Settling the West and the Rise of Populism Notes

LG: How did people settle the West?

I. Railroads Open the West

A. Massive govt. land grants for laying RR lines.

1. 10 to 20 sq. miles of land per 1 mile of track laid down.

Central Pacific

Union Pacific

II. Govt. Support for Settlement

A. Homestead Act, 1862-1900

1. Govt. gives out land to settle.

2. People get 160 acres.

- Must farm on it for 5 years.

3. 600,000 families participate.

***Misuse…

Only 10% used by intended families.

- Many sold land for own gain.

*** Oklahoma Land Run Reading

B. Oklahoma Land Rush 18891. US Govt. simply gave land away.

2. First come, first serve.

Alright, You need to build a house…

III. Living on the Plains

A. *** After reading this quote, write what you think living on the prairies was like.

“I think, as much courage as it took to hang onto the reins that day, it took more to live twenty-four hours at a time, month in and out, on the lonely and lovely prairie, without giving up to the loneliness.”

III. Living on the Plains

A. *** After reading this quote, write what you think living on the prairies was like.

B. Many lived in Soddies

C. Technology helps!

1. Grain Drills

2. Barbed Wire Fences

3. Steel Windmill Pump -------------->

4. Steel Plow

D. Morrill Act, 1862 & 1890

1. Land for agricultural colleges.

2. Fund research and development of agriculture to help use the settled land.

Populism

LG:Explain the factors that led to the rise and fall of the Populist Party.

RuralVs.

Urban1860 to 1930

Share of World Manufacturing Output in Percent

1750 1800 1860 1900 1928 1938

Great

Britain1.9 4.3 19.9 18.5 9.9 10.7

United

States0.1 0.8 7.2 23.6 39.3 31.4

Germany 2.9 3.5 4.9 13.2 11.6 12.7

Russia 5.0 5.6 7.0 8.8 5.3 9.0

I. Populism & the Populist Party!A. Farmers Complain, 1800’s

Farmers Organize, 1880’s:

Form Political Party, 1892:Populist Party!

II. Farmers’ ProblemsA. Farmers feeling consequences of industrialization.

B. Crop prices fell… A LOT.

C. Farmers had no cash

Went into debt to make a living w/ loans

Banks took their land for payment

D. RR’s charged crazy high prices to farmers.

1. Yet, charged very cheap prices to

industry partners.

III. Farmers’ Demands!A. Get Govt. to Regulate the RR Companies

1. Stop the high prices!

B. Make Cash More Available

1. Back the dollar with silver = more hard cash.

C. Constitutional Demands

1. Single term for President and VP, secret

ballot,

& Senators to be elected by the people.

D. To Get Industrial Workers to Support Them:

1. 8-hour workday, restrict immigration

Farmers Organizing

Organizations Representing

Farmers’ Interests

• 1867: The Patrons of Husbandry

(The Grange)

• 1880s: Farmers’Alliance & Grange

• 1892: Birth of the Populist, or

People’s Party

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IV. Populist Party!

A. Farmers officially form the party in 1892.

1. Runs in Election of 1892 as a 3rd

Party and makes a statement!

1892 Presidential Election: Populist candidate

won over a million votes!

V. The Silver or Gold Issue

A. “Silverites”

1. Farmers & laborers.

2. Bimetallism, Prices Rise, Farmers make More Money

B. “Goldbugs”

1. Bankers & Businessmen.

2. Gold Standard, keep the higher value of money.

***Leading to the 1896 Election

Democrats – 1890s Republicans – 1890s

• Southerners

• Wealthy farmers

• White Southern

Farmers

• Supported low tariffs

(wanted other countries

to buy their crops)

• Northerners

• Wealthy business men

(connected to the

railroad)

• Southern African

Americans

• Supported high tariffs

(didn’t want to compete

with other countries’

products)

Oh, and the Populists too!

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VI. 1896 Election & Democrats

*** Now, should the Populists join another political party to better their chances at getting what they

want?! Or should they remain the Populist Party and keep their own political identity?!

A. To better their chances, Populists merge

with the Democrats.

1. They support William Jennings

Bryan.

William Jennings Bryan

VII. “Cross of Gold” Questions

A. Based on the speech, how do you think farmers and workers were feeling about industry?

1. Find a quote that supports your answer too.

B. What makes the speech so powerful and

find a quote that supports your answer too.

C. Why do you think this is one of the most famous speeches in US History?

VIII. Election of 1896 & Republicans

A. Wealthy businessmen feared inflation the “silverites” would bring.

1. They fund Repub. McKinley’s campaign.

1896 Presidential Election: Bryan loses but

carries most of the South and West

IX. Election of 1896

A. Repub. McKinley wins.

1. Populism collapses w/ farmers’ hopes.

B. Populists’ Legacy:

1. Proved the downtrodden could have a political impact.

2. Their reforms would be enacted later in the early 1900’s under the Progressive movement.

Populism