Do Now: In your Comp. Notebooks

• Number your paper 1 – 5 • Answer the following questions…• Choose the BEST answer available

• ALSO, make sure to grab a notes sheet on the front table!

Question 1

• What effect did the Homestead Act of 1862 have on the United States?

a. It created reservations for Indian tribes, emptying the Plains for American settlers

b. It set aside land for public universities to be built, encouraging higher education in the U.S.

c. It forced factories to upgrade their safety standards and add fire escapes to their buildings

d. It brought waves of people west with the lure of free land to settle in the Great Plains

Question 2

• Why did most Exodusters migrate West?a. to escape racial violence in the Southb. to prospect for gold and silverc. to find relatives who fled during the Civil Ward. to work as sharecroppers on bonanza farms

Question 3

• The Morrill Land Grant Act aided in the development of federal lands by ______________.

a. Dividing reservation land into 160 acre plots for Native American families

b. Promoting the building of railroads on government property

c. Setting aside land for states to build public universities

d. Encouraging a “land rush” in Oklahoma speculators

Question 4

• Many Chinese immigrants in the late 1800s came to the United States on five year labor contracts for what purpose

a. To farm lands in the Great Plainsb. To take jobs in the steel millsc. To work on the railroadsd. To fight against the Native American tribes

Question 5 (take a guess!)

• Which of the following is a reason that caused the cattle boom to end in the mid-1880s?a. Too few Americans ate beef.b. Farmers were using barbed wire to fence in

the open range.c. Cattle prices had risen too high for many

buyers.d. The supply of Texas longhorn cattle had run

out.

Question 1

• What effect did the Homestead Act of 1862 have on the United States?

a. It created reservations for Indian tribes, emptying the Plains for American settlers

b. It set aside land for public universities to be built, encouraging higher education in the U.S.

c. It forced factories to upgrade their safety standards and add fire escapes to their buildings

d. It brought waves of people west with the lure of free land to settle in the Great Plains

Question 1

• What effect did the Homestead Act of 1862 have on the United States?

a. It created reservations for Indian tribes, emptying the Plains for American settlers

b. It set aside land for public universities to be built, encouraging higher education in the U.S.

c. It forced factories to upgrade their safety standards and add fire escapes to their buildings

d. It brought waves of people west with the lure of free land to settle in the Great Plains

Question 2

• Why did most Exodusters migrate West?a. to escape racial violence in the Southb. to prospect for gold and silverc. to find relatives who fled during the Civil Ward. to work as sharecroppers on bonanza farms

Question 2

• Why did most Exodusters migrate West?a. to escape racial violence in the Southb. to prospect for gold and silverc. to find relatives who fled during the Civil Ward. to work as sharecroppers on bonanza farms

Question 3

• The Morrill Land Grant Act aided in the development of federal lands by ______________.

a. Dividing reservation land into 160 acre plots for Native American families

b. Promoting the building of railroads on government property

c. Setting aside land for states to build public universities

d. Encouraging a “land rush” in Oklahoma speculators

Question 3

• The Morrill Land Grant Act aided in the development of federal lands by ______________.

a. Dividing reservation land into 160 acre plots for Native American families

b. Promoting the building of railroads on government property

c. Setting aside land for states to build public universities

d. Encouraging a “land rush” in Oklahoma speculators

Question 4

• Many Chinese immigrants in the late 1800s came to the United States on five year labor contracts for what purpose

a. To farm lands in the Great Plainsb. To take jobs in the steel millsc. To work on the railroadsd. To fight against the Native American tribes

Question 4

• Many Chinese immigrants in the late 1800s came to the United States on five year labor contracts for what purpose

a. To farm lands in the Great Plainsb. To take jobs in the steel millsc. To work on the railroadsd. To fight against the Native American tribes

Question 5 (take a guess!)

• Which of the following is a reason that caused the cattle boom to end in the mid-1880s?a. Too few Americans ate beef.b. Farmers were using barbed wire to fence in

the open range.c. Cattle prices had risen too high for many

buyers.d. The supply of Texas longhorn cattle had run

out.

Question 5 (take a guess!)

• Which of the following is a reason that caused the cattle boom to end in the mid-1880s?a. Too few Americans ate beef.b. Farmers were using barbed wire to

fence in the open range.c. Cattle prices had risen too high for many

buyers.d. The supply of Texas longhorn cattle had run

out.

Reflect:

• Have you ever felt like the “little guy” or the underdog?

• Have you ever felt like the “system” was ignoring you?

Mechanization of Farming

• More capital needed • Machines demanded upkeep and repair • Added to the financial risks that

independent farmers had to take

Farmer’s Issues

• During the late 1800s farmers throughout the South and Midwest are facing a number of problems:• Low crop prices (so they are making less)• Consumer prices remain high (so they are

spending a lot)• Weather / climate problems (Drought)• High transportation costs (costs more to

ship long distances than short)• Little voice in the government

Crop Prices• Wheat• $1 per bushel in 1870• 60 cents in 1890s

• Cotton• 15 cents per pound• 5 cents per pound

• Corn• 45 cents per bushel• 30 cents per bushel

Transportation Costs (Railroads)

• Railroads were free to charge whatever they wanted to use

• No government regulation• SHORT distances were often more

expensive than LONG distances• Who does this hurt?• The little guy!

Tariffs

• Tariffs reach their highest point during this period

• This means that farmers were often selling their goods in a WORLD market but were forced to buy only AMERICAN goods because of cost• Northeast argued we were protecting “infant

industries”

• High tariffs also meant that the U.S. government was making lots and lots of money…

Free Silver• Even though they were making lots of money,

the U.S. government was still only allowing for GOLD to be used to issue (make) money

• Farmers and others in the west are going to call for “free silver”• This just means that the government will start

buying and using silver for currency also• GOLD + SILVER = Bimetallism

• Gold supporters = East Coast (creditors/lenders)

The Grange

• Also known as Patrons of Husbandry• Founded in 1867• Social and educational organization

for FARMERS• Elected “Grangers” to state offices• Allows some states to pass more

farmer-friendly laws

Munn v. Illinois (1877)

• Supreme Court decided that states COULD regulate the railroads

• Chief Justice Morrison R. Waite wrote the majority opinion. In it he stated that private property becomes subject to regulation by the government through its 'police powers' when the property is devoted to the public interest

Wabash v. Illinois (1886)

• Reverses Munn v. Illinois• Argument• Railroads run across state lines, therefore it is

INTERSTATE COMMERCE• Only federal government can regulate, not states

• Leads to creation of Interstate Commerce Commission• First federal regulatory agency

Farmer’s Cooperatives

• The Grange Movement and groups known as the FARMERS ALLIANCES are going to work to create FARM COOPERATIVES

• Cooperatives are:• Groups of small farmers working together• Pool (collect) their capital (crops or animals)• Sell in larger quantity for better prices

• Purchase and share resources & equipment• Insurance

Farmers’ Alliances

• Very popular in places like KANSAS and NEBRASKA• Why? Most affected by troubles• In 1894 almost half of Kansas farms were owned

by banks

• Began in TEXAS• Fight “landsharks and horse thieves”

• There was also an African American group called the Colored Farmers’ Alliance

St. Louis 1892• Groups of famers, laborers, and common

folks gather• Thousands!• Trying to show their displeasure with

current government economy

• Collection of interests • Women’s suffrage, temperance (anti-

Alcohol), farmers, labor unions, etc.

• Momentum building for something new…

Populism• The Populist Movement, or People’s Party,

was a result of the earlier efforts of the Grange, Farmer’s Alliances, and the gathering in St. Louis, Missouri

• Collection of “common people” who are seeking to change government and economy• Fight for equity• What is equity? What is equality?

Populist Convention 1896

• Omaha, Nebraska• Elect a presidential candidate• Create their “platform”• List of demands / ideas

Populist Platform• A permanent union of all working classes • Wealth for the workers • Government ownership of railroads • Government ownership of all communications systems • Free silver and bimetallism• No more ownership of land by those who do

not actually use it • single term for President and Vice-President• secret ballots• popular election of Senators• By votes

1896 Election• Populists decide to improve their

chances by supporting a Democratic candidate: William Jennings Bryan, who agreed to support the Silver-backed dollar.• In 1892, the Populists had one 1

million votes but wanted to make a bigger impact