Warm Up 2 1 Write a list of

Warm Up: 2/1 • Write a list of political campaigns or company commercials that are influential to you. • What do they do/say that makes them so convincing to you? • What would someone have to do to convince you to switch opinions on this certain campaign or company?

General Types of Techniques • Glittering Generalities – Words of praise for the product or person being talked about. • Demonizing – Trash talking an opponent or competitor. • Testimonial – Having a celebrity or well known person endorsing the product or candidate. • Plain Folks – Appealing to regular, everyday people. • Card Stacking – Manipulating facts to make something seem better than it is.

Farmers and Populism FOCUS QUESTION: What led to the rise of the Populist movement, and what effect did it have?

Problems for Farmers 1. Price of Crops Goes Down because of overproduction! - Produce too many crops, An example of overproduction? Consider Diet Coke. . . which leads to lower prices (too much supply for the demand) - Severe weather conditions/droughts

Problems for Farmers 2. Rising Debt (Farmers owe $$) - Take out big loans that have high interest rates to pay for new machinery, seed, animals etc.

Economic Distress • Farmers in Midwest are caught in a vicious Buy land on loans cycle Wheat Prices drop Buy land on loans

Economic Distress • Panic of 1893 – Causes • Failure of Reading and Philadelphia RRs – Effects • • 8000 Businesses close 150 RRs out of business 400 Banks close 20% Unemployment

Did the government help with the economic instability of the late 1800 s? What more could they have done to fix the economy?

Problems for Farmers 3. Railroads are charging too much • Railroad companies have no competition or regulation by the government • Charge farmers very high rates to ship grain

Railroad: Good or Evil? • Railroads were great for transportation and shipping produce around the country Jerks • Unfortunately, they were charging outrageous prices making it difficult for farmers to make a profit

Farmers Organize to Fight Back ! The Grange (1867 -1870 s) • Goals: education about new farming techniques; fighting the new railroad rates Why would farmers organize?

Farmers Organize to Fight Back! Farmers’ Alliances • Groups of farmers that continue to push for reform (change) “There are three great crops raised in Nebraska. One is the crop of corn, one a crop of freight rates and one a crop of interest. One is produced by farmers who sweat and toil to farm the land. The other is produced by men who sit in their offices and farm the farmers” – Farmers’ Alliance 1890.

You tell me: What caused farmers to organize in the late 1800 s?

The Government Helps. . . Sort of ØInterstate Commerce Commission Øset up by government to regulate railroads and their prices Laissez-Faire- how the government usually dealt with business (“Hands off”/ little regulation)

Farmers feel like the two major American political parties aren’t representing their interests, so they form their own!

The Populist (People’s) Party A political party formed by the Farmers’ Alliances to help farmers solve their problems • Original Members of the Populist Party • July 1892 • Over 800 delegates from 69 Nebraska Counties met

The People’s Party • Farmers see the need to unify under a single party • Omaha Platform – Political Change • Direct election of senators • Secret ballot • Initiatives and Referendums – Economic Change • Bimetallism • Government Control of railroads • Graduated Income Tax • Government regulation of banks

The Omaha Platform The platform (goals) of the Populist Party • Bimetallism: Use Silver & gold to back money instead just of Gold • There was more silver than gold • If the government used silver to create money there would be more money • This would lead to higher prices which would help farmers

Omaha Platform • Government ownership of railroad companies • Railroad owners couldn’t overcharge the farmers and prices would go down

Omaha Platform • Government Regulation of Banks • Banks couldn’t unfairly charge VERY high interest rates to farmers!

Omaha Platform • Graduated Income Tax • The more you make the more you pay!

Cross of Gold Speech • In hopes of getting into the white house, Populist joined sided with the Democrats and chose William Jennings Bryan as their candidate in the 1896 election • Made a famous “Cross of Gold Speech” in which he showed his disdain for the gold standard. “Having behind us the producing masses of this nations and the world, supported by the commercial interests, the laboring interests, and the toiling everywhere, we will answer the demand for the gold standard by saying to them: You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold. ” 1896 -Democratic National Convention speech, Chicago, July 8,

The Election of 1896 William Jennings Bryan (Democrat) • “Cross of Gold” speech attacks those who oppose coining silver (goldbugs) • Populists decide to support him • Campaigns directly to the people, touring the country “You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold” – Cross of Gold Speech by William Jennings Bryan 1896

Election of 1896 William Mc. Kinley (Republican) • Party campaigns for him; raise a lot of money – Mc. Kinley has $15 million (30 times what Bryan has!!) • Mc. Kinley wins election In what was does Mc. Kinley represent the “old ways” of politics?

Legacy of the Populist Party • Farmers & Laborers prove there is strength in numbers- uniting together helps towards progress • Populist Reforms (Successes): 16 th amendment (graduated income tax); 17 th amendment (direct election of senators), secret ballot, initiatives/referendums, government regulation of railroads and banks • Populist Failures: Bimetallism, never win a Presidential election

Political Cartoon Analysis Labeling: Political Cartoonists tend to use a technique called labeling. They often add captions to help guide readers.

Maybe the outcome could have been different! • Your Assignment: Create a campaign poster for William Jennings Bryan

Creating a Campaign Flyer! Your Audience: Midwestern Farmers- Convince them to vote for your candidate William Jennings Bryan • Information: – You must specifically refer to one issue on the Populist Party’s platform (The issue will be assigned to you) – Your flyer should reflect your understanding of this issue – specifically say why this issue is important and why people should vote for the Populists to end their suffering • Required: – Catchy Slogan (something specific to the topic you are assigned) – William Jennings Bryan’s name – Reason why your issue is important and why people should vote for the Populists – Illustration that is related to your specific topic •

The End of Populism Proved candidates should campaign directly to the people Successes • direct election of Senators (17 th amendment) - railroad regulation (ICC) - Graduated Income Tax (16 th amendment) Failures • Unable to win a presidential election • No long term silver coinage • Party dies by 1897 & Most Populist voters return to the Democratic Party.

What are some characteristics of Campaign Posters?

3 -2 -1 • 3 Things of historical significance you learned • 2 Things you are confused about • 1 Thing you wish to know more of