Populism
Populist Party = People’s Party
•Started by
farmers &
laborers
•1880s
•Midwest
Populist Party Platform =
Omaha Platform
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Farmers & Laborers
Direct election of senators by voters
Graduated income tax
Presidential term limits
A working day of eight hours
Reform of immigration regulations
Easy loans for farmers
Railroad regulation
No ownership of land by foreigners
Civil service reform
Postal banks
Pensions
Revision of the law contracts
Populists
• No Populist presidents were elected
• It took years for their ideas to become law
& policy
• They will lead to the Progressive Era
The Wizard of Oz
Discontent of Farmers
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Falling crop prices – decrease profits
Rising railroad costs
Railroad abuse
In debt – couldn’t pay
Needed more equipment
Needed more land to grow crops
Gold Standard v. Bimetallism
• The rich liked the gold
standard (b/c they
controlled the money)
• Money based on gold
• “Gold Bugs”
• Poor farmers & workers
liked bimetallism
• Money based on silver &
gold
• Would increase credit &
loans
• Prices would rise &
farmers would make
more $
• “Silverites”
The Grange
• Social &
educational
organization
• Farmers
• To fight the RRs
• Will lead to the
Populist Party
National Farmers Alliances
– Southern Alliance
– Colored Farmers Alliance
– Formal farm organizations that worked
on their behalf
Rebates
• Special price
incentives for
preferred customers
(illegal)
• Payments back to the
purchaser
• Railroads used this
special pricing
Greenbacks
• Paper money
• Banks would not allow debts paid
w/greenbacks must use gold coin
• Did not hold its value
Interstate Commerce Act
• Federal government power to regulate
interstate trade
Munn v. Illinois, 1877
• (U.S. Supreme Court 1876) Munn, a partner in
a Chicago warehouse firm, had been found
guilty by an Illinois court of violating the state
laws providing for the fixing of maximum charges
for storage of grain.
• He appealed, contending that the fixing of
maximum rates constituted a taking of property
without due process of law.
• The Supreme Court upheld the Granger laws,
establishing as constitutional the principle of
public regulation of private businesses
involved in serving the public interest.
Munn v. Illinois Decision
• Gov’t can set max price of private co. if for
public good
Wabash v. Illinois, 1889
• (Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad Company v.
Illinois)
• U.S. Supreme Court in 1886
• The decision narrowed earlier ones (Munn) favorable to
state regulation of those phases of interstate commerce
upon which Congress itself had not acted.
• The court declared invalid an Illinois law prohibiting longand short-haul clauses in transportation contracts as an
infringement on the exclusive powers of Congress
granted by the commerce clause of the Constitution.
• The result = states can not regulate interstate rates
for railroads, and the decision led to creation of the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
Wabash v. Illinois Decision
• Created ICC (Interstate Commerce
Commission)
• Fed. Gov’t controls RR rates not states
Populist Party Platform = Omaha Platform
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Farmers & Laborers
Direct election of senators by voters
Graduated income tax
Presidential term limits
A working day of eight hours
Reform of immigration regulations
Easy loans for farmers
Railroad regulation
No ownership of land by foreigners
Civil service reform
Postal banks
Pensions
Revision of the law contracts
Progressivism
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1. Who was the Nez Perce chief?
2. What case established the ICC?
3. Who invented the steel plow?
4. Who gave the “Cross of Gold” speech?
5. What political party supported William
Jennings Bryan?
6. Who were the original cowboys?
7. What was the Omaha platform?
8. List 4 changes Populists wanted.
9. Who was defeated at Little Big Horn?
10. What does bimetallism mean?