HIST 1312 1st Edition Lecture 5 Outline of Last Lecture I Social Manners II Women Feminism and Sex in Progressive America III The Great Migration Blacks in White America IV White Attitudes and Scientific Racism Outline of Current Lecture I Populism a The Rise of Populism b Other Farmer Alliances c Main Critiques d Populism and Presidential Elections II The Age of Progressivism a Definition of Liberalism b Definition of Progressivism c Types of Progressive Reform and goals d Origins of Progressive Thought and Action Current Lecture The Rise of Populism and Progressivism I Populism a The Rise of Populism These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute Beginning in the 1870s worsening conditions in rural America caused many people to abandon their farms At the same time changes in farming practices and the agricultural marketplace made farmers more dependent on commercial decisions made by big city businessmen In reaction to these trends farmers began to take political action that led to the emergence of the national Populist movement in the 1890s Made unions because the farmers depended on bankers retailers and lawyers who were taking advantage of the farmers By the farmers organizing they could try and take back control b Other Farmer Alliances 1 Farmers and Laborers Union of America was a regional association in the Southwest By 1890 it had 3 million members 2 Northwest Farmers Alliance began in Chicago and spread throughout the Midwest By 1890 it had 2 million members 3 Colored Farmers National Alliance addressed the needs of African American farmers in the South and in the Midwest By 1890 it had between 1 and 1 5 million members These three groups held a convention in St Louis Missouri in 1889 but they were unable to overcome regional differences and form a national organization In the elections of 1890 however southern farmers allied with local Democrats while Midwestern farmers formed their own local parties which became known as People s Parties Mary Elizabeth Lease a Kansas farmwoman was one of the Populist orators who traveled throughout rural America trying to whip up support for pro farm candidates in the election of 1890 c Main critiques The American legal system placed too much emphasis on property rights o If the farmers missed a payment they will get foreclosed on The farmers wanted understanding from the bankers and retailers of their situation and dependency on unpredictable events like the weather Monopolies were an economic and social evil Social Darwinism laissez faire were bankrupt ideologies o Farmers were necessary for the food supply but couldn t get help from the government Industrial society had turned individuals into economic commodities Wealth was unevenly distributed d Populism and Presidential Elections William Jennings Bryan was nominated for president by both the Democrats and the Populists in 1896 o At the 1896 Democratic national convention Bryan delivered the Cross of Gold speech which called for unlimited coinage of silver o He held that government should protect individuals and the democratic process against the growing power of monopolies o Bryan lost to the Republican candidate William McKinley who ran on a platform of prosperity for all o He was considered the champion for farmers but lost 3 times Sherman Anti Trust Act 1st federal attempt to regulate big business o Created under Harrison o Later became crippled in U S vs E C Knight and Co Sherman Silver Purchase Act o Created under Harrison o Intended to put an end to the silver coinage problem by minting all the silver presented to U S mints o This was a federal move to make the country bi metallic Later causes the depression of 1893 Grover Cleveland s dilemma o Major depression going on and the government knew the problem behind the depression o Cleveland became the scapegoat for the Bank Panic of 1893 and the depression o Made an attempt to curtail the depression by enacting Tariff reduction legislation o Eventually caused the Democratic Party to split o In the election of 1894 the Republicans gain control of the house and the senate and Cleveland will be the last Democratic president until the election of 1912 where Wilson becomes president due to a republican split II The Age of Progressivism Historians often describe the Progressive movement as the urban counterpart to Populism o Although the two movements shared some characteristics they also had some important differences Progressivism found support among small businessmen professionals and middle class urban reformers in contrast to the disgruntled farmers who fueled the Populist movement a Definition of Liberalism Although many historians speak of a Progressive movement we should really think of Progressivism as an umbrella under which a variety of reform groups and champions of liberalism gathered So any discussion of Progressivism should begin with the meaning of Liberalism at the beginning of the twentieth century 1 Government should be more active and can do good 2 Social problems are susceptible to government legislation and action the government should act to protect the people 3 Throw money at the problem b Definition of Progressivism Progressives themselves were never a unified group with a single objective or set of objectives Instead they had many different and sometimes contradictory goals including 1 End to white slavery prostitution and the sweat shops Long hours in bad conditions with low pay and doesn t lead anywhere career wise 2 Prohibition in favor of making alcohol illegal 3 Americanization of immigrants They should speak English have assimilation to the American culture what makes Americans American holidays etc know the laws 4 Immigration restriction legislation 5 Anti trust legislation Anti big business Want to break them up or force them to put their money back to the employees 6 Rate regulation of private utilities Companies would cut people off if they didn t pay a bill in the dead heat or cold to the point where they could die from the extreme weather 7 Full government ownership of private utilities Want government controls over utility companies heat water electricity ect 8 Women s suffrage women will eliminate the corruption because they re more pious and pure 9 End to child labor The labor stopped children s education early because of work average stop around 6th or 8th grade a push for high