DBQ: The Granger / Populist Movement

Directions: The following question requires you to construct a coherent essay that integrates your
interpretation of Documents A-I and your knowledge of the period referred to in the question. Some
of the documents have been edited, and wording and punctuation have been modernized.
1. There are split views on the Granger / Populist Movement; some historians believe that
they were essential in the west for creating a democratic government that would help
the common man achieve a place in society, while other historians believe that it set a
horrible precedent for public regulation of private businesses and actually put limits on
laizze-faire(untouched) democracy. Using the documents A I pick a side and
defend it.
Document A
Source: Farmers Declaration of Independence, 1873.
We, therefore, the producers of the state in our several countries assembleddo solemnly declare
that we will use all lawful and peaceable means to free ourselves from tyranny of monopoly, and
that we will never cease our efforts for reform until every department of our Government gives
token that the reign of licentious extravagance is over, and something of the purity, honesty, and
frugality with which our father inaugurated it, has taken its place.
That to this end we herby declare ourselves absolutely free and independent of all past political
connections, and that we will give our suffrage only to such men for office, as we have good reason
to believe will use their best endeavors to the promotion of these ends; and for the support of this
declaration, with a firm reliance on divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our
fortunes, and our scared honor.
Document B
Source: Letter from Oliver Hudson Kelley, founder of the Grange, to other Grange officers urging
the opposition of monopolies by the organization, 1868.
Now is the time to sound the keynote of the Order. Sound it loudit will takeFaith will remove
mountainsCome down among the people; dont stay up among the politicians. If you hit the point
right, you will sweep the West. You must get into the farmers pockets to reach their hearts, and a
lively palpitation there invigorates their mindsMark my words, there is a revolution growing
among the people, and if you strike the right chordthe Patrons will be a power, and you
yourselves at the head of it.

Document C
Source: Testimony by Aaron Jones, head of the Grangers, at the Chicago Conference of Trusts
(1899), attended by the governors of several Midwestern states as well as by representatives of
labor, manufacturers, and the farmers.
Every citizen of this Republic should be free to use his labor as will best contribute to his benefit
and happiness; not, however, infringing on the rights of any other citizen. The right to acquire, own,
control, and enjoy the use and income of property is an inalienable right that should be enjoyed by
each individual. Governments are organized and laws are enacted to better protect life, liberty, and
the ownership and use of property. It is the legitimate function of government to protect its citizens
in the full and free enjoyment of these rights. It is for this security of life and the ownership of
property that people are willing to pay taxes for the support of state and national governments.
Document D
Source: Interstate Commerce Act of 1887.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in
Congress assembled,
That the provisions of this act shall apply to any common carrier or carriers engaged in the
transportation of passengers or property wholly by railroad, or partly by railroad under a common
controlfor a continuous carriage or shipmentAll charges made for any service renderedshall
be reasonable and just; and every unjust and unreasonable charge for such service is prohibited and
declared unlawful
That it shall be unlawful for any common carrier subject to the provisions of this act to make or give
any undue or unreasonable preference or advantage to any particular person, company, firm,
corporationin any respect whatsoever
That it shall be unlawful for any common carrier subject to the provisions of this act to enter into
any contract, agreement, or combination with any other common carrier or carriers for the pooling
of freights of different and competing railroads
That a Commission is hereby created and established to be known as the Inter-State Commerce
Commission[who] shall have authority to inquire into the management of the business of all
common carriers subject to the provisions of this act.

Document E
Source: Populist Party Platform, 1892.
Our country finds itself confronted by conditions for which there is no precedent in the history of
the world; our annual agricultural productions amount to billions of dollars in value, which must,
within a few weeks or months, be exchanged for billions of dollars worth of commodities
consumed in their production; the existing currency supply is wholly inadequate to make this
exchange; the results are falling prices, the formation of combines and rings, the impoverishment of
the producing class. We pledge ourselves that if given power we will labor to correct these evils by
wise and reasonable legislation, in accordance with the terms of our platform.
We believe that the power of governmentin other words, of the peopleshould be expanded as
rapidly and as far as the good sense of an intelligent people and the teachings of experience shall
justify, to the end that oppression, injustice, and poverty shall eventually cease in the land.
Document F
Source: Speech by Knights of Labor leader, W.E. Farmer, at a Farmers Alliance gathering in which
he voiced the new radicalism to an enthusiastic audience, 1886.
The laboring classes must either take charge of the ballot box and purify the government or witness
one of the most gigantic revolutions known for agesLay aside all political parties. Class
legislation is robbing you. Sectional strife and hatred has downed the peopleThe Republicans
stole the goods and the Democrats concealed themWe have labored two years and now have an
enthusiasm infused among the people that all hell cannot crush out. We acknowledge no leader.
Party has led the country to financial ruinYou may crush out the Alliance, the Knights of Labor,
and other organizations for the laboring man but you cannot stamp out the principles they have sent
throughout the landWe have an overproduction of poverty, barefooted women and political
thieves and many liars. There is no difference between legalized robbery and highway robberyIf
you listen to other classes you will only have three rightsto work, to starve and to die.
Document G
Source: Details of United States Supreme Court Case:
Munn V. Illinois (1876)
Under the power inherent in every sovereignty, a government may regulate the conduct of its
citizens toward each other, and, when necessary for the public good, the manner in which each shall
use his own property.
When the owner of property devotes it to a use in which the public has an interest, he in effect
grants to the public an interest in such use, and must, to the extent of that interest, submit to be
controlled by the public, for the common good, and long as he maintains the use. He may withdraw
his grant by discontinuing the use.

Document H
Source: The Farmer Is the Man, a popular rallying song during the great farmers revolt of the
1890s.
When the farmer comes to town
With his wagon broken down,
Oh, the farmer is the man who feeds them all.
If youll only look and see
I think you will agree
That the farmer is the man who feeds them all.
The farmer is the man,
The farmer is the man,
Lives on credit till the fall;
Then they take him by the hand
And they lead him from the land,
The middlemans the one who gets it all.
When the banker says hes broke,
And the merchants up in smoke,
They forget that its the farmer feeds them all.
It would put them to the test
If the farmer took a rest,
Then theyd know that its the farmer feeds them all.
Document I
Source: Political Cartoon from the Kansas Populist, published February 9, 1894.