Post on 19-Jun-2018
transcript
FARMERS FIGHT
2. Against Ranchers and
cowboys, whose cattle
tore up the fields
Fenced the fields
with barbed wire
FARMERS FIGHT
3. Against the dry
grasslands– no rain,
and grass roots going
down two feet
Developed new farming
methods, and used
Russian red wheat.
FARMERS ARE HELPED BY, AND THEN FIGHT
4. The Railroads
Which got them to the
West
And helped the pioneers
find land claims
But then charged high
prices for getting the
crops to the Eastern
markets
FARMERS FIGHT & WIN
Granger Laws – the
Granges were like
unions for farmers
Interstate Commerce Act
1887
5. FARMERS ARE HELPED BY, AND THEN FIGHT
THE BANKS
Farmers borrow money
for seed and equipment
in the SPRING, pay in
the FALL
New Equipment
Reaper
Thresher
Steel plow
Windmill
(no tractors until the
1920s)
FARMERS WANT THE US DOLLAR TO BE BACKED
BY SILVER AS WELL AS GOLD, ENDING
DEFLATION.
If a farmer borrowed $1.00 in March, worth 100 bushels of wheat he would have to pay back with 125 bushels.
However, bankers and wage earners are afraid of inflation more than deflation.
THE GREAT DEFLATION
Late 19th century as a result of
increasing manufacturing efficiencies
not economic stagnation
THIRD PARTY – POPULIST (PEOPLE’S)
1892 AND 1896
BECOMES PART OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns; you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold!
Omaha Platform of 1892 1. System of “sub-treasuries.”
2. Abolition of the National Bank.
3. Direct election of Senators.
4. Government ownership of railroadss, telephone & telegraph companies.
5. Government-operated postal savings banks.
6. Restriction of immigration.
7. 8-hour work day for government employees.
8. Abolition of the Pinkerton detective agency.
9. Australian secret ballot.
10. Silver backed dollar.
11. A single term for President & Vice President.
WAS THE WIZARD OF OZ AN ALLEGORY OF THE
1896 CAMPAIGN?
FOOTNOTE: HENRY M. LITTLEFIELD, "THE WIZARD OF OZ: PARABLE ON POPULISM”, AMERICAN QUARTERLY,1964.
Dorothy
OZ
Silver slippers
Munchkins
Witches of East/West
Yellow brick road
Scarecrow
Tinman
Cowardly Lion
Wizard
Honest farmer
ounce
Silver standard
Ordinary people
Bankers
Gold Standard (Danger)
Intelligent Populist
Industrial worker
William Jennings Bryan
President McKinley