In the late 19th century the Industrial Revolution was beginning and a new class of millionaires was born. These millionaires owned the majority of America's wealth and consisted of a minority of the population. American farmers needed to organize themselves politically in this time in order to make money, reform corrupt business practices and share ideas and achievements. .
American farmers in the late 1800's organized themselves into a political party called the Populist Party. This party and other organizations of farmers were essential to farmers because they were not making enough money to continue doing business. Between 1883 and 1893 farm values depreciated 25 to 50 percent according to F.B. Tracey in "Why Farmers Revolt" forum. One reason farmers were not making enough money was because of railroad monopolies. Cornelius Vanderbilt controlled a huge railroad monopoly and therefore could charge any price he wanted for shipping. Farmers could hardly afford to ship their products and this could put some farmers out of business. Shipping prices were especially high in the west where farmers had to pay to shipping both buying and selling. Western railroad prices were often 4 times higher than eastern prices and this was not a feasible situation for the majority of farmers. The need for farmers to make more money caused them to organize politically. .
Farmers also organized to reform corrupt business practice. The Populist Party platform in 1892 stated "we meet in the midst of a nation brought to the verge of moral, political and material ruin. Corruption dominates the ballot-box, the Legislature, the Congress, and touches to even the ermine of the bench." Corruption caused farmers to go deep into debt because dishonest moneylenders told farmers that money was scarce and they therefore would have to pay a lot of interest on any loan. Farmers sometimes paid "as much interest a month as the moneylender was paying a year for the same money.
DBQ: Renaissance Education Education during the Renaissance period had varying values, purposes, and topics depending on the culture it thrived on. ... This group lived by the statement, "More farmers are needed than magistrates, more soldiers than priests, more merchants than philosophers, more hard working bodies than dreamy and contemplative spirits" (Document 11). ...
The populist movement was more of a farmers revolt, and was described by John D. Hicks as, "...embattled farmers hurling defiance at Wall St. and the robber barons in defense of their simple, honest way of life." ... The Populists were pro-labor, pro-farmer, and pro-reform. ... They called for nationalizing the railroads, telephones, and telegraph; instituting a graduated income tax; and creating a new federal "subtreasury"- a scheme to provide farmers with loans for crops stored in government-owned warehouses, where they could be held until market prices rose. ... They faced many frustratin...
They dreamed of a nation of independent farmers living under a central government that exercised a minimum of control over their lives and served merely to protect the individual liberties granted by the Constitution. ...
Because the government was so weak, a man by the name of Daniel Shays led farmers in rebellion against the government to correct the chaos in America. ... In western Massachusetts rebel farmers led by Daniel Shays attempted to interrupt the operations of the courts. ...
By the mid-1700 the British Colonies is North America began to develop a greater sense of identity, unity and independence, due to the newly imposed duties they critically oppose, but were enforced by the British Parliament. Since a settlement was unattainable between the Colonies and the British, t...
In attempt to benefit the lower, working classes, he placed the federal money in "wildcat" state banks that made risky loans to farmers and debtors. When the farmers and debtors were unable to pay back their loans, inflation and land value went up. ...
Because the government was so weak, a man by the name of Daniel Shays led farmers in rebellion against the government to correct the chaos in America. ... In western Massachusetts rebel farmers led by Daniel Shays attempted to interrupt the operations of the courts. ...
The first main difference between the New England and the Chesapeake regions are the geographic locations. The New England region has a colder climate, which helps defend against diseases. The Chesapeake region in contrast has a warmer climate, and along with lakes, ponds etc. it actually attracts m...
Eve Of The Revolution By the mid-1700 the British Colonies is North America began to develop a greater sense of identity, unity and independence, due to the newly imposed duties they critically oppose, but were enforced by the British Parliament. Most of...