Farmers & the Populist Farmers & the Populist MovementMovement

In In the latethe late 1800’s Farmers faced increasing costs & 1800’s Farmers faced increasing costs &

decreasing crop prices.decreasing crop prices. Why had farming Why had farming

become unprofitable become unprofitable during this period?during this period? Falling prices Falling prices

(surplus of crops)(surplus of crops) High transportation High transportation

costs (power of costs (power of railroads)railroads)

Scarcity of good land Scarcity of good land (poor weather (poor weather conditions-drought)conditions-drought)

High rates of High rates of interests interests

Why did farmers Why did farmers support the free support the free coinage of silver?coinage of silver? To bring about inflation To bring about inflation

“cheap money”“cheap money” They believed that They believed that

there would be more there would be more money in the economic money in the economic system and that they system and that they would get more of it.would get more of it.

Farmers were against Farmers were against the gold standard—the gold standard—believed it favored believed it favored industrialists industrialists

Farmers & the Populist Farmers & the Populist MovementMovement

In 1892 farmers and organizations (the Grange found support In 1892 farmers and organizations (the Grange found support in Populism and the People’s party.in Populism and the People’s party.

What economic What economic reforms did the reforms did the Peoples party call Peoples party call for?for? Increased money Increased money

supplysupply Graduated income Graduated income

taxtax Federal loans to Federal loans to

farmersfarmers

What political reforms What political reforms did the party call for?did the party call for? Election of US Election of US

senators by popular senators by popular votevote

Single terms for Single terms for presidentpresident

8 hour work day8 hour work day Secret ballot (end Secret ballot (end

fraud)fraud) Immigration Immigration

restrictionsrestrictions

Farmers & the Populist Farmers & the Populist MovementMovement

In 1896 the Populists supported William Jennings In 1896 the Populists supported William Jennings

Bryan for PresidentBryan for President What factions did What factions did

Bryan and the Bryan and the Populists see as Populists see as opposing forces in the opposing forces in the election of 1896?election of 1896? City dwellers v farmersCity dwellers v farmers Business/bankers v Business/bankers v

farmers/laborersfarmers/laborers Industrialized North Industrialized North

East v farming South East v farming South & West& West

Gold bugs v silverites Gold bugs v silverites

In what ways did the In what ways did the results of the 1896 results of the 1896 election confirm this election confirm this viewpoint? viewpoint? McKinley a McKinley a

conservative conservative Republican won with Republican won with the votes of the the votes of the Industrialized East & Industrialized East & Mid WestMid West

Bryan lost carrying Bryan lost carrying the South & West the South & West

Farmers & the Populist Farmers & the Populist MovementMovement

The Populist party never gained The Populist party never gained control of the White House, what control of the White House, what reforms did it achieve?reforms did it achieve? Direct of US senatorsDirect of US senators Graduated income taxGraduated income tax Eventually other reforms (rail road Eventually other reforms (rail road

regulation & 8 hour work day will be regulation & 8 hour work day will be accomplished)accomplished)