Following the Civil War millions of men and women have migrated to the West to stake their claim to farmland and pursue their American Dream, but by the late 1880’s, it was turning into a nightmare:

Falling Prices of Farm Products Rising Cost of Farming Equipment Rising Railroad rates and grain storage

rates (monopolies) and Banking interest rates

The farmers were going into debt producing necessary crops, while industrialists, bankers and businessmen were getting rich! And the government seemed to be on the side of big business!!!

-First in the Midwest, then in the West and the South

The Grange was organized in 1867 (Oliver Kelly)

The Grange tried to educate farmers on farming techniques and advocated for lower railroad costs.

The Grangers were somewhat successful in achieving some of their goals (“Grange Laws”).

Ex. 1866 establishment of ICC (Interstate commerce Commission)

Although the Grange declined in the late 1870’s other Farming Alliances continued to grow and spread.

This spread resulted in the forming of the Populist party in 1892.

The “people’s party”, Populists stood for seeking remedies to the “problems” of political corruption, unresponsive government, and inadequate monetary supply.

Populist support reached across regional/sectional political divisions…appealing to farmers in the south and west and industrial workers in the north (whether black or white) against the industrial elite.

Achieved a great deal of success in 1892, electing governors, senators, and congressmen and getting some electoral votes for their presidential candidate

Unlimited coinage of silver (Bimetalism) Government ownership of the railroads and communication

(telegraph and telephone) companies. Federally run grain storage warehouses Bank Regulations Reduce government corruption (Remember Scandals of Grant

‘s Presidency – also happening on the Local and state level) Direct election of Senators Graduated income tax 8 hour work day for industrial workers Legislative changes to include voter initiatives and

referendums

Note –also getting into Industrial issues here…

The populists have to decide whether to support their own candidate and continue building support for their small party or support the Democratic Candidate William Jennings Bryan, who, while a Democrat, proposed many Populist ideals…

The “boy orator’s” address to the 1896 Democratic National Convention

Electrifying…he became the 1896 Democratic Candidate

In it, he supported the idea of free silver and other Populist platform ideas….thus the dilemma.

Democrats/Populists (aka Bryan) lost both the 1896 and 1900 elections, despite good fights, to Republican William McKinley.

The Populists lingered on for another decade, but basically disappeared as a feasible alternative to Democrats and Republicans after 1900.

However…what is the Populist Legacy…what kind of lasting impact did populism provide?