Populism
Objectives
• Explain the causes of Populism, the Populist
Party Platform, the Election of 1896, and the
impact of Populism.
• Review for the unit one test by completing review
sheets
Warm-up
• Have you ever felt like no one listens to you?
Populism
A political philosophy supporting the rights and
power of the people in their struggle against the
privileged elite.
Populism in the Late 1800s
A movement in the United States that showed
the grievances and disillusionment of (largely
Western) farmers, who felt oppressed by debt
and let down by false promises of cheap land
and cheap railroad rates. The movement began
in the 1870s, peaked with the Populist Party's
running of a candidate for President and electing
four Senators in 1892, took a leading role in the
Democratic Party in 1896, and gradually merged
into the more broadly based Progressive
movement.
Populism Questions
• Describe the problems farmers faced and how they
tried to improve these conditions.
• How did the Populist Party help to change America?
• What were the main campaign ideas of William
Jennings Bryan?
• Do you think William Jennings Bryan would be a
good choice for president if he ran today?
The Populists
Populist Party Platform 1892
• The Populist (or People's) Party platform in 1892 incorporated a host of
popular reform ideas, including the following:
• Australian (or Secret) Ballot. Voting was still conducted publicly in
many areas, potentially subjecting voters to pressure or recrimination by
employers and landlords. (This proposal was adopted almost
everywhere in the United States in the early 20th century.)
• Popular Election of U.S. Senators. As provided in the Constitution
(Article I, Section 3), senators were selected by the state legislatures, not
by popular vote. It was believed that business lobbies exerted inordinate
influence over the selection of these officials. (This plank would become
part of the Constitution in 1913 when Amendment XVII was ratified.)
• Direct Democracy. The Populists urged the adoption of the initiative,
referendum and recall as means to give the people a more direct voice in
government. (Some or all of these procedures became part of the
constitutions of many states during the early 20th century.)
•
Banking Reform. The Populists believed that much of their economic hardship had been
caused by bankers' unfair practices. They proposed to end the national banking system, a
point of view not widely held. (The Populists failed with this proposal and a Federal Reserve
System was established by law in 1913.)
•
Government Ownership of the Railroads. Anger against the railroads for alleged price
discrimination was so intense that the Populists advocated for federal appropriation.
(Opponents charged the Populists with socialism and little public support existed for this plank.
However, during the Theodore Roosevelt administration, steps were taken toward reform of
the railroads.)
•
Graduated Income Tax. The Populists viewed the graduated income tax as a means to pry
loose a portion of the tremendous wealth of the nation's most prosperous citizens. A
"graduated" tax meant that the rate of taxation would increase as one's income increased. (A
step was made in this direction in the Wilson-Gorman Tariff of 1894 when a uniform tax was
imposed, but that portion of the law was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court the
following year. Authority to impose such taxation was granted to Congress under Amendment
XVI in 1913.)
•
Free and Unlimited Coinage of Silver. The Populists in 1892 raised the silver issue, but not
with the same fervor that would emerge four years later. (The free silver crusade would die a
natural death in the years following 1896, as prosperity returned and the world's gold supply
increased.)
Unit 1 Review
• The review sheet consists of terms/ideas that are
on the unit 1 test.
• HOWEVER, there will not be a question on each
term/idea (that would be over 50 questions)
• Look over the study guide. Put a + next to the
terms you know. Put a – next to the terms your
don’t know. Put a ~ next to the terms you “sorta
kinda maybe” know.
Study Skills
• Review…review…review. Scientific studies show
if you study the information frequently over
several days you will remember more. You will
move the terms and ideas from temporary
information to permanent knowledge.
• Use memory devices
• Find the way you like to study. Notecards, study
group, recopying notes, reading aloud, pictures.
A: Approach/attitude/arrange
• Approach your studies with a positive attitude
• Arrange your schedule to eliminate distractions
A.S.P.I.R.E
S: Select/survey/study!
• Select a reasonable chunk of material to study *Don’t studying everything at once!
• Survey the headings, graphics, pre- and post questions
to get an overview
• Study marking any information you don’t understand
P: Piece together:
• Piece together what know, either alone, with a partner or group, and summarize what you
understand.
I: Inspect/Investigate:
•
•
Inspect what you did not understand.
Investigate alternative sources of information you can refer to: other text books, websites,
experts etc.
R: Reconsider/reflect/relay
• Reconsider the content:
If I lived in the time period, what questions would I ask or what criticism would I offer?
• Reflect on the material:
How can I apply this material to what I am interested in?
• Relay understanding:
How would I make this information interesting and understandable to other students?
E: Evaluate/explore:
• Evaluate your grades on tests and assignments. Look for strengths and weaknesses.
• Explore other options and study techniques