The Rise of the Populists
A New Political Party Emerges
Basis of Populism
A. The Farmer’s
Alliances
1. Demands made to
Politicians
B. 1890 Congressional
Election
1. Rise of
independent Parties
Intellectual Basis for Populism
A. Henry George-Progress and Poverty
B. Edward Bellamy-Looking Backward
C. Henry Demarist Lloyd-Wealth Against
Commonwealth
D. William A. Harvey-Coin’s Financial School
Populist Leaders & Spirit
A. Kansas Atmosphere
B. Mrs. Mary E. Lease
C. Jerry Simpson
D. Typical Southern
Leaders
1. Benjamin Tillman
2. Thomas E. Watson
The Populist Program
A. Organized Party
1. Omaha-July 2, 1892
B. Populist Platform
1. National, Flexible
Currency
2. Free & unlimited
coinage of silver
3. Graduated Income Tax
4. Gov’t Ownership of
RR’s, T&T
5. Amendment Limiting
President to ONE
Term
6. MORE
Campaign of 1892
A. Populist
1. Gen. James B. Weaver
B. Democrats
2. Grover Cleveland 2nd
run
C. Republicans
1. Benjamin Harrison
-The Campaign
-Results
-The Future
Cleveland’s Second Term and
Election of 1896
A. Panic of 1893
1. Causes
2. Effects
3. Demands for Government Aid
4. Role of Gold Reserve in Panic
a. Sherman Silver Purchase Act
Cleveland’s Financial Activities
A. Repeal of Sherman Anti-Trust Act
B. Bond Selling
C. Failure of Tariff Reform
House Elections of 1894
A. Results
B. Significance
Nominations in 1896
A. Republican
1. William McKinley
a. Garrett Hobart (VP)
B. Democrat
1. William Jennings Bryan
a. Cross of Gold Speech
C. Populists
1. Bryan (Watson VP)
Campaign of 1896
A. Campaigning
1. Monetary Issues
B. Results
1. President William
McKinley
a. A victory for big
business
Aftermath of Election
A. Currency
1. Gold Standard Act [1900]
B. Broader Significance
1. End of third party movement
2. Last great upsurge of agricultural interests vs.
industrialism
C. Failure of Bi-racial Politics in the South
1. Rise of “race-baiting” politics
2. Triumph of “Jim Crow”
3. Racial violence
4. Black Response
a. Washington and Dubois
“King William”