The Populist Movement

HIST 1234

September 23, 2014

Populism in memory

The changing nature of farming.

Armor plant, Cincinatti.

Union Stock Yards, Chicago

Union Stock Yards, 1883

Meatpacking, Chicago

Grain Elevator

A grain elevator

Smithsonian Institution.

Money

"Greenback" from 1869.

Inflation in the consumer price index since 1950

Deflation in the US, 1850-1900

The value of consumer purchases, 1800 to present.

Falling Commodity Prices, 1870-1895

Year Wheat Corn Cotton
1870 $1.06 $0.43 $0.15
1890 $0.71 $0.42 $0.08
1895 $0.65 $0.30 $0.06

The Farmers' Alliance

Mary E Lease.

Charles Macune.

Migration paths

The politics of populism

Election of 1892

Populist votes in the 1892 election

US Congress composition by party

  • 1892
    • 212 D
    • 133 R
  • 1894
    • 105 D
    • 244 R