Essential Question:

1

• Essential Question
• Who were the Populists what new ideas did they
  promote in order to help western farmers?
• Warm-Up Question
• What was more important in the development of the
  West after the Civil War The Homestead Act or
  Transcontinental Railroad?

2
Group ActivityThe Problem of Farmers Rise of
the Populist Party

• In groups, complete these tasks
• Examine the documents provided determine what
  major problems farmers faced in the Gilded Age
• Write your answers in the matrix
• When finished, generate a plan that provides a
  solution to meet the needs of farmers

3
The Problems of Farmers

• In the 1870s 1880s, western farmers faced
  serious problems
• Prices for their crops were falling due to
  over-production of grains
• Banks were charging high interest rates on
  mortgages were foreclosing on debtors
• Railroads charged high rates for shipping
  storing their crops

4
Price Index for Consumer Farm Goods
5
The Problems of Farmers

• Government policies hurt farmers
• The govt reduced the paper money (greenbacks)
  relied on gold-backed currency
• This led to deflation making it harder for
  farmers to pay off debts
• When westerners appealed to their politicians,
  nothing was done

6
Reform Attempts by Farmers

• Farmers attempted to organize fight back
  through groups like the Grangers the Farmers
  Alliance
• These groups attacked abusive banks railroad
  companies
• They called on farmers to form their own co-op
  stores, banks, storage silos to avoid
  exploitation
• Both groups failed to gain improvements for
  farmers

7
Granger Meeting
8
The Populist Party

• In 1890, the Populist Party was formed demand
  reforms
• Government regulation of railroads in order to
  lower rates
• A national income tax to take the burden of
  taxation off farmers
• Direct-election of Senators to make politicians
  more responsive
• Bimetalism Using gold silver to inflate the
  money supply

9
Bi-Metalism
10
The Rise of the Populist Party
From 1890 to 1896, the Populist Party emerged as
an influential 3rd party began to challenge the
Democrats Republicans
the state govts of Idaho, Nevada, Kansas,
North Dakota were dominated by Populists
During this time, 3 governors, 10 congressmen,
5 senators were elected as Populist candidates
In 1892, Populist James Weaver made a run at the
presidency
11
William Jennings Bryan the Election of 1896

• In the 1896 presidential election, William
  Jennings Bryan embraced Populist ideas was
  nominated by the Democrat Populist Parties
• Bryan made bimetallism the issue of the campaign
  as a result of his Cross of Gold speech
• Republican William McKinley argued for the gold
  standard

12
Bryans Cross of Gold Speech
13
Bimetallism A recipe for prosperity or lunacy?
OR?
14
The Election of 1896
McKinleys defeat of Bryan in the election of
1896 killed the Populist Party
but key Populist ideas such as the income tax,
direct election of Senators, regulation of
railroads will be enacted by the Progressives
from 1890 to 1920