populism ppt

8/14/2019 Populism PPT

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The Problems of farmersThe Problems of farmers

• Farmers had much to deal with in

their economic life. Bankers,processors, railroads, grain elevatoroperators, railroads, world markets.

• Attitude of self-reliantindividualism made politicalactivism difficult at first.

•

Farmers also differed from @ otherfrom region to region.




Long term decline in commodity prices

hurt farmers•

Supply of farm goods increased

due to more land and better tech.Over production.

• Transportation andcommunications tech brought

farmers into world competition.




Farmers see RR and processors as

villains•

Resented high RR rates while

Rockefeller got rebates.•

Felt they had little bargaining

power as individuals (compare toRockefeller)




• High tariffs hurt farmers- they paidhigher prices for manufactured goodswhile getting low prices for theirproduce.

• High debts a problem- borrowed forland, tech., and supplies.

• Discontent focused on currency issue- they wanted inflation.

–

The amount of greenbacks was fixed

– Hard currency difficult to come by.



Price Indexes for Consumer

& Farm Products: 1865-1913 Price Indexes for ConsumerPrice Indexes for Consumer

& Farm Products: 1865& Farm Products: 1865--19131913



Granger Movement

• Granger = old word for granary

• Started as a social and educationalresponse to farmers isolation,

evolved into cooperatives.• Idea- to free themselves from

conventional marketplace.• Political initiatives- to regulate

rates charged by RR andwarehouses. Granger laws.



Founder of the National

Grange of the Patrons ofHusbandry (1867)

Founder of the NationalFounder of the National

Grange of the Patrons ofGrange of the Patrons ofHusbandryHusbandry (1867)(1867)



Gift

for the Grangers:

TheFarmer

Paysfor All!

GiftGift

for thefor the Grangers:Grangers:

TheTheFarmerFarmer

PaysPaysfor All!for All!



The Farmers AlliancesThe Farmers AlliancesThe Farmers Alliances

Begun in the late 1880s (Texas firstBegun in the late 1880s (Texas first thethe Southern AllianceSouthern Alliance; then in the; then in theMidwestMidwest thethe Northern AllianceNorthern Alliance).).

More political and less social than theMore political and less social than theGrange.Grange.

Ran candidates for office.Ran candidates for office.Controlled 8 state legislatures & had 47Controlled 8 state legislatures & had 47

representatives in Congress during therepresentatives in Congress during the1890s.1890s.



Farmers’

Alliances

• Collective action seen as means for

relief from chronic hardships.• Alliance tended to attract more of the

prosperous farmers than Grange had.• By 1890, about 1.5 million (white)

members of Alliances. About 1 millionmembers of Colored Farmers’ Alliance.



Farmers’

Alliances

• Women welcomed into Alliance.

• Cooperatives were for a timeprosperous, but eventually fell victim

to opposition (economic) by powerfulbusiness interests. Discriminated

against by distributors, banks, etc.



United We

Stand, Divided

We Fall

United United WeWe

Stand,Stand, Divided Divided

We FallWe FallIn 1889 bothIn 1889 boththe Northern andthe Northern and

Southern AlliancesSouthern Alliances merged into onemerged into one—— thethe FarmersFarmers’’ AllianceAlliance..



Populist Party

Formed in 1892.

Developed their own political platform on

which people disagreed…



Platform of Lunacy Platform of Lunacy Platform of Lunacy



Bi-Metallism Issue BiBi--MetallismMetallism IssueIssue



Here Lies Prosperity Here Lies Prosperity Here Lies Prosperity



William Jennings Bryan

(1860-1925) William Jennings Bryan William Jennings Bryan

(1860(1860

--1925)1925)

TheThe ““Great CommonerGreat Commoner””



Bryant’s “Cross of

Gold” Speech BryantBryant’’ss ““Cross ofCross of

GoldGold”” SpeechSpeech

You shall not pressYou shall not pressdown upon thedown upon thebrow of labor thisbrow of labor this

crown of thorns;crown of thorns;you shall not you shall not

crucify mankind crucify mankind upon aupon a cross of cross of gold gold !!



William Jennings Bryan William Jennings Bryan William Jennings Bryan

Prairie avenger, Prairie avenger,mountain lion,mountain lion,

Bryan, Bryan, Bryan,Bryan, Bryan, Bryan,Bryan,Bryan,

Gigantic troubadour,Gigantic troubadour,speaking like a siegespeaking like a siege gun, gun,

Smashing Plymouth RockSmashing Plymouth Rockwith his boulderswith his boulders

from the West. from the West.Revivalist style of oratory.



Bryan: The Farmers Friend (The Mint Ratio)

Bryan: The Farmers FriendBryan: The Farmers Friend (The Mint Ratio)(The Mint Ratio)

18,000 miles of campaign18,000 miles of campaign ““whistle stops.whistle stops.””



FINANCE

1.

We demand free and unlimited coinage of silver

and gold at the present legal ratio of 16 to 1.2. We demand that the amount of circulating

medium be speedily increased to not less than$50 per capita.

3.

We demand a graduated income tax.

4. We believe that the money of the country shouldbe kept as much as possible in the hands of thepeople

Omaha Platform of

1892 Omaha Platform ofOmaha Platform of

18921892



Omaha Platform of


18921892TRANSPORTATION

…the government should own andoperate the railroads in the interest of

the people [as well as the] telegraph,telephone…



Govt.-Owned CompaniesGovt.Govt.--Owned CompaniesOwned Companies



LAND

The land, including all the natural sources ofwealth, is the heritage of the people, and

should not be monopolized forspeculative purposes… All land now heldby railroads and other corporations in

excess of their actual needs…should bereclaimed by the government and held for

actual settlers only.

Omaha Platform of


18921892



Omaha Platform of 1892Omaha Platform of 1892

Supplementary Resolutions: We demand

• an Australian or secret ballot system.• a graduated income tax

• a rigid enforcement of the existing eight- hour law on Government work

•

initiative and referendum

• election of Senators of the United States bya direct vote of the people



The Populist (Peoples’) PartyThe Populist (PeoplesThe Populist (Peoples’’) Party) Party

Founded by James B. WeaverFounded by James B. Weaverand Tom Watson.and Tom Watson.

Omaha, NE Convention in July,Omaha, NE Convention in July,1892.1892.

Got almost 1 million popularGot almost 1 million popularvotes.votes.

Several Congressional seatsSeveral Congressional seatswon.won. James B. Weaver, James B. Weaver,

PresidentialPresidential

CandidateCandidate



TheThe SubtreasurySubtreasury

PlanPlan

•

Allow the farmers to store their crops in

Government Warehouses• Have the government loan them 80% of

the value of their crops at 1% interest• This would accomplish:

–

immediate source of cheap credit

– would bring higher prices for crops

–

solve the lack of currency problem



1892 Election1892 Election1892 Election



Heyday of Western PopulismHeyday of Western PopulismHeyday of Western Populism



1896 Election Results1896 Election Results1896 Election Results

populism ppt

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