Post on 27-Mar-2015
transcript
FARMERS AND POPULISM
Ms. Eraqi
The Homestead Act of 1862
The Homestead Act gave public lands (lands owned by the national government) to American citizens.
The Homestead Act of 1862
Any person who was the head of a family or was at least 21 years old could become the owner of a homestead.
Married couples were entitled to two shares, or 320 acres.
Effects of Homestead Act
Helped poor families who could not afford land in the eastern states.
It gave unemployed workers a chance to find work on land of their own.
Thousands of African-Americans moved west in 1879 in an effort to find a better life.
Problems
The more farmers produced, the lower prices went. Farmers quickly went into debt. Farmers buy more land to grow more crops to pay off debts 1870s, debtors push government to put more money in
circulation
Problems cont.
Railroads• Lack of competition
lets railroads overcharge to transport farmers goods
• Farms mortgaged to buy supplies; suppliers charge high interest
Populist Party
Formed by farmers and labor unions.
Wanted to increase money supply and federal loans
Wanted help with falling farm prices and regulation of railroad rates
An 8 hour work day Democratic Party
eventually adopts platform
The Panic of 1893
Railroads expand faster than markets; some go bankrupt
Government’s gold supply depleted, leads to rush on banks businesses, banks collapse panic becomes depression
Silver or Gold
Democrats: Southern, Western farmers,
laborers Silverites: bimetalism
(silver and gold) would create more money, stimulate economy
Republicans Northeast business
owners, bankers Gold bugs: gold only
would create more stable,if expensive currency
Election of 1896
• William Jennings Bryan• Democrat
• Bimetallism• Populist• Cross of Gold Speech• You shall not press You shall not press
down upon the brow down upon the brow of labor this crown of of labor this crown of thorns; you shall not thorns; you shall not crucify mankind upon crucify mankind upon aa cross of goldcross of gold!!
Election of 1896
William McKinley Republican Gold Standard
Leaves a Legacy the powerless can
organize, have political impact
agenda of reforms enacted in 20th century
Wizard of Oz
Written by Frank Baum From a rich east
coast family Spent time in West Saw struggles of
farmers Theories that Baum
wrote the book based off the Populist struggle
Wizard of Oz
Tornado ?
Dorothy ?
Wicked Witch of the East ?
Tin Woodsman ?
Scarecrow ?
Cowardly Lion ?
Yellow Brick Road ?
Silver Slippers ?
Emerald City ?
Oz ?
The Wizard ?
Munchkins ?
Wicked Witch of the West ?
Flying Monkeys ?
Panic of 1983
Average person
Eastern Banks
Industrial Worker
Farmer
William Jennings Bryan
Gold
Silver
Washington D.C.
Ounces
President
Easterners
Drought of the Great Plains
Native Americans