Farmers Protest Through Political Cartoons Read and Notes

Farmers Protest Through Political Cartoons Read and Notes (pgs. 596 – 605)

Cartoons 1 & 2 “The Problems” Ø According to the Cartoons, what problems did the farmers and laborers face during the Gilded Age? Ø Who was blamed for causing these problems? Ø What tools did the farmers and laborers have to combat these problems?

Farmers Faced Problems Ø Transportation of Goods l l Ø Price Fluctuation l l Ø Railroad Monopolies Steamship Operators Unstable prices of goods Stock Market Coinage of Money l l Silver Issue (Crime of ’ 73, Sherman Silver Purchase Act 1890) Panic of 1893

Cartoons 3 & 4 “Farmers Organize” Ø According to the Cartoons, who is involved in this coalition? Ø What party or parties are created as a result?

Farmers Organize Ø Granger Party l State Legislature (Granger Laws) Ø Greenback Party l Bring “greenbacks” into the currency Ø Farmer’s Alliance l l “United We Stand, Divided We Fall!” Northern, Southern, Midwest Alliances Ø The People’s Party (Populist Party) l National Party – Weaver, Jennings Bryan

Cartoons 5 & 6 “Populist Platform” Ø What are the two cartoons advocating? Ø What are the most important issues to the populist party?

Populist Platform Ø When the banker says he's broke And the merchant’s up in smoke, They forget that it's the farmer who feeds them all. It would put them to the test If the farmer took a rest; Then they'd know that it's the farmer feeds them all.

Populist Platform Asking government to protect the people from the abuses of big business Ø Bimetallism Ø l l Ø Using gold and silver as standards for the coining of money More money for more people…end “Finance Monopoly” Government Regulation of Transportation l Government regulate railroad companies and cost of transportation

Election of 1892

Cartoons 7 & 8 “William Jennings Bryan” Ø Read William Jennings Bryan “Cross of Gold” Ø Summarize Bryan’s Speech Ø How does Cartoon #7 illustrate this speech? Ø According to Cartoon #8, was the speech successful?

Cartoons 9 & 10 “Democratic Party” Ø Analyze Cartoon #9: What is this cartoon trying to say? Ø Analyze Cartoon #10: Who is running away with the Democratic Party?

Cartoons 11 & 12 “William Mc. Kinley” Ø Mark Hanna: Mc. Kinley’s Campaign Manager Ø In Cartoon #11: What is Mark Hanna telling William Mc. Kinley? What does he mean by this quote? Ø What is Mc. Kinley trying to do in Cartoon #12?

Mc. Kinley and the Republicans Ø Supported the Gold Standard Ø Pro-Big Business Ø Played on fears of bankers against Bryan Ø Out sent the Democrats $16 million to $1 million Ø Mark Hanna (Cleveland Industrialist): Raised $3. 5 million ($3 billion today) for campaign funds

Cartoons 13 & 14 “Election of 1896” Ø According to Cartoon #13 what choices do people have in the election of 1896? Ø According to Cartoon #14, which standard wins out the Gold or Bimetallism?

Election of 1896

Results of 1896 Election Ø Why Bryan Loses l l l Focus on silver undermined the outreach to the urban voters He didn’t form alliances with other groups Mc. Kinley’s campaign was well funded and organized Ø William Mc. Kinley l 1900 Gold Standard Act

Death of Populist Party Ø The late 19 th century economy experienced rapid change Ø The era of small producers and farmers began to fade away Ø Race divided the Populists, particularly in the South Ø The Democrats adopted most of the agenda.