The Populist Party Farmers gave their support to the Populist Party, a new national party - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

The Populist Party

Farmers gave their support to the Populist Party, a new national party representing the “common man” (farmers, industrial workers, and miners)

Women played a prominent role in the Populist Movements speakers and organizers

Convinced that rich industrialist and bankers had a stranglehold on the government

Like the Grangers before them, the Populists wanted the government to take a larger role (to end oppression, injustice and poverty)

1892: Held a National Convention in Omaha, Nebraska (to choose a Presidential Candidate)

Party Platform:

Unlimited Coinage of Silver: to raise farm prices and make loan repayment easier

Direct Election of Senators: instead of by state legislatures

Term Limits for Presidents: 1 term

Secret Ballot: to protect voters from intimidation

Government Ownership: of railroads, telegraphs, and telephones

Immigration Restrictions: with quotas

Graduated Income Tax: to tax wealthy individuals at a higher rate

Shorter Work Day: of 8 hoursSlide2

Tax rates

10%

on taxable income from $0 to $8,925, plus

15%

on taxable income over $8,925 to $36,250, plus

25%

on taxable income over $36,250 to $73,200, plus

28%

on taxable income over $73,200 to $111,525, plus

33%

on taxable income over $111,525 to $199,175, plus

35%

on taxable income over $199,175 to $225,000, plus

39.6%

on taxable income over $225,000.Slide3

Homework

Which of the demands by the Populist party would you have supported? Pretend you are a newspaper editor in 1892 writing about the Populists. Choose one of the demands of the Populist Party Platform and explain why you support that demand. Then choose a second demand and explain why you oppose it. Slide4

Election Campaigns

1892: In 1892, the Populist elected 5 Senators and received over a million votes for their Presidential Candidate. Soon afterwards, the economy collapsed in the Depression of 1893. Populists blamed the Depression on the scarcity of currency. They demanded the unlimited coinage of silver to raise prices.

1896: The Democratic Party nominated William Jennings Bryan for President after he delivered a speech at the convention (Cross of Gold Speech). It praised farmers and denounced bankers for crucifying mankind on a cross of gold. The populist party supported Bryan instead of running another candidate. Bryan’s sense of moral outrage, however, frightened many voters. He narrowly lost the election to Republican William McKinley, a pro-business candidate. The country divided regionally: Bryan won the South and West but McKinley won the Northeast and Midwest, and with it the election.

1900: Four years later, Bryan ran against McKinley again. McKinley won a second term. This virtually brought an end to the Populist Party. New Gold Discoveries, higher farm prices, and rural migration to the cities weakened national interest in a separate farmer’s party in later years.Slide5

Election Pie Charts

( R) = Republican Party

(D) = Democratic Party

(

P) = Populist Party

[#] = Electoral Votes Received

Election of 1892

Election

of 1896

Election of 1900Slide6

Legacy of Populism

The Populist Party appeared suddenly in the 1890s and disappeared just as fast, yet it left its mark on American History.

Third Parties often have an impact on the political process.

They provide an outlet for minorities to voice grievances and generate new ideas.

Populists were the typical third party movements in the U.S.

Many Populist proposals, such as graduate income tax and direct election of the Senators were later adopted by one of the larger political parties.

If a third party attracts significant numbers of voters, one of the major parties will often adopt its ideas.