U.S. History
Chapter 5 – Changes on the Western Front
5-3 Farmers and the Populist Movement
Farmers and the Populist Movement
CA Standards:
11.1.4 Examine the effects of the Civil War and Reconstruction and of the
industrial revolution, including demographic shifts and the emergence in the
late 19th century of the United States as a world power
Objectives:
• Identify the problems farmers faced and their cooperative efforts to solve
them.
• Explain the rise and fall of the Populist Party
Homework
Write definition of Terms &
Names found on page 230 of
textbook or page 65 in
workbook.
Read pages 230 - 233
The Americans: Reconstruction to the 21st
Century
Prepare for Open notebook Quiz
Farmers and the Populist
Movement
Terms & Names page 219 in
textbook or 61 in workbook
 Oliver Hudson Kelly
Gold Standard
 Grange
William McKinley
 Farmers’ Alliance
William Jennings Bryan

Bimetallism
Notes:
5-3 Farmers and the Populist Movement
Main Idea
Farmers united to address their economic problems,
giving rise to the Populist movement.
Notes:
5-3 Farmers and the Populist Movement
Why It Matters Now
Many of the Populist reform issues, such as income tax
and legally protected rights of workers, are now taken
for granted.
Farmers Unite to Address Common Problems
Economic Distress
 Farmers buy more land to grow more crops to
pay off debts
 After Civil War, greenbacks are taken out of
circulation
 Debtors have to pay loans in dollars worth
more than those borrowed
 Prices of crops fall dramatically
 1870s, debtors push government to put more
money in circulation
 1878 Bland-Allison Act – money supply
increases, but not enough for farmers
Problems with the Railroads
 Lack of competition lets railroads overcharge to
transport grain
 Farms mortgaged to buy supplies (suppliers charge
high interest on loans).
The Farmers’ Alliance
 1867, Oliver Hudson Kelley starts Patrons of
Husbandry or Grange
 The original purpose was educational and social
 By 1870s, the Grange began fighting the railroads
 Farmers’ Alliance – groups of farmers and
sympathizers
 Lectures on interest rates, government control, and banks
 Gain over 4 million members
The Rise and Fall of Populism
The Populist Party Platform
 Populism – movement of the people
 Populist Party wanted reforms
 Economic Reforms: increase money supply, graduated
income tax, and federal loans
 Political Reforms: Senate elected by popular vote;
secret ballot; 8 hour work days
 Democratic Party eventually adopts platform
The Panic of 1893
 Railroads expand faster than markets; some go
bankrupt
 Government’s gold supply depleted, leads to rush on
banks
 Businesses and banks collapse
 Panic becomes economic depression
Silver or Gold
 Political divisions also regional
 Republicans were mostly Northeast business owners and
bankers
 Democrats were mostly Southern and Western farmers and
laborers
 Bimetallism – system using both silver and gold to back currency
 Gold standard – backing currency with gold only
 Paper money considered worthless if cannot be
exchanged for metal
 Silverites: bimetalism would create more money and
stimulate the economy
 Gold bugs: gold only would create a more stable, even
if more expensive currency
Bryan and the “Cross of Gold”
 1896, Republicans commit to gold and select William
McKinley to run as their candidate for U.S. President
 Democrats favor bimetallism, chose William Jennings
Bryan to run as their candidate for U.S President
 Populists endorsed Bryan, but choose their own vice
president candidate to maintain their party identity
The End of Populism
 McKinley gets East and industrial works of the Midwest
 Bryan gets South and farmers of the Midwest
 McKinley is elected president
 Populism collapses, but leaves legacy
 The powerless can organize and have political impact
 Agenda of reforms enacted in 20th century
Notes: 5-3 Guided Reading
Farmers and the Populist Movement
Read Pages 61 & 62
Reading Study Guide
Notes: 5-3 Guided Reading
1. What steps did farmers take to address their
concerns?
• They formed organizations like the Grange and the
Farmers’ Alliance to support and educate each other.
Notes: 5-3 Guided Reading
2. Which groups did the Populist appeal to most?
• The message of the Populist Party was
appealing to struggling farmers and laborers.
Be prepared for open
notebook quiz