railroads for the nation's unemployed.

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Coxeys Army, 1894

• Jacob Coxey his Army of the Commonwealth
  of Christ.
• March on Washington hayseed socialists!

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THE POPULIST REVOLT

• 600 protesters persisted through the length of
  the journey and on May 1, 1894.
• "Coxey's Army" reached Washington and marched
  along Pennsylvania Avenue.

• Before "General" Coxey could deliver a historic
  speech, however, he was arrested by District
  police - for walking on the grass.

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The Presidential 1896 Election
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In 1896, the Populists backed Democratic
candidate William Jennings Bryan

• He ran against Republican nominee William
  McKinley
• Bryan ran on a strictly Populist platform based
  his campaign on the call for free silver.
• An easy money supply would loosen the control
  that Northern banks held over the country
• Lost the campaign
• Economy soon improved ended the Populist
  movement.

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By 1896, the Populists were poised for power.
They backed Democratic candidate William Jennings
Bryan against Republican nominee William
McKinley, and Bryan ran on a strictly Populist
platform he based his campaign on the call for
free silver.
POPULIST'S REVOLT

• 1860 to 1925
• William Jennings Bryan was a gifted speaker,
  lawyer, three-time presidential candidate, and
  devout Protestant.
• Bryan made his career in Nebraska politics.
• Served in the U.S. House of Representatives in
  1890.

• Defender of the small farmer and laborer, Bryan
  worked closely with the Populist Party.

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He argued that an easy money supply, though
inflationary, would loosen the control that
Northern banking held over the country.
POPULIST'S REVOLT

• Bryan's efforts on behalf of farmers and laborers
  (the so-called "common" people) earned him the
  title the "Great Commoner
• Ran for the presidency unsuccessfully in 3
  elections as a Democrat.
• Known for the Cross of Gold Speech

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POPULIST'S REVOLT
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CROSS OF GOLD SPEECH

• Argued the real business men were farmers,
  agricultural workers, miners and small town
  merchants.
• Demonstrated the true "pioneer spirit" of America
• These workers were all but ignored by a
  government that served the interests of big
  cities and large corporate enterprise.

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William Jennings Bryan
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William Jennings Bryan's most well-known
political speech delivered before the Democratic
Convention in 1896.
CROSS OF GOLD SPEECH
They tell us that the great cities are in favor
of the gold standard. We reply that our great
cities rest upon our broad and great prairies.
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Attacked the concept that gold was the only sound
backing for currency.
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
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POPULIST'S REVOLT
Using images from the Bible, he stood with his
head bowed and arms outstretched.
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William McKinley (1843-1901)

• Born in Ohio on January 29, 1843.
• Private during the Civil War and earned the rank
  of major in 1865.
• Served in Congress from 1876 to 1890 and became a
  supporter of protective tariffs.
• Elected governor of Ohio in 1891, serving a
  second term in 1893.
• 1896, the Republican Party nominated him for
  president.
• stressed protective tariffs
• supported the gold standard.

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(No Transcript)
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Into Which Box Will the Voterof 96 Place His
Ballot?
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He lost the campaign this coupled with an
improved economy, ended the Populist movement.
1896 Election Results
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By 1892, Populist Party had major impact in
agricultural states.
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Gold Triumphs Over Silver

• McKinley defeats Bryan in the 1896
  election.
• 1900 Gold Standard Act
• Confirmed the nations commitment to the gold
  standard.
• A victory for the forces of conservatism.

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Why Did Bryan Lose?

• His focus on silver undermined efforts to
  build bridges to urban voters.
• He did not form alliances with other groups.
• McKinleys campaign was well- organized and
  highly funded.

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Why Did Populism Decline?

1. The economy experienced rapid change.
2. The era of small producers and farmers was
   fading away.
3. Race divided the Populist Party, especially in
   the South.
4. The Populists were not able to breakexisting
   party loyalties.
5. Most of their agenda was co-opted bythe
   Democratic Party.

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Easy way to remember the Populists is through the
book The Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum. The
novel is reportedly a political allegory
(according to Henry Littlefield).

• Dorothy common man
• Her silver shoes silver standard
• Scarecrow farmer
• Tin Man industrial worker
• William J. Bryan cowardly Lion

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The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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1964 Henry Littlefields Thesis?
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a. The Cowardly Lion William Jennings Bryan
  b. The Tin Woodsman eastern industrial worker
  c. The Scarecrow farmer Wicked Witch of the
East Bankers d. Dorothy and her "silver
slippers" the proposed silver standard   e. The
Yellow-Brick Road the gold standard supported
by financiers   f. The Wizard of Oz President
William McKinley  
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1st LAWS TO REGULATE BIG BUSINESS
Supreme Court decision stating that states had
the ability to regulate private property if it
affected public interest.
Munn v. Illinois(1876)
Declared that it was unconstitutional for states
to regulate interstate commerce. Showed need for
Federal regulation of interstate commerce.
Wabash Case(1886)