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