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Chapter 19

Lesson 4

Farmers - A New Political Force

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Farmers Unite

  • Farmers experienced great economic hardships in the late 1800s
    • Expansion of farming on Great Plains
    • Increased supply
    • Expenses remained high
  • Railroad Rates
  • High interest rates

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The National Grange

  • Farmers began to organize
  • Created political movement
  • Network of local groups became the National Grange
  • First purpose was social
  • Eventually set up cooperatives
    • Stores owned for the benefit of farmers
  • Politically lobbied for lower shipping rates
    • Many states passed laws
  • Powerful railroads eventually got their way
  • Grange declined in late 1880s

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New Organizations

  • Farmers’ Alliances
    • West and South
    • 3 million members by 1900
  • Colored Farmers’ National Alliance
    • 1 million members
  • Supported cooperative buying and selling
  • Lobbied for federal warehouses
    • Combat low prices and high railroad costs
  • Regional differences hindered movements success

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A Party of the People

  • Farmers’ Alliance became active in politics during 1890 elections
    • 6 governorships
    • 3 Senate seats
    • 50 House seats
  • Decided to turn into Political Party
  • People’s Party of the USA
    • Populist Party
  • Populism
    • Appeal to the common people

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The Populist View

  • Government should own the railroads and telegraph lines
  • Replace gold-based currency with “free silver”
    • Prices would rise
    • Easier to pay off debts
  • Single term presidency
  • Direct election of Senators
  • Secret ballot
  • Shorter hours for workers
  • Graduated national income tax

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The Movement Grows

  • Tensions between North and South after the Civil War divided the party
  • Southern whites would not join with blacks
  • Democratic Party adopted much of the Populist party platform

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The 1896 Election

  • William Jennings Bryan - “Great Commoner”
    • Democratic Nominee
    • Supported Populist Causes
  • William McKinley
    • Republican Nominee
    • 14 years in Congress
    • Governor of Ohio
    • Opposed free silver
  • Mckinley wins election
  • Populist ideas make an impact
    • Eight-hour work day
    • Income tax, secret ballot
    • Direct election of senators
  • US abandoned gold standard in 1933