Review of Westward Expansion PUSH FACTORS PULL FACTORS

Civil War

Land

Ethnic Factors

Debt

Law

Government Incentives:

--Pacific Railways Act:

--Morrill Land Grant:

--Homestead Act:.

.

.

Weather problems: drought, fire, sand storms, flood Falling Prices: crop prices had fallen—farmers would

mortgage land to buy more land to produce more crops to compensate

Debt: farmers often could not afford to make payments loans

Railroads: main source of transportation—railroads take advantage of farmer by charging excessive prices for shipping.

Need for cheaper money: Greenbacks were issued during the war, afterwards taken out of circulation and not backed by gold or silver—farmers who borrowed during war time had to now pay back loans in dollars worth more than the dollars they had borrowed.

FARMER’S PROBLEMS

RAILROAD ABUSES Construction graft: charge more than actual cost Bribes: swindling investors and taxpayers, cheating on

contracts and debt, secret agreements with middlemen (grain brokers and merchants) that allowed the railroad to control the storage prices and influence market prices of goods

Stock watering: manipulating the stock—Jay Gould (railroad owner)

Unfair pricing: hurt the small farmer long haul—by boat cheapershort haul—by train more expensive

Use of rebates for large customers, but not for small farmers

THE GRANGE Patrons of Husbandry founded by Oliver Hudson

Kelley Originally social group of farmers to provide social

outlet and an educational forum for farm families which become known as the Grange

Become politically involved especially fighting the railroads

Grange taught members how to organize, set up a farmer’s alliance, and how to sponsor state legislation to regulate the railroads

Granger Laws regulated mid-western railroads but ruled UNCONSTITUTIONAL by Wabash v. Illinois

ICC—Interstate Commerce Act were federal laws that regulates commerce and trade

POPULISM: took place of Grange Leaders of alliance groups like the Farmer’s Alliance and

Southern Alliance realize that to make far-reaching changes they need a larger base of political power

Populism—movement of the people Populist party takes the place of the Grange, western and

southern farmers, some low wage laborers Reform based party— demand for changes to improve

conditions and help with debt Omaha Platform: call for increase in money supply,

graduate income tax, federal loan program, secret ballot to end fraudulent voting, 8 hour workday, farmer’s cooperative and restrictions on immigration

Populist party’s programs are eventually adopted by Democratic Party

FREE SILVER CRUSADE Panic of 1893—nation enters a recession.

WHY? farmers overextended with debt, railroads construction had expanded faster than markets (many RR companies go bankrupt), government’s gold supply had thinned, people panicked and traded paper money for gold, stock price fell rapidly, price of silver plunged causing silver mines to close, 15000 business and 500 banks close

Greenbacks (paper money) should be issued based on silver and gold in reserve

1896 election: Republican party nominates William McKinley (gold standard) while the Democratic party nominated William Jennings Bryan (free silver or bimetallism). Populists were undecided on what to do—decided to back William Jennings and nominate a different Vice President from the Democratic party

BRYAN AND END OF POPULISTS

““Cross of Gold Speech”Cross of Gold Speech” by by William Jennings Bryan William Jennings Bryan (Democratic and Populist (Democratic and Populist nominee)nominee)

McKinley wins election, McKinley wins election, Populism collapses Populism collapses

Legacy of Populism:Legacy of Populism:1.1.message that down-message that down-

trodden common man trodden common man could organize and have a could organize and have a political impact political impact

2.2.idea of constant reform is idea of constant reform is the responsibility of the the responsibility of the governmentgovernment

You will need your own paper for today’s activity! Copy and complete the cause and effect

chart on Populism Copy and complete the Goldbugs v. Silverites

chart Copy the review questions and answer!

RISE AND FALL OF POPULISM CAUSES EFFECTS

GOLD BUGS SILVERITES

Who they were ______________ and ___________________

________________ and _______________

What they wanted Gold standard________ money in

circulation

Bimetallism________ money in

circulation

Why Loans would be ______ in __________ __________

Products would be _______ at ____________ _________

Effects ___________________:Prices ______Value of money

______________________people have

money

Inflation:Prices riseValue of money decreasesMore people have money

Party and Candidate ____________________________________

___________________ and __________________

_______________________

Populism Review1. List 3 problems of the Farmers in the late 1800s.

2. In what ways were the railroads abusing farmers?

3. Who founded the Patrons of Husbandry, the first

farmer’s organization?

4. What were the 2 original goals of the Grange Movement?

5. What courtcase ruled Granger Laws unconstitutional?

Populism Review6. What act gave the federal gov’t power to regulate commerce and trade?

7. What new political party developed and what were their goals?

8. What happened in 1893 and why?

9. Who was the Democratic candidate in 1896? The Populist candidate? What major issue did he run on?

10. Who won the election of 1896 and what impact did that have on Populism?

11-12. What were the lasting impacts of Populism?