Do Now:
Read the
document
on page 13
and answer
the
questions
The Farmers Revolt
Plight of the Farmers
1. Railroads-
1. charged high prices to ship
goods
2. Storage of Grain 2. charged high prices
3. Surplus of crops- 3. Overproduction led to a
decrease in value of crops
4. Deflation-
4. Drop in prices means they
made less money
5. High Debt-
5. Can’t pay bills and lose
farms/homes
1
The
Grange
• Organizations created to
address the political and
economic problems of
farmers
• Social events to relieve
the loneliness of farmers
and their families
• Grangers saved money
by pooling their money
into cooperatives and
buying supplies
wholesale.
• Fought for government
regulation of railroads
Populist
Party
Political Party
formed in 1892
by farmers to
fight for the
rights of the
common man
Goals of the Populist Party
1. Increase in money supply
2. People elect Senators
3. Graduated income tax- the more you
make the more tax you pay
4. secret ballot
5. Govt. ownership of RRs, telephone &
telegraph companies.
6. A single term for President & Vice
President.
Third Parties: Why?
• Goal is to get the
two major
political parties
to incorporate
their issues and
ideas
• Third parties
focus attention
on a few issues
and ideas.
2
A Populist President?
William Jennings Bryan
Populist and
Democratic
Candidate in
1896 and 1900
Cross
of Gold
Speech
9
• Opposed to money
being backed by gold
because it limited
supply of money
• Supports bimetallismmoney backed by gold
and silver
William Jennings Bryan and his
Cross of Gold Speech
• Leads to more money in
circulation which
causes inflation and
makes its easier to pay
off debts
Was the Populist Party
Successful?
Gets Democratic Party to pass the:
16th amendment= Graduated
income tax
17th amendment= Direct
election of Senators
3