The Rise and Fall of Populism in American Farming

Exodusters

African Americans migrating to Kansas post-Reconstruction.

Oklahoma Sooners

Settlers claiming land before official opening in 1889.

Dugouts

Homes dug into hillsides or ravines by settlers.

Soddies

Freestanding homes made of turf on flat plains.

Steel Plow

John Deere's 1837 invention for heavy soil cultivation.

Reaping Machine

Cyrus McCormick's 1847 mass-produced harvesting tool.

Morrill Acts

1862 and 1890 laws financing agricultural colleges.

Hatch Act

1887 legislation funding agricultural research stations.

Bonanza Farms

Large farms growing single crops, often owned by railroads.

Economic Distress

Farmers faced falling wheat prices and high transport costs.

Grange

Farmers' organization founded by Oliver Hudson Kelley in 1867.

Populism

Movement advocating for the rights of the common people.

Populist Party

Political party founded in 1892 for farmers' interests.

Bimetallism

Monetary system using both gold and silver.

William Jennings Bryan

Democratic candidate advocating bimetallism in 1896.

William McKinley

Republican candidate favoring the gold standard in 1896.

Panic of 1893

Economic crisis causing bankruptcies and high unemployment.

Cycle of Debt

Farmers trapped in continuous borrowing due to low prices.

Direct Election of Senators

Populist reform proposal for more democratic representation.

Eight-Hour Workday

Populist demand for reduced working hours.

Legacies of Populism

Organizing power for the downtrodden and reform agendas.