Analyze the factors that led to the rise of the Populist movement (Ch. 20)

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  • Populist Party - A political party formed in 1890 that sought to represent the rights of primary farmers but eventually all workers in regional and federal elections.

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Economic Factors

Sherman Silver Purchase - Require the US treasury to mint over 4,000,000 ounces of silver into coins each month to circulate more cash into the economy recipients of Farm grounds, to help the farmers pay their way out of debt.

  • %%This helped farmers economically by providing them with the compensation that they needed.%%

Farmer’s Alliance - A national conglomeration of different regional farmer’s alliances that joined together in 1890 with the goal of furthering farmers’ concerns in politics.

  • %%Because farmers were treated harshly by both parties of the system, they decided to take things into their own hands and join together to fight against the treatment they had been given. Hence, the populist movement/party. This contributes to the economic factor because of the little pay the farmers were given before.%%

Panic of 1873 - In the middle of the economic downturn caused the panic of 1873 lasted until 1879 assuring Ulysses S Grant would not be reelected.

  •  %%Banks and other industries were putting their money into railroads. So when the banking firm of Jay Cooke and Company, a firm heavily invested in railroad construction, closed its doors on September 18, 1873, a significant economic panic swept the nation. The economy pummeled as railroad industries were cut off from compensation.%%

Rutherd B. Hayes - A popular candidate who advocated for hard money and an economy based on gold currency transactions to protect against inflationary pressures and civil service reform.

  • %%Rutherford B. Hayes oversaw the end of Reconstruction, began the efforts that led to civil service reform, and attempted to reconcile the divisions left over from the Civil War.%%

Social Factors

The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today - A book that satirizes the corruption of the post-Civil War society.

  • %%Is both a biting satire and a revealing portrait of the post-Civil War America-an age of corruption when crooked land speculators, ruthless bankers, and dishonest politicians voraciously took advantage of the nation's peacetime optimism.%%

Dr. Charles Mancune - Led the Southern Alliance which was based in Texas. In 1886 it had over 100,000 members.

  • %%A Democrat, Macune opposed both the formation of the People's Party as well as the nostrum of free silver which served as the basis of the 1896 fusion of the Democratic and Populist parties.%% 

“Raise Less Corn and More Hell” - Slogan came up by Mary Elizabeth lease for the farmer’s alliance.

  • %%A response to the harshness farmers was undergoing.%%

Coxey’s Army - An 1894 protest led by businessman Jacob Coxey to advocate for public works jobs for the unemployed by marching to Washington DC.

  • %%Coxey's Army was an 1894 protest march to Washington, D.C. organized by businessman Jacob S. Coxey as a response to the severe economic hardship caused by the Panic of 1893.%%

Political Factors

Patronage - The power to control appointments to office or the right to privileges took the form of the president naming his friends and supporters to various political posts.

  • %%The power of a person to give someone an important job or position: Patronage is a potent force if used politically. In other words, another example of political corruption used to screw over the farmers.%%

Omaha Platform - More fully explain to all Americans the goals of the new party.

  • %%The Omaha Platform suggested a federal loan system so that farmers could get the money they needed. The platform also called for the elimination of private banks.%%

Half-Breeds - Named because they supported some measure of civil service reform and thus were considered only half Republican.

  • %%The Half-Breeds were a comparably moderate group and were the opponents of the Stalwarts, the other main faction of the Republican Party. The main issue that divided the Stalwarts and the Half-Breeds was political patronage. Half-Breeds, later led by Maine senator James G. Blaine, was in favor of civil service reform and a merit system. They favored the reform of the system and more power to the people.%%

Mugwumps - A portion of the Republican party that broke away from the Stalwart versus halfbreed debate due to discuss with their candidate’s corruption.

  • %%Mugwumps didn’t want to be tied to a corrupt candidate, so they broke their ties and favored the Democratic candidate. They urged individualism and for the people to have their own independent right to vote.%%

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