Populism and Progressivism
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Populism and Progressivism
I. The Populist Party
A. Background: What changes were taking place in agriculture in the U.S. between 1870 and 1900?
1. Mechanization- machine were replacing people and animals of doing agricultural. Tractors being developed produced right after civil war.
Problems: need money to own tractors, banks load money to farmer, interest.
Upkeep and maintain it to keep tractors running. Money to paid mechanic
Added to the financial risk of farming, already gambling on soil and weather and crops.
2. Opening of new agricultural lands (West) – more and more land offered to people, land needed to be develop. Farmer could maintain more land than before because of technology. Problem: crops price were falling, land rush to make up for money lost on crops and to pay loans. High interests rate from bank. Huge drought in the Midwest, many farmers lost their farm, being taken over by banks (1886). More debt to get their way out of debt.
3. Growth of specialization in farm products – didnt diverse crops, only produced one crop.
4. Changing character of markets for agricultural goods – shipped produce overseas (international market) 1860- 1900 agricultural produces become 75% of US exports. RR owner made profits off farmer. Farmer didnt benefit much.
1880, market for farmer starts to fall apart. More produce than demand. Farm produces price fall, too much produce worldwide.
B. The “Agrarian Myth” and the Grange (the farming myth) – Jefferson believe independence farmer was the foundation of Americans society. Farmer discovered they were at mercy at banks and government because they were losing money.
Grange- first farmer organization formed in the 1867 in response to problems farmer felt, clubs for farmer to establish connection with other farmer. Hang out and drank and shared ideas. Promoted railroad regulation.
COOP- cooperative, way for farmer to try and save their money together and avoid using railroad. Getting rid of middle man and railroad so farmer would have a place to store their crops without paying railroad. Sold equipment at a lower price, and established their owned banks. Social Group.
C. Farmers Alliances (South and Midwest) replace the Grange movement because the grange fallen apart since it wasnt well organize. Similar to Grange, offered similar service. 1870-1880 farmers find it harder to purchase more land and machine to get them out of debt. Many African American work for someone else and found them in debt. Poor white farmer were in debt with other farmers.
Congress passed a law to stop silver, silver were becoming too expensive, gold is the standard to determine currency. Money supply shrink and money were less valuable. Even harder for American farmer to pay back debt. Farmer began to becomes more connection (nation movement), merged with each other; start to become more political. Encourage member to vote for candidate who show their interests. Farmer alliance becomes the people party in 1892. (Populist Party) Demand they made includes:
1. A permanent union of all working classes; wanted farmer and working to share the same bond.
2. Wealth for the worker; wanted the working to have a say in what they want.
3. Government ownership of railroads; didnt want to be screw over by rr.
4. Government ownership of all communications systems
5. More flexible and fair distribution of the national currency
6. No more ownership of land by those who do not actually use it. Wanted silver back in tangent.
D. The short lived Populist Party
Bryans- young man, great speaker, and demanded free coinage of silver.
Populist ideas were stolen by democrat.