Farmers, Movements, and Populist Politics 1875-1900

Introduction

• Focus on farmers' complaints about the political economy from 1875-1900.
• Key issues: financial system, falling crop prices, rising goods prices, economic fairness, and agriculture's changing role in politics.

Farmers' Complaints During the Gilded Age

• Farmers were diverse: planters, yeoman farmers, sharecroppers.
• Influences: Jim Crow system, low cash economy, underdeveloped infrastructure.
• Main grievance: narrow and few alternatives for revenue and credit.
• Credit cards and bank access were non-existent until much later.

The Crop Lien System

• Sharecroppers mortgaged future crops for land and supplies.
• No competition among landlords and merchants; led to debt peonage.
• Few banks in the South; high interest rates and difficult loan terms.

Narrow Revenue Streams

• U.S. currency inelastic; not adjusted for market demands.
• Demonetization of silver in 1873 reduced money supply.
• Appreciation of the dollar hurt debtors.
• Overproduction of crops like cotton led to lower prices.
• Lack of storage alternatives forced farmers to sell at low prices.
• Monopolies like railroads charged unfair rates.

Farmers' Organizations

The Grange (Patrons of Husbandry)

• Formed in 1867 to represent farmers like unions.
• Focus on sociability and education.
• Promoted cooperative buying and selling.
• Supported legislative reforms: tariffs, income taxes, rural mail delivery.

The Farmers' Alliance

• Emerged around 1875-1889 in Texas.
• Advocated cooperative stores, incorporation, labor reforms.
• Supported regulation of railroads, financial reforms.
• Faced internal tension due to class and race issues.

The Populist Movement

The People's Party (Populists)

• Formed in 1892, based on Farmers' Alliance ideals.
• Omaha platform: government ownership of systems, free silver, income taxes.
• Called for direct election of Senators, immigration restrictions.
• Involved in state and local politics; formed alliances with other parties.

Demise of the Populist Party

• Internal divisions, return of prosperity, and jingoism weakened the movement.
• Agrarian idealism clashed with emerging industrial and corporate order.
• The movement led to political advocacy and reforms but eventually faded.

Summary

• Agrarianism looked to a mythologized past; faced challenges in industrial era.
• Farmers built organizations and advocated for policies to support their interests.
• Populism, as a political force, receded after 1896 but informed future reforms.
• The lecture underscores the complexity and impact of the agrarian movements in late 19th-century America.