The Rise and Fall of the Populist Party
Farmers’ Problems
- Crop prices fell
- Farmers had no cash, went further into debt, and their lenders foreclosed on their mortgages
- The railroad companies charged outrageous prices to ship crops (no regulation!)
Farmers’ Demands
- Regulate the railroad companies (Stop them from charging such high rates)
- Make cash more available (back the dollar with silver, not gold, so dollar would be worth less)
- Constitutional demands: single term for President and Vice-President, secret ballot, popular election of Senators
- To get industrial workers to support them: \n 8-hour workday, restrict immigration
Different Groups Representing Farmers’ Interests
- 1867: The Patrons of Husbandry (The Grange)
- 1880s: Farmers’ Alliance and Colored Farmers’ National Alliance
- 1892: Birth of the Populist, or People’s Party
1896 Election
| Democrats – 1890s | Republicans – 1890s |
|---|---|
| SouthernersWealthy farmersSupported low tariffs (wanted other countries to buy their crops) | NorthernersWealthy business men (connected to the railroad)Southern African Americans (poor farmers)Supported high tariffs (didn’t want to compete with other countries’ products) |
1896 Election
| Democrats – 1890s | Republicans – 1890s |
|---|---|
| SouthernersWealthy farmersSupported low tariffs (wanted other countries to buy their crops) | NorthernersWealthy business men (connected to the railroad)Southern African Americans (poor farmers)Supported high tariffs (didn’t want to compete with other countries’ products) |