The Populists 1890s

Farmers Alliances & the Grange Agricultural Wheel (Arkansas), Farmers Union (Louisiana), Farmers Alliance Greenback Party Alliance Movement National Colored Farmers Alliance National Women’s Alliance (1891)

Agricultural Wheel (Arkansas), Farmers Union (Louisiana), Farmers Alliance

Greenback Party

Alliance Movement

National Colored Farmers Alliance

National Women’s Alliance (1891)

National Grange Munn v. Illinois (1877): regulated grain storage rates Wabash v. Illinois (1886): states can not regulate interstate railroad rates Interstate Commerce Act (1887): formed the Interstate Commerce Commission. Railroads lobbied state governments and repealed Grange laws.

Munn v. Illinois (1877): regulated grain storage rates

Wabash v. Illinois (1886): states can not regulate interstate railroad rates

Interstate Commerce Act (1887): formed the Interstate Commerce Commission. Railroads lobbied state governments and repealed Grange laws.

Populist Party Various movements combined to form the Populist Party in 1892. Omaha Platform Tariff reduction Graduated income tax Public ownership of railroads Direct election of Senators Federally funded irrigation research Ban on land ownership for aliens Free coinage of silver Laws allowing farmers to store goods in federal warehouses Low interest loans with crops as collateral

Various movements combined to form the Populist Party in 1892.

Omaha Platform

Tariff reduction

Graduated income tax

Public ownership of railroads

Direct election of Senators

Federally funded irrigation research

Ban on land ownership for aliens

Free coinage of silver

Laws allowing farmers to store goods in federal warehouses

Low interest loans with crops as collateral

Election of 1892 James B. Weaver 8.5% of popular vote Won some seats in House and Senate…no real power  …(like William Peffer!) Grover Cleveland won and repainted the White House.

James B. Weaver 8.5% of popular vote

Won some seats in House and Senate…no real power  …(like William Peffer!)

Grover Cleveland won and repainted the White House.

Panic of 1893 Reading Railroad files for bankruptcy Dependent banks/companies also collapse Stock market crash European investors pull out stocks Worsened agricultural depression Increased Political involvement of agricultural community

Reading Railroad files for bankruptcy

Dependent banks/companies also collapse

Stock market crash

European investors pull out stocks

Worsened agricultural depression

Increased Political involvement of agricultural community

Election of 1896 Candidates: William Jennings Bryan (Democrats) “Cross of the Gold Speech” against gold standard, favored monetization of silver “We have restored the money of the Constitution, all other necessary reforms will be possible; but…until this is done there is no other reform that can be accomplished” William McKinley (Republican) favored gold standard, more conservative McKinley wins!!!

Candidates:

William Jennings Bryan (Democrats)

“Cross of the Gold Speech” against gold standard, favored monetization of silver “We have restored the money of the Constitution, all other necessary reforms will be possible; but…until this is done there is no other reform that can be accomplished”

William McKinley (Republican) favored gold standard, more conservative

McKinley wins!!!

Silver “Crime of 1873” Silver Demonetized Checked inflation, angering heavily indebted farmers Resumption Act 1875 brought paper money to parity with gold

“Crime of 1873” Silver Demonetized

Checked inflation, angering heavily indebted farmers

Resumption Act 1875 brought paper money to parity with gold