THE POPULISTS

The farmers fight for their rights!

Raise more hell and less corn! - Mary Elizabeth Lease

ORIGINS OF THE POPULISTS

The Grange – 1865• Regulation of RR rates• Easy credit• Formation of cooperatives

Knights of Labor – 1869• 8-hour workday• Improved working conditions

ORIGINS OF THE POPULISTS

Greenback Party – 1874• Inflated currency• Greater supply of money

Farmers’ Alliances (1870-1880’s)• Regulation of RR rates• Easy Credit• Greater supply of money• Subtreasury based on crops• Graduated income tax• Secret ballot• Direct election of senators

THE POPULIST PLATFORM

1892• Unlimited silver (16:1)• Graduated Income Tax (Amend 16)• Government ownership of RR, telephone and telegraph lines• Direct election of Senators (Amend 17)• Lower tariff rates• Secret Ballot (Australian ballot)• 8 hour workday and better conditions• Subtreasury• Immigration restrictions• Initiative, Referendum, Recall

THE VOICE OF THE POPULISTS

“You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.”

– Williams Jennings Bryan

BIMETALLISM

Demonetization Act of 1873 (Crime of ’73) –

eliminated silver as currency

Bland Allison Act (1878) – Government would buy

silver on market and issue paper based on silver.

Sherman Silver Purchase Act (1890) – decreased

amount of silver purchased by government

THE POPUL ISTS & THE WIZARD OF OZ?