Agrarian Revolt Flashcards
The Grange
A group of farmers who hoped to end sectionalism. They:
-Provided social/educational functions for its members.
-Created farmer cooperatives, which lowered prices
-Caused a series of Granger Laws to be passed in mid-western states.
Granger Laws
Pro-agrarian laws that were enacted in mid-west states due to the Grange.
Oliver H. Kelly
Founder of the Grange in 1869.
C. W. Macune
Founder of the first Farmers Alliance in 1875.
Farmers’ Alliance
Local protective agency in Pampasas City, TX with the goal of providing social, educational, and economic assistance to its members. Eventually turned to politics.
Sub-Treasury Plan
Plan proposed by C. W. Macune in 1890 at Ocala, Florida. Called for the Federal government to construct a warehouse in all cities with over $250,000 in agricultural production. The warehouses would store excess crops, creating a lower supply for higher prices. It also said that if the government needed help, they would need to provide up to 80% of the value of the crops. The Bourbons shot it down.
“Pitchfork” Ben Tillman
In South Carolina, he became both the governor of South Carolina and a U.S. Senator. He opposed Reconstruction, and was smart, but poor. He helps found the land grant college in his state, creating Clemson, and has the support of the Farmers’ Alliance due to being a Democrat.
William J. Northen
Alliance member who became governor of Georgia.
Tom Watson
Alliance member who became a Congressman for Georgia.
Reuben F. Kolb
Popular alliance member who was defeated in an election by a coalition of bourbons.
Kolb’s Gem
What Reuben F. Kolb was famous for, a watermelon with a thick rind.
Milfred F. Howard
Left the Democratic Party to join the People’s Party. A heavy drinker and a writer.
“If Christ Came to Congress”
Muckraking book written by Milfred F. Howard after he was elected to Congress.
Negro Farmer’s Alliance
Group of working class southerners, both white and black. Estimated 1,000,000 members who helped endorse the right of black people and aided the Republicans in defeating the bourbons.
Grover Cleveland
President blamed for the Depression of 1894, defender of the gold standard.
The Gold Standard
Non-inflationary, fiscally conservative system where each dollar is backed by a dollar’s worth of gold somewhere.
Free Silver
A system that has free and unlimited coinage of silver at a ratio of 16-1 (16 silver for 1 gold). Promoted by inflationists.
Jim Crow Laws
Segregation laws promoted by the Bourbons. These laws were put in place to ensure blacks and whites wouldn’t work together again to threaten the bourbon’s rule over the south.
Positive Effects of the Agrarian Revolt
- Farmers learned to use collective clout to get what they want.
- Basic political reforms are enacted.
- More white males are voting.
William McKinley
Republican Candidate, beat William Jennings Bryan in the presidential election due to democrats being blamed for the Depression.
William Jennings Bryan
Democratic Candidate. He took the People’s Party’s free silver platform and ran on it himself, delivering the Cross of Gold speech. He ran for president with Tom Watson as vice president but lost to William McKinley.
“Cross of Gold”
Speech given by William Jennings Bryan. In this speech he denounced the gold standard and promoted the free silver system. This speech made the Democratic party turn to him for candidate.
1896 National Election
Election in which William Jennings Bryan ran against William McKinley. McKinley won as the Democrats were blamed for the Depression.
People’s Party
Political Party made by Farmer’s Alliance members. This party was made to help the alliance get their policies they wanted, since they couldn’t get what they wanted by helping the Democrats.
James S. Hogg
Alliance member who won an election in Texas.
Leonidas Polk
Alliance member who won an election in North Carolina
