Populism in the 1890 s Farmers Alliance Similar to the grangers but national Targeted banks railroads big businesses and government officials Cooperatives wont change the world Ignatius Donnelly Atlantis theory started mania Started career in politics as a Republican and abolitionist Granger Farmers Alliance The People s Party Farmers alliance and other groups AKA populist party Repeated demands of KOL free silver grangers and farmers alliance The Omaha Platform paper money Free coinage of silver and the issuance of large amounts of Public ownership of railroads telegraphs and banks A graduated income tax Small and honest government Omaha convention also asserted the need for an 8hr day James Weaver Abolitionist republican and union general Active in the greenback party and farmers alliance Helped found peoples party Ran for president in 1892 lost African American southerners western miners MW farmers organized North Harrison and Cleveland Populism became a factor Panic of 1893 o 17 19 unemployment 3 Factors the Contributed to Panic and Recession Problems in the railroad and banking industries The Sherman Silver Purchase Act and Silver Notes o required U S government to purchase silver at inflated prices to get silver off the market The McKinley Tariff 1896 Election Republicans unpopular Bourbon Democrats wealthy business elites William Jennings Bryan Lawyer not politician Advocated bimetallism Populist leading Democrats Cross of Gold speech Gained Nomination of Dem Party and peoples party o Led to the new Democratic party today Railed against crime of 1873 o Coinage act eliminated silver William McKinley Career politician since civil war Supporter of Tariffs gold and eastern elites Big business and skilled workers supported him The 1896 election marked the end of the 3rd party system 4th party system Realignment Rise of the 4th Party System New Issues o Labor issues o Regulation of business o Reform of the banking system o Electoral and political reform o Increased debate over foreign policy People Shifting Parties o Democratic Party is more sympathetic to the poor o GOP is more business friendly o GOP oriented farmers in N and MW start to move towards the Democratic party o Southern business men move to GOP Rise of Class Conflict o Start of move toward politics of class and wealth o Rich vs Poor Wall street vs Main Street Pluralism o Political power is determined by a number of different interest groups such as unions o Different groups lobby the government for their own benefit or come together to forge coalitions in order to achieve political power New Campaigning and Fundraising Tactics o Bryan s very active and mobile approach to campaigning o Mark Hanna McKinley increased fundraising efforts Front porch campaign Mark Hanna Similar to McKinley Asked for campaign contributions Out spent opponents 10 1 Deciding factors in the Election Bourbon Democrats moved to Republicans Mugwumps moved to Republicans Silver Republicans went to Democrats
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