Emergence and Exit of Populism

What is Populism? Where did it come from?

Populism is the movement in the late 1800’s to try and solve some problems that many farmers had in their economic lives

The emergence of big business hurt farmers

Machines helped and hurt farmers

Where did Populism come from cont.

Overproduction for farmers led to a drop in product prices (supply v. demand)

Farmers had to borrow from banks (at high interest rates)

They would use this money to buy new machines to make more products

What would this do to their prices?

Where did Populism come from cont.

Railroads also hurt farmers

Railroads were the only way farmers could get their products to market

They would charge very high rates

There were no set rates (unregulated railroads)

The Grange

The Grange was the first real farmers organization

They helped farmers by:

1. pooling money together to form stores

2. Developing farmers insurance companies

3. Providing buildings to farmers to store food

The Political Arm of the Grange

The Grange also tried to pass laws (Granger Laws)

Laws against price gouging for railroads (federal government struck the laws down…..why?)

Many of these laws were passed in the western U.S.

Led to the creation of the ICC

Populism in Politics

The Grange eventually turned into the Populist Party

3 demands: 1. Free Silver (add

silver to coinage making process)

2. Inflation (more money in circulation)

3. End gold standard (what the value of your money was based on)

Omaha Platform

The Omaha Platform consisted of Populists demands (last 3 items)

Radical change to capitalist system

Gained power in politics in the West (22 electoral votes 1892)

William Jennings Bryan as a Populist candidate

End of Populism

Bryan loses his bid for the presidency and Populism dies out

Legacy: leads to Progressive, the west becomes a force in American politics, regulation of industry (RXR)

OTHER FORCES OF REFORM

Temperance Movement: Support Prohibition (WCTU + Anti-Saloon League)

Also fought for prison reform, protective labor laws and women’s suffrage

Susan B. Anthony and NWSA

Socialism and Its Impact

Capitalism vs. Socialism

Many workers and common people looked to socialism to solve America’s problems (Why is it appealing to workers)

Eugene V. Debs

Impact of These Revolutionaries

Really each revolutionary idea led to something in the United States

Women’s right to vote in 1920 Limits on child labor Regulations on business and

industry We won’t see this until the

Progressive Movement