Populism & The Election of 1896

1. The Rise and Fall of the
Populist Party
1867-1896
MAST HS
US HIS – Period 4
Ms. Richardson

2. Farmers’ Problems
• Lower prices for crops
• Farmers had no cash . . .went further into
debt. . . foreclosed on mortgages
• Railroads charged outrageous prices to ship
crops (no regulation!)

3. Farmers’ Demands
• Regulate the railroad companies! (stop them from
charging such high shipping rates and grain
storage fees) Interstate Commerce Act
• Make cash more available (back the dollar with
silver, not gold, so dollar will be worth less)
• To get industrial workers to support them: 8-hour
workday & restrict immigration (Chinese
Exclusion Act 1882)

4. The Granger Movement
• Alliance of farmers, particularly in the
Middle West, that fought monopolistic
grain transport practices.
• Shipping rates and grain storage fees
charged by railroads should be
regulated.

5. Different Groups Representing
Farmers’ Interests

6. Populist Party Platform
Economic Reforms Included:
• An increase in the money
supply which would
produce a rise in prices
received for goods and
services
• A graduated income tax
• And a federal loan program
Political Reforms Included:
• The election of US senators
by a popular vote
• Single terms for presidents
and vice-presidents
• A secret ballot to end voting
fraud
• A call for an eight-hour
workday
• Restrictions on immigration

7. 1892 Presidential Election: Populist
Candidate won over a million votes!

8. 1896 Election
Democrats – 1890s Republicans – 1890s
• Southerners
• Wealthy farmers
• Supported low tariffs
(wanted other countries
to buy their crops)
• Northerners
• Wealthy business men
(connected to the
railroad)
• Southern African
Americans (poor
farmers)
• Supported high tariffs
(didn’t want to compete
with other countries’
products)

9. 1896 Election
Populists decide to
improve their chances by
supporting the
Democratic candidate,
William Jennings Bryan,
who agreed to support
the silver-backed dollar.

10. 1896 Presidential Election: Bryan loses but
carries most of the South and West