Political Dissent, Economic Depression, and the Birth of the Empire

History M25 - Krister Swanson - Moorpark College

The Farmers’ Revolt

• Farmers suffered difficulties for years - farm prices dropped while consumer prices soared, at mercy of RRs
• Eastern bankers wouldn’t leave gold standard, speculators drive up land prices
• Farmers’ Alliance forms from smaller alliances designed for self help and protection

The Populist Movement

• Alliances form third party in 1892 – sought economic democracy
• Proposed subtreasury to hold crops until prices rose, farmers could borrow against them for next year’s supplies
• Demanded land reform & government control of the RRs, Free silver and direct election of senators

The Labor Wars

• Tougher economic conditions threaten labor as well
• Homestead Lockout: bloody conflict between workers & Pinkerton scabs, national guard sent in to protect factories, failed assassination of Frick turns sympathy against workers
• Workers cave after 4 months – management has total upper hand
• Cripple Creek Miners’ Strike (1894) is one exception to the rule of state intervention vs. labor – workers keep 8 hour day
• 3m unemployed by 1894
• Pullman operates a company town to manufacture RR cars – workers unionize (dissatisfied with rents & wages) Strike spreads to all trains with Pullman cars
• Federal Troops sent in when RRs convince Grover Cleveland that the mail must be protected
• Pullman: business has right to protect its interests with associations (GMA) workers do not
• Debs arrested – later becomes a socialist, ARU smashed

Women’s Activism

• Woman’s Christian Temperance Union: drunkenness at root of many problems for women – social action necessary to end it & protect the home, join forces with Pops, etc.
• Movement for Woman Suffrage: NWSA vs. AWSA compromise to form NAWSA
• Western states open voting to women first – women play increasingly larger political role

Depression Politics

• Brutal conditions lead to calls for government assistance
• Coxey’s Army: poor march on Washington to demand relief
• People’s Party (Pops) gets 1m votes in Election of 1894, but increasingly divided by sectionalism
• Free silver issue causes division amongst Dems & Reps as well as 1896 approaches
• Bryan (D) rises to popularity with calls for free silver
• Populists throw support behind Bryan, try to get Watson on as running mate
• Democrats swallow Populists, but their ideas remain important (banking & business reform, electoral reforms, etc.)

American Imperialism

• Late 19^th Century time of imperialism around world
• United States’ desire to protect interests in western hemisphere & expand markets in Asia lead to imperialism (economic expansion will protect from depression)
• Growth of Missionary activity also feeds imperialism (Hawaii & Asia)
• Sugar growers help start revolution in Hawaii which we then annex
• Open Door Policy forces China open to trade - Boxer Rebellion in response to growing American presence, we send troops to put it down
• Monroe Doctrine used to protect interests in Western Hemisphere (Central America & the Caribbean)
• Increasing emphasis on protecting interests in Asia from European influence

War and Empire

• Spanish American War demonstrates momentum toward empire
• We protest Spain’s treatment of Cuban natives in concentration camps
• Yellow press feeds war fever & when Maine blows up war is on
• "Splendid Little War" brings America purpose
• Victory increases influence in Cuba and the Philippines – key to trade in Asia
• Debate over American Imperialism is intense, filled with racism, social Darwinism, and other discourse of the time