I. Populism; 1880s-1890sII. “Agrarian America”Silver and Gold: the Populist Revolt against IndustrialismI. “The Rectangle of Righteousness?”a) Kansas- republican for 60 yearsI. Populism; 1880s-1890sa) Primarily farmersb) Midwest- NB, Kansas, TX, OKc) Populist movement= one of the biggest 3rd party movements in historyd) Populists wanted: opportunity, fair compensation, trying to reform industrialism**UnionsIndustrialism was like PopulismRural Areas**II. “Agrarian America”a) before industrialism, America mostly ruralb) “Jeffersonian agrarianism” – farmers as ideal citizens; full of virtuei) Grew your own foodii) Made your own clothesiii) Don’t rely on othersiv) Not corruptiblev) Self-sufficient**”Those who till the soil are the republic’s most virtuous citizens”- Thomas Jefferson**IV. Industrialism’s Threats to Farmersa) Financial trouble, debt, etc.i) Producing more food with less laborii) Over-producingiii) Prices bottom outiv) Perpetual debtv) Depression of 1893b) Monopolies – railroads and banksi) Why the crops are selling for nothing1ii) People blamed them because they didn’t know how the system workediii) RR owners were price gougingiv) Usually only one bank in rural areasc) “Status Anxiety”i) Form farmer’s alliances (essentially unions, but no strikes)V. Forming “Alliances” a) 1867-70 -- Patrons of Husbandryb) 1880s – National Farmers’ AllianceVI. The National Alliance’s Plan – the “Ocala Demands,” 1890a) regulate the railroadsb) direct election of senatorsc) no protective tariffs for industryd) the “subtreasury” systemi) bank connected to grain elevatorii) all farmers store grain, and grain sold when prices are highestiii) farmers given money by the bank to get bye) free coinage of silverVII. 1892-96 – The Populist Party a) 1892 – James B. Weaver runs for President.i) Lost to Grover Cleveland b) 1896 – William Jennings Bryan runs, as Populists combine with Democrats. He loses.c) The demise of
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