The Farmers' Revolt: Post-Civil War Challenges

False (B)

deflation

<p>risk</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Overproduction = Too much produce leads to lower prices Deflation = Money becomes more valuable Regressive Tax System = Property taxes burden farmers heavily Farmers' Revolt = Farmers' political rebellion against business-dominated government</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They added to their existing difficulties along with droughts, floods, and plagues of grasshoppers. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>individual risk</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>States passed Granger Laws to regulate businesses (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Southern Alliance and Northern Alliance</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Wabash</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Lobbying efforts in Washington, DC (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Grange = Successful state lobbying Farmers' Alliance = Direct political action Supreme Court = Regulation of businesses Wabash Case = States lost regulatory power</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>All of the Granger Laws were thrown out.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>160 acres was insufficient for farming in vast expanses (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Grange</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>CO-OPs</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To compete with the Republicans and Democrats (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>James B. Weaver</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>By organizing into large groups to threaten a collective refusal of services (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>free</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Free and unlimited coinage of silver = To increase inflation and help farmers Graduated income tax = To ensure the wealthy contribute fairly Direct election of senators = To democratize the political process Government ownership of railroads = To reduce costs for consumers</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>High freight rates</p> Signup and view all the answers

Farmers prospered during the Civil War due to high demand and inflation, but faced economic collapse after the war ended. This was because government purchases stopped, and many veterans returned to farming, increasing supply and reducing prices.

The post-war recession and deflation were particularly harsh on farmers because they were heavily indebted and had to repay loans with more valuable money. This created a vicious cycle of financial difficulty.

Farmers produced too much food, driving down prices. They then tried to compensate by increasing production even further, worsening the problem.

Farmers faced multiple natural disasters, such as droughts, floods, and plagues of grasshoppers, further exacerbating their economic woes.

The tax system heavily burdened farmers, who had to pay most of the taxes through property taxes, while wealthy individuals and corporations paid little.

Farmers were in a difficult position because they needed to reduce production to increase prices but risked individual ruin if they did so. This created a cycle of overproduction and low prices.

The problems faced by farmers brought them together in political rebellion. They fought back against the business-dominated government, shaking up the established political system.

The Farmers Revolt was a significant event that forced the government to address the concerns of farmers and ultimately led to realignment and action in Washington.

The 160 acres provided for free by the Homestead Act was not enough land for successful farming in the vast Western territories due to the lack of irrigation and soil enhancement techniques.

Railroad companies took advantage of farmers' dependence on them to transport goods to markets, charging exorbitant fees that left farmers with little profit.

Farmers realized that uniting as a collective force could give them leverage against powerful corporations like railroad companies.

The Grange was a social club formed by farmers in 1867 that evolved into a political and economic organization to address farmers' grievances.

The Grange created cooperative organizations, known as CO-OPs, to pool resources and purchase supplies at lower prices, giving farmers collective buying power.

The Grange used its collective bargaining power to negotiate better rates with railroad companies, threatening to withhold all their business if unfair practices continued.

The Grange utilized lobbying efforts to influence government policies and advocate for farmers' interests, turning the organization into a political force.

By combining social, economic, and political strategies, The Grange empowered farmers to challenge powerful entities and advocate for their individual and collective rights.

The Populist Party was formed by farmers and workers who were dissatisfied with the political system. They sought to protect the interests of the common people against the wealthy and powerful elite.

The Populist Party was an independent political party that challenged the dominance of the Democratic and Republican parties. They gained significant support and successfully influenced national politics.

The Populist Party advocated for policies that would favor farmers and the working class, such as free silver coinage, a graduated income tax, and government ownership of railroads. These policies aimed to address economic inequalities and empower the common people.

The Populist Party's success forced the Democratic Party to shift its ideology and adopt the policies advocated by farmers and workers, ultimately transforming from a conservative party towards a more progressive one.

The Populist Party's success was ultimately a victory for the farmers' revolt, as it led to a significant change in national politics that addressed their concerns.

The Grange, a farmers' organization, initially achieved success by lobbying state governments to pass laws regulating businesses that were unfair to farmers. These laws were known as Granger Laws. The Supreme Court initially upheld these laws, but later ruled against them, effectively dismantling the Granger Laws and weakening the Grange.

The Grangers' efforts to pressure state governments resulted in a series of court cases called "Granger Cases." These cases initially favored the farmers, with the Supreme Court upholding state regulations on businesses. However, as pro-business sentiment grew, the court shifted its stance, eventually ruling against the Granger Laws.

The Supreme Court's decision in the Wabash case marked a turning point. It overturned the Granger Laws, effectively stripping states of their power to regulate interstate commerce. This significantly weakened the farmers' movement and their ability to influence businesses.

The Farmers' Alliance, a successor to the Grange, learned from the Grange's experience. They realized that state governments were limited in their power to regulate businesses and decided to focus on lobbying the federal government instead. They divided into two branches: the Southern Alliance and the Northern Alliance.

The Southern Farmers' Alliance focused on lobbying efforts, similar to the Grange, but at the federal level. They sent lobbyists to Washington, D.C. to advocate for policies that would benefit farmers.

The Northern Farmers' Alliance took a different approach by advocating for direct political action. They organized efforts to get voters to support candidates who promised to represent farmers' interests. They engaged in grassroots campaigning, targeting potential voters and encouraging them to participate in elections.

The Farmers' Alliance Movement, through its political activism, significantly impacted the 1890 midterm elections. Their campaigns resulted in a wave of victories, with their endorsed candidates gaining control of multiple state governments and securing a substantial number of seats in the US House of Representatives.

The success of the Northern Farmers' Alliance in the 1890 elections inspired the Southern Alliance to adopt a similar strategy. They abandoned their lobbying strategy and embraced direct political activism, hoping to achieve similar political gains.