Grange_Movement_and_the_Populist_Party

The Grange Movement

An organization that focused on the economic issues troubling farmers, such as falling grain prices and rising railroad rates.

Populist Party

A political party formed from the Grange Movement and Farmers Alliance, which sought reform to address the issues faced by farmers.

McCormick Reaper

An invention that increased farming efficiency but contributed to financial struggles for smaller farmers due to mechanization.

Interstate Commerce Act

A federal law passed in 1887 to regulate railroad rates, following the Supreme Court ruling in Wabash, St. Louis, and Pacific Railway v. Illinois.

Homestead Act

A law that made land cheap and accessible, allowing farmers to purchase land but still required them to cover the costs of farm machinery and other expenses.

Graduated income tax

A tax system where the rate increases as income increases, proposed by the Populist Party to alleviate financial burdens on farmers.

Unlimited silver coinage

A proposed monetary policy to increase the money supply, with the aim of raising crop prices and easing farmer debts.

Cycle of debt and poverty

The financial state many farmers found themselves in due to high costs of equipment and unfair banking practices.

Political action

The efforts made by Grangers to convince state legislatures to pass laws regulating railroad rates.

Railroad trusts

Powerful railroad companies that charged high rates to farmers for transporting their products, contributing to the financial strain on the agricultural sector.