Grangers lobbied for laws regulating railroad rates in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
Key case: Munn v. Illinois (1877) upheld state regulation of businesses like railroads.
Interstate Commerce Act
Responded to complaints from farmers and shippers about railroad rates.
Established the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) in 1886 to ensure rates were "reasonable and just."
States could only regulate local or short-haul railroad rates.
Supreme Court's Wabash v. Illinois (1886) ruled individual states couldn't regulate interstate commerce, undermining Granger laws.
Farmers' Alliances
Farmers formed alliances for economic and political action, reaching about 1 million members by 1890.
Alliances taught scientific farming methods and aimed for the creation of an independent political party.
Ocala Platform (1890)
National Alliance met in Ocala, Florida, attacking major parties for favoring Wall Street.
Platform included:
Direct election of U.S. senators.
Lower tariff rates.
Graduated income tax.
Federal regulation of banking system.
Demanded increased money circulation via Treasury notes and silver, federal storage for crops, and loans for farmers to reduce dependency on middlemen.