the populist revolt against industrialism

Question 1

populism starts in

Answer 1

kansas
america is still heavily rural
rectangle of riteousness
country cousins of the labor unions

Question 2

agrarian america

Answer 2

farmer is hardworking, diligent, honest, independent, takes care of their own needs
ideal to run a democracy
idealize their own past
not reactionary sore losers
want industrialism that’s a little more humane

Question 3

jefferson afrarianism

Answer 3

thomas jefferson could see industrialism coming, and he didn’t like it
workers are not independent
they depend on their food and housing from their job
can’t threaten their boss
workers will vote like their boss tells them to
farmers can vote according to interest of country
want industrialism that’s a little more humane

Question 4

industrialism’s threat to farmers

Answer 4

overproduction-prices drop so much that they can’t make money
costs money to farm
start borrowing money from banks
-give farmers small loan with high interest rate
-farmers feel like they’re getting screwed by the banks
overcharge farmers for RR
belief similar to KOL- wealth is product of labor
producerism- wealth is generated by labor
status anxiety

Question 5

forming alliances- national farmers’ alliance

Answer 5

1880s
links to the KOL
political parties start to see it as a threat
convention sympathizes with KOL
KOL want to vote for populists
allies in the same cause
populist convention, Nebraska, 1890
populist party- 3rd party

Question 6

the national alliance’s plan- the ocala demands

Answer 6

direct election of senators
graduated income tax
-keen on taxing rich heavily because they don’t believe they got that money honestly
no protective tariffs for industry
subtreasury system
-have government construct series of grain elevator
-store their grains and wait so prices will rise
-set up credit union to give you loan
-indirect government loan
free coinage of silver
-on gold standard, every dollar is backed up with gold at ft. knox
-only as much money as their is gold
-if you are someone who is in debt, how are you going to find $500
-a lot more dollars out there in circulation
-Promote economic welfare and extend political democracy
-Tariff reduction
-Government ownership of banks and RR
-Secret ballot
-Voters to initiate and decide public issues

Question 7

populist party

Answer 7

•	Populists= people’s party of America 
•	Omaha, Nebraska 
•	Broadened party’s appeal to industrial workers
•	They wanted:
o	Graduated income tax
o	8 hour work day
o	Immigration restriction
•	 women’s suffrage
•	James B. Weaver 4 prez- came in 3rd but still got 1 mil pop votes
•	Did well electing at state level
•	Increased total vote by 42%

Question 8

election of 1896

Answer 8

• Democrats- William Jennings Bryan of Nebraska, farmers’ advocate, favored silver coinage
o Also endorsed by populists
• Republicans- William McKinley, governor of Ohio, supporter of gold standard and high tariffs on manufactured and other goods
• Bryan went across country while McKinley sat on front porch
• M hired Hanna to hire people to campaign for him
• M won 51% of pop vote and 61% of electoral
• Republicans got edge in party affiliation
• Reps fashioned coalition that included corporate capitalism and workers
• Election broke political stalemate in Age of Organization
• 1897- depression ended bc of gold discoveries in Alaska
o Foreign crop failures