Objective 4.03

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Objective 4.03

• Describe the causes and effects of the financial
  difficulties that plagued the American farmer and
  trace the rise and decline of Populism.

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Cross of Gold

• If they dare to come out in the open field and
  defend the gold standard as a good thing, we
  shall fight them to the uttermost, having behind
  us the producing masses of the nation and the
  world. Having behind us the commercial interests
  and the laboring interests and all the toiling
  masses, we shall answer their demands for a gold
  standard by saying to them, you shall not press
  down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns.
  You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of
  gold.

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The Grange

• Organization organized by farmers for social
  gatherings, developed into a political
  organization, founded by Oliver Hudson Kelley

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National Farmers Alliance

• Along with the Grange represented the ideas and
  desires of Western Farmers

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Southern Alliance

• Similar to National Farmers Alliance, formed to
  represent farmers in the South

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Colored Farmers Alliance

• Similar to National Farmers Alliance, formed
  for African American Farmers

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Omaha Platform

• Planks included Direct Election of Senators,
  low interest rates on loans to farmers. Graduated
  income tax, new banking system, regulation of the
  railroads

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Interstate Commerce Act

• 1887, re-established the right of the federal
  government to supervise railroad activity and
  established the Interstate Commerce Committee

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Rebates

• Kickbacks for Companies using different railroad
  companies

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Cross of Gold Speech

• Speech by William Jennings Bryan over the debate
  between the Gold Standard and Bimetallism

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Greenbacks

• Name for paper money based on the green ink
  used to print dollars

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Homework

• How and why was the plight of the American
  farmer so different from that of other Americans?
• Why did so many farmers support Populism?
• How can economically oppressed groups make
  their voices heard politically?