IB HOTA
Populists and Progressives
Outline Notes
I.
II.
The Agrarian Revolt The plight of the farmers
The Grangers: the National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry
Founded by Oliver H. Kelley for several purposes:
1. To help relieve the isolation and drabness of rural farmer lives through social activities
2. To organize into economic factions to help themselves
3. Used their strength in numbers to get members elected to state legislatures – “Granger Laws”
The Grangers used these to combat the railroad pools that were raising freight rates so high.
4. By 1875 there were 800,000 members
5. Granger Laws were overturned by the Supreme Court in the following cases:
Munn v. Illinois and Wabash, St. Louis, & Pacific Railway Co. v. Illinois
Both cases overturned Granger Laws and led to the Interstate Commerce Act which led to the
establishment of the Interstate Commerce Commission.
The Farmers’ Alliances
After the Grange declined the Alliances emerged. They were regionally born and served the economic interests of
the farmers in those areas. Ex. Southern Farmers’ Alliance, Colored Farmers’ Alliance, Midwestern Farmers’
Alliance, etc. Like the Grange the Alliances tried to alleviate Farmers’ problems and address their grievances. In
a sense they tried to effect for millions of farmers, organizations that would rival the big business monopolies and
conglomerations. They also began to have political ambitions and helped get people elected that supported their
goals.
Eventually the Alliances flexed their muscles and created a third political party. Officially they were known as the
People’s Party but were commonly called the Populists.
It was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1892
The Party platform called for reform
Planks: “Free Silver” Increase the money supply by calling for adding silver in addition to gold in
backing up America’s currency at a ratio of 16 – 1 – 16 ounces of silver to one ounce of gold.
Direct election of Senators – this would require a Constitutional amendment
Public (government) ownership of the railroads
A Graduated income tax
An eight hour workday
End protective tariffs
End a gold-backed currency
Benjamin Harrison – Republican
Grover Cleveland – Democrat
James Weaver – Populist
Weaver won four states and 22 electoral votes in the election
1892 Presidential election:
“Panic of 1893”