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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.
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The Problems of farmersThe Problems of farmers
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.
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The Problems of farmersThe Problems of farmers
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)
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The Problems of farmersThe Problems of farmers
• 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.
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Price Indexes for Consumer
& Farm Products: 1865-1913 Price Indexes for ConsumerPrice Indexes for Consumer
& Farm Products: 1865& Farm Products: 1865--19131913
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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.
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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)
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Gift
for the Grangers:
TheFarmer
Paysfor All!
GiftGift
for thefor the Grangers:Grangers:
TheTheFarmerFarmer
PaysPaysfor All!for All!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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..
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Populist Party
Formed in 1892.
Developed their own political platform on
which people disagreed…
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Platform of Lunacy Platform of Lunacy Platform of Lunacy
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Bi-Metallism Issue BiBi--MetallismMetallism IssueIssue
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Here Lies Prosperity Here Lies Prosperity Here Lies Prosperity
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William Jennings Bryan
(1860-1925) William Jennings Bryan William Jennings Bryan
(1860(1860
--1925)1925)
TheThe ““Great CommonerGreat Commoner””
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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 !!
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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.
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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.””
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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
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Omaha Platform of
1892 Omaha Platform ofOmaha Platform of
18921892TRANSPORTATION
…the government should own andoperate the railroads in the interest of
the people [as well as the] telegraph,telephone…
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Govt.-Owned CompaniesGovt.Govt.--Owned CompaniesOwned Companies
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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
1892 Omaha Platform ofOmaha Platform of
18921892
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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
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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
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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
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1892 Election1892 Election1892 Election
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Heyday of Western PopulismHeyday of Western PopulismHeyday of Western Populism
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1896 Election Results1896 Election Results1896 Election Results