Populism How Ya Gonna Keep Em Down on

Populism How Ya' Gonna' Keep 'Em Down on the Farm? : The Rise of Populism Beginning in the 1870 s, worsening conditions in rural America caused many people to abandon their farms. At the same time, changes in farming practices and the agricultural marketplace made farmers more dependent on commercial decisions made by big-city businessmen. In reaction to these trends, farmers began to take political action that led to the emergence of the national Populist movement in the 1890 s. This lecture investigates changing agricultural conditions in the United States during the nineteenth century and explores how many rural Americans mobilized to deal with their crushing economic and political problems.

Things to keep in mind: o o o How did agriculture change in the United States between 1870 and 1900? How did farmers try and protect their economic interests and way of life during this period? Were they successful? Why or why not? Who were the Populists? Why were they so appealing to farmers? Did they change American politics? If so, how?

Changes in Agriculture o o o 1. Mechanization of agriculture The mechanization of agriculture led to huge improvements in efficiency, but caused problems for the yeoman (independent) farmer. Problems Presented by Machines More capital needed Machines demanded upkeep and repair Added to the financial risks that independent farmers had to take

Continued o o 2. Opening of new agricultural lands As land prices went up and crop prices fell, farmers began mortgaging their property in order to put more land in cultivation. Unusually high levels of rainfall also fueled a drive for land acquisition during the 1870 s and the early 1880 s. By cultivating more land, farmers hoped to pay off their growing debts. Many urban businessmen, however, charged farmers extraordinarily high interest rates on their mortgages. When drought struck the Midwest in 1886, the combination of unwatered crops and high interest rates was disastrous for many farmers. By the mid-1880 s, Midwestern farmers had the highest per capita debt in the United States.

Continued o o 3. Growth of specialization in farm products Although American farmers experimented with new plants and methods on a regular basis throughout the nineteenth century, most preferred to grow familiar crops. As a result, while urban businessmen were diversifying their holdings, farmers continued to invest all of their capital in a single crop and increased their chances of sliding into financial ruin.

yes 4. Changing character of markets for agricultural goods o Prior to the Civil War, only a handful of American farmers sold their crops abroad. After the War, however, international markets for United States agricultural goods expanded dramatically. In the years from 1860 to 1900, agricultural products comprised 75% of the United States' total export trade. Many farmers, however, did not understand fully the financial complexities of commodity markets or foreign trade. Middlemen, especially railroad agents and owners, profited from the ignorance of the farmers. Thus, even as markets for farm products expanded, farmers often did not benefit from that expansion. .

Factors farmers could not control o o o o Farmers remained largely ignorant of basic business practices after the Civil War. They had none of the power that had made other businessmen prosperous. Farmers had no control over the marketplace. Their prosperity, in fact, depended on six factors which they could not regulate: Business Cycles Credit Transportation Labor Supply Price Structure Government policies In reaction to these problems, farmers began to take political action.

"Agrarian Myth" o This is the concept, popularized by Thomas Jefferson, that the self-reliant yeoman farmer was the bedrock of American society. The gulf between this ideal and the reality of farming-falling income, and loss of profits to the railroads, exasperated farmers. For this reason, many tried to form organizations that would make the Agrarian myth a reality at the end of the nineteenth century.

The Grange o The full name of the Grange was "The National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry. " The word "grange" comes from an archaic word for "granary, " but, in the context of American history, the word refers to an association of farmers founded in the United States in 1867. The Grange worked to pass pro-farmer legislation and instituted the cooperative movement to allow farmers to pool capital and purchase machinery, supplies, and insurance.

Grange o At first most of the [Granges] were in Minnesota, the home of the founder, Oliver Kelley. During the 1870 s, however, the movement spread rapidly, fed by agrarian desperation over hard times, high railroad shipping rates, and tight money. By 1875, the membership had passed 850, 000. During these years, the Grangers placed growing emphasis on the extent to which farmers were being victimized by railroads, merchants, and banks. The Patrons of Husbandry stood at the head of a nationwide agrarian movement[. . . ] that created hundreds of cooperatives, founded banks, pushed through legislation regulating railroads and grain elevators, and campaigned for political candidates. [. . . ] Because of opposition from local businesses as well as the Grangers' own inexperience, few of their economic initiatives succeeded. Nevertheless, they set important precedents with their legislation, particularly those regulating railroads (as affirmed by the Supreme Court in Munn v. Illinois, 1877). More important, the Granger movement marked the beginning of an aggressive and self-conscious effort by the nation's farmers to define their problems in economic terms and to address those problems through economic and political action. "

Munn vs. Illinois o o o The United States Supreme Court decided Munn vs. Illinois in 1877. In its ruling, the court upheld the right of state legislatures to regulate railroad rates. "Chief Justice Morrison R. Waite wrote the majority opinion. In it he stated that private property becomes subject to regulation by the government through its 'police powers' when the property is devoted to the public interest" Eric Foner and John A. Garraty, eds. , The Reader's Companion to American History (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1991) 759.

Omaha Platform of 1892 o o o A permanent union of all working classes Wealth for the workers Government ownership of railroads Government ownership of all communications systems More flexible and fair distribution of the national currency No more ownership of land by those who do not actually use it

Main critiques made by Populists: o o o The American legal system placed too much emphasis on property rights Monopolies were an economic and social evil Social Darwinism & laissez-faire were bankrupt ideologies Industrial society had turned individuals into economic commodities Wealth was unevenly distributed

1896 o William Jennings Bryan

Populism and Presidential Elections o William Jennings Bryan was nominated for president by both the Democrats and the Populists in 1896. At the 1896 Democratic national convention, Bryan delivered the "Cross of Gold" speech, which called for unlimited coinage of silver. He held that government should protect individuals and the democratic process against the growing power of monopolies. Bryan lost to the Republican candidate, William Mc. Kinley, who ran on a platform of "prosperity for all. " In 1900, Bryan ran again for president and hoped to make the election a referendum on American imperialism, but lost to Mc. Kinley a second time. His final campaign for president was in 1908, when he lost to William Howard Taft.

Contributions from: o Stanley K. Schultz, Professor of History William P. Tishler, Producer