1890-1920 Politics

How did the populists form?

• Farmers formed alliances due to agricultural unrest

• They became the populist movement and later joined with the Democrats

What were some causes of the populist movement?

• They wanted bimetallism where gold and silver coinage would be used

• Falling prices in wheat and cotton, high tariffs and poor weather conditions

• 1893 depression bankrupted businesses and farmers

• Opposed big businesses

When were they formed?

• 1892 in Omaha

• James B Weaver stood for president in 1892 and gained 1 million votes in the election

What were the Populists aims?

• Regulations of railways

• Income tax on big business

• Maximum 8 hour working day

• Direct election of senators to ensure the citizens could ensure they represent their interests

How was the 1896 election different to other elections?

• It was the first election using modern campaigning methods

• Mark Hannah spent $3 million supporting the Republicans, he sent 1,000 speakers into undecided areas

• McKinley gave 600 campaign speeches, the national newspapers supported him

What was the outcome of the 1896 election?

Popular Vote

• Mckinley- over 7 million

• Bryan- almost 6.5 million

  Electoral College

• Mckinley-273

• Bryan-176

How did this affect the populist movement?

• By 1900, membership had fallen

• Activists had joined other parties

• Populists turned into the progressives

What was William Mckinley like as president?

• Favoured business, laissez faire and high tariffs

• Dingley Tariff- pushed tariff rates high

• Committed America to the Gold Standard

• President throughout the Spanish-American war

• Assassinated in 1901

Why did the Progressive movement emerge?

• 1893 depression- high unemployment, banks collapsed

• Dissatisfaction with the two main parties

• Businesses were extremely powerful, hostility towards robber barons

• 72 hour working week- poor working conditions

• Growth of anarchism and socialism

What were some aims of the progressives?

• Vote for women, directly elected senators

• regulation of business, intervene on behalf of the workers

• government control on banks, recognition of trade unions, protect consumers from adulterated food

What was Teddy Roosevelt like?

• energetic person

• became president in 1901

• Wanted the federal government to have a role in the economy and big business

How did Roosevelt attempt to regulate big business?

1890 Sherman Anti Trust Act-44 prosecutions including Standard oil

1903 Department of Commerce and Labour Act- set up a department of business to collect data on whether business needs to be regulated

1906 Hepburn Act- gave government the powers to look into railroad books and a maximum rate to restrict them exploiting the public

How did Roosevelt side with the people?

• 1902 Anthracite Coal Strike- employers had locked miners who had striked out

• Roosevelt threatened to send troops into the mines

• The employers ended up increasing wages and offered the workers a 9 hour working day

What did Roosevelt do for the environment?

• Conservation- ordered 150 million acres of forest to be placed under federal reserve

• 1906- federal programme of meat inspection- gave the government a greater role in food production

• 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act- started the process of ending food adulteration