Texas Populism Lecture Notes

Overview

• Texas populism is part of a broader national movement.
• Prominent role for Texas in the movement.

Issues Facing Farmers

• Commodity prices dropping.
• Farmer debts increasing.
• Increase in tenant farming.

The Grange

• Established in 1867 by Oliver H. Kelly.
• Aimed to alleviate farmer problems by forming cooperatives.
• Cooperatives staggered sale times to keep crop prices higher.
• Ultimately failed due to lack of cooperation among farmers.

Labor Problems

• Efforts to attract labor votes and ally with labor unions.
• Knights of Labor: Union for skilled and unskilled workers.
• Blamed for a bombing incident despite no affiliation.

Farmers’ Alliance

• Emerged in 1877 in Lampasas, Texas.
• More political, anti-monopoly, regulation of railroad rates.
• Diversion to Greenback Party due to similar goals.

Political Responses

• James Hogg: First Democratic governor post-Civil War not from Confederacy.
  • Elected Texas Attorney General in 1887.
  • Filed lawsuits against out-of-state "wildcat" insurance companies.
  • Established Railroad Commission, bolstering anti-trust legislation.
  • Enacted Texas antitrust law in 1889.

Populist Party Formation

• Disappointment with Democratic concessions.
• Farmers Alliances coalesce into the Populist Party.
• Omaha Platform outlined populist goals:
  • Direct election of senators.
  • Adoption of free silver.
  • Graduated income tax.
  • Government ownership of railroads and telegraph lines.
  • Other progressive reforms.

Impact and Decline

• Democratic Party absorbs some populist ideas.
• William Jennings Bryan: Populist Party's influence in the 1896 election.
• Populist party dissolves, absorbed by Democrats.
• Legacy influences future farming and progressive policies.

Key Points

• The Populists pushed ideas now central in U.S. politics.
• Texas led significant early reforms like antitrust laws.
• The Democratic Party's absorption of populist ideas strengthened its hold in Texas.

Conclusion

• Texas populism played a crucial role in shaping political and economic reforms.
• Contact for questions or further discussion.