America’s First Empire
Contents:
Was Populism just a “Tea Party”
Welcome!
Political Stagnation
Weak Presidents
These mini-lectures are an overview of your
Money Issues
assigned readings—they should provide
Rise of Populism
better understanding of what you are reading!896 Farmer’s issues
Omaha Platform 1892
Just listen (if audio is provided, it plays
Election of 1896
automatically), then read the slide, and use
the next arrowhead. If you are viewing this in
Conclusions.
PDF, use the down arrow at the top of the pdf.
A brief post test.
The conditions which surround us best justify our co-operation;
we meet in the midst of a nation brought to the verge of moral,
political, and material ruin. Corruption dominates the ballot-box,
the Legislatures, the Congress, and touches even the ermine of the
bench. The people are demoralized; most of the States have
been compelled to isolate the voters at the polling places to prevent
Universal intimidation and bribery. The newspapers are largely
subsidized or muzzled, public opinion silenced, business prostrated,
homes covered with mortgages, labor impoverished, and the land
concentrating in the hands of capitalists. The urban workmen are
denied the right to organize for self-protection, imported pauperized
labor beats down their wages, a hireling standing army, unrecognized
by our laws, is established to shoot them down, and they are rapidly
degenerating into European conditions. The fruits of the toil of
millions are boldly stolen to build up colossal fortunes for a few,
unprecedented in the history of mankind; and the possessors of
those, in turn, despise the republic and endanger liberty. From the
same prolific womb of governmental injustice we breed the
two great classes—tramps and millionaires.
The politics of stagnation
And a populist uprising
politics of stagnation
populist uprising
Hayes
Hayes(R), 1876--one term
Garfield(R), 1880
Arthur, 1881
Cleveland(D), 1884 & 1892
Harrison(R), 1888
Pendleton Civil Service Reform
Arthur
As Cleveland entered the Whitehouse
the biggest issue was MONEY.
Democrats wanted more inflation, or
money in circulation.
Republicans wanted limited paper
money.
Silver prices fall (impacting the west)
ratio 16:1 (silver to gold)
two acts to subsidize silver:
1878--Bland-Allison Act
1890--Sherman Purchase Act
crisis by 1890s…..
Discontent in Midwest & West
Populism was an agricultural malaise...
Started in the West
Picked up steam in the South
Made appeals to “have-nots”
What went wrong on the farm?
Poor Transportation in West
Western farms isolated
Rails promised help, but were slow and built only main lines
Roads and machinery scarce
Constant threats of Indian battles limited road building
Farm Prices
By 1878 wheat and corn prices both begin to
decline—kept falling until 1901
somewhat due to over production also due to better
transportation to major markets
Most farm prices fell until 1901
Costs of production rose
Poor sources of banking & credit
Higher Tariffs, a real issue for farmers
Federal laws taxed imported manufactured
goods
This kept prices of domestic items--like plows,
barrels, and other goods farmers needed high
Industry & government were blamed
Farmers organize
Trace emphasis and impact of
The National Grange
The Greenback Party
The Alliance
Asked labor and miners to join them
People’s Party...or Populists
Nat’l Grange
Social group, formed by Oliver Kelley
800,000 members in 14 states
Very successful large coops with purchasing power
lowered costs
Won approval of Illinois law regulating Rail rates
(Munn case)
Farmer’s Alliance &
Greenbackers
Proposed a little of everything
Northern Alliance under Milton
George proposed income taxes,
rail regulation, and more
greenbacks as a stimulant
.
Alexander Campbell, founder Greenbacks
These third party
Groups were
severely
criticized by the
main stream
politicians.
Here the
Greenbackers
are ridiculed as
favoring
Socialists,
Communists,
and Women!
Omaha Platform & 1892 Elections
1. We demand free and unlimited coinage of silver and gold at the present legal ratio of l6
to 1. 2. We demand that the amount of circulating medium be speedily increased to not
less than $50 per capita. 3. We demand a graduated income tax.
4. We believe that the money of the country should be kept as much as possible in the
hands of the people, and hence we demand that all State and national revenues shall be
limited to the necessary expenses of the government, economically and honestly
administered. 5. We demand that postal savings banks be established by the government
for the safe deposit of the earnings of the people and to facilitate exchange.
Ignatius Donnelly, a Congressman from Minnesota, wrote preamble to
Omaha Platform, 1892. Read the Omaha Platform, 1892
http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5361
1890-1892
Two Alliance Senators elected—
Kyle (SD) and Peffer (KS)
People’s Party (Populists) formed
One of 11 voters in Presidential
campaign of 1892 went People’s Party
Populist Thomas E Watson
People’s Party critics 1892
People’s Party Supporters 1892
Populists Platform by 1896Silver coinage & more greenbacks
8 hour day and pensions for railroad workers
Federal ownership of rails
Limits on immigration
Subsidize overproduced goods
Public leadership grows, sound
familiar?
James B. Weaver
Mary E. C. Lease
Thomas E. Watson
Ignatius Donnelly
Watson
Sophia Harden
1896
Depression era, democrats blamed
Republicans: nominate McKinley (gold)
Democrats and Populists nominate: Bryan (silver)
America’s first “fusion” ticket
Safe, organized Republicans win over radicals and
silverites
36 YR. OLD WM. J. BRYAN
WINS DEM. & POPULIST NOMINATIONS
MISSIONARY ZEAL..
18,000 MILES & 600 SPEECHES
McKinley's campaign manager,
Marcus Hanna, conducts the perfect
national campaign. Thousands of
different fliers in over 200 languages
blanket the Northeast, Midwest, and
urban centers. The safe Gold Standard
wins.
McKinley’s Front Porch Campaign
Hanna
Conclusions! Politics as normal??
Bryan’s “Cross of Gold” speech—said “you
shall not press down on labor a Cross of
gold”….
Did the People’s Party really fail?
They did get national attention. And
between 1900 and World War I Americans
would embrace reform at the local and
state levels—and gradually at the national
level.
A Brief Post Test! Read the question, then click on the best answer to see feedback.
American Presidents from 1877 to 1900 were weak. True. False.
President Arthur’s Civil Service Reform was a significant accomplishment. True. False.
President Cleveland only served one term. True. False.
Farm discontent rose as agricultural prices fell in the late 1890s.. True. False.
Farmers felt higher tariffs helped big business but hurt farmers. True. False.
The National Grange was mostly a social and cooperative organization . True. False.
The Greenback party demanded deflation. True. False.
The Omaha Platform of 1892 demanded coinage at 16 to 1 ratio. True. False.
The populist or people’s party failed to elect any candidates. True. False.
Wm. J. Bryan was the first candidate officially nominated by two major parties. True. False.
Good! That is Correct!
Click to return to the Post
Test!
Yikes! Try that again!
Click to return to the Post
Test!