Raise Less Corn and More Hell  - The Rise of Populism [1892 to 1900]

A revolt against the special privileges of industrialization and the American banking system spread quickly throughout

the Midwest and South and reached its zenith with the founding of the People's party in the early 1892.

Some questions to keep in mind:

1. How did agriculture change in the United States between 1870 and 1900? 

The American Farmer is introduced to a variety of labor saving machines that increased their efficiency and productivity.  By 1890 there are 900 manufacturers of farm machinery.  The American farmers takes out loans to purchase new equipment. The efficient cultivation of crops leads to OVERPRODUCTION and a market surplus!!  The Mechanized Farmer; Impact of Mechanization

2.  How did farmers try and protect their economic interests and way of life during this period?  Were they successful?  Why or why not?

3. Who were the Populists?  Why were they so appealing to farmers?  Did they change American politics?  If so, how? 

Changing character of markets for agricultural goods. 

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.

Mother nature unreliable irrigation,  bug infestations, drought and flood erosion

Lack of currency in circulation Rise in big business in the northeast created a shortage in currency  (leads to high interest rates – up to 40%)   A Review of Banking History
High taxes can’t hide land and property the way you can hide stocks and bonds - property taxes were high!

"To add to their miseries, the soil-tillers were gouged by their government—local, state, and national. Their land was overassessed, and they paid painful local taxes, whereas wealthy easterners could conceal their stocks and bonds in safe-deposit  boxes." American Pageant

Tariff Set up to protect our American industries but not to protect farmers Review of Tariff

Single Cash Crop Great when prices are high;  disaster when prices are low - Can lead to bankruptcy Farmer Cartoon
Crop Specialization

http://www.cnn.com/specials/student-news-transcripts

UNITY = SUCCESS
Grange – Farmer’s Alliance – Populist Party

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Republican laissez-faire policies that favored big business and allowed corporations to consolidate. These corporations were hard to regulate with an undefined government role. City, state, and federal governments added to this by gouging the farmers, ripping them off by making them pay painful taxes when they could least afford to do so.     

1867- Oliver Kelley started the first National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry AKA the Grange  it began as a non-political group whose goals were to stimulate farm families (social, educational, and fraternal)  Milton Grange

Farmers and Laborers' Union of America was a regional association in the Southwest. By 1890, it had 3 million members. 

Northwest Farmers' Alliance began in Chicago and spread throughout the Midwest. By 1890, it had 2 million members. 

Colored Farmers National Alliance addressed the needs of African-American farmers in the South and in the Midwest. By 1890, it had between 1 and 1.5 million members.