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 19th 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