Quiz and Get Books! 1. Founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) who was against segregation. 2. What does it mean to Assimilate? 3. What are the Jim Crow Laws? 4. What is a Poll Tax? 5. Extra Points: Who was Jim Crow?
Objectives Students will understand the concerns and Ideas of the Populist Party.
What is a Populist? the common people especially farmers or anyone that advocates for the masses and opposes control by elites Nebraska State Historical Society, [Digital ID, e.g., nbhips 12036]
Where were the Populists? Mostly in the South and West, the agricultural and rural centers of the nation Fred Hultstrand History in Pictures Collection, NDIRS-NDSU, Fargo; and F.A. Pazandak Photograph Collection, NDIRS-NDSU, Fargo.
When were the Populists? Last quarter of the 19 th Century; they began forming around social clubs like the Grange, labor-type organizations, like the Farmers Alliance, and political organizations, like the Greenbacks
How did the Populists become a The party formally organized in St. Louis in 1892 to represent the interests of the common folks and defend them against the railroads, bankers, processors, corporations, and the politicians in league with big business. political party? Mark Hanna, McKinley s campaign manager, the industrialist s friend. http://projects.vassar.edu/1896/0711hw.html
What did Populists believe? According to their founding statement, the Omaha Platform: 1. public/government ownership of the railroads, post offices, telephone, and telegraph systems 2. the free coinage of silver 3. a graduated income tax 4. government banks, not commercial banks 5. excess land held by railroads and foreign speculators 6. Monopolies
There should be more democracy, so they advocated Direct election of senators Referendum and Initiative (people putting new laws to a popular vote) Recall elections Secret ballots They also believed Fred Hultstrand History in Pictures Collection, NDIRS-NDSU, Fargo; and F.A. Pazandak Photograph Collection, NDIRS-NDSU, Fargo.
The Who s Who of Populism William Jennings Bryan, perennial presidential candidate. Ran 3 time for president www.wikipedia.org
The Who s Who of Populism James Weaver 1892 Presidential candidate www.wikipedia.org
The Who s Who of Populism This was one of the first parties to actively include women (like Mary Lease) and African-Americans (implored by southern politician Tom Watson to join the movement) http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/eagle/c ongress/congress.html http://projects.vassar.edu/1896/watson.html
Wilmington Race Riot of 1898 Unfortunately, the successes of blacks to win office and thrive in the Populist Movement in NC led white supremacist factions to retake power by fraud and force in Wilmington and across the state. When the riot was over, an unknown number of blacks had been killed (perhaps several hundred) and hundreds had been driven from town, their property seized or destroyed by white rioters.
Wilmington Race Riot 1898 http://www.mith.umd.edu/courses/amvirtual/wilmington/wilmington.html
1898 Wilmington Race Riot This event marked a turning point for blacks in the South. African-American political power was diminished by restrictions on voting and office holding, and their economic power shrank as well. http://www.pbs.org/jazz/time/time_jim_crow.htm
What happened to the Populists? Anyone who portrays him or herself to be a champion of the common man is considered a populist. However the power of the Populist Party diminished and gradually faded after the 1896 election.
What about the Populists agenda? Many of the Populists ideals and goals were achieved, if not by them, by others, such as the Progressives. http://rooseveltinstitution.org/about/roosevelts
So, what is the Populist legacy? The secret ballot Initiative, referendum, recall elections 16 th Amendment-income tax 17 th Amendment-direct election of senators Government regulation, if not ownership of big businesses, like rail, communications, and banks The US left the gold standard
Political Cartoons
Create Your Own Political Cartoon Create a list of 5 Populist issues most prominent in these cartoons or in Discussion. Students will create a political cartoon in which they take at least one of these issues and update it to show its importance to Americans today Write a caption to explain the cartoon.