Farmers' Alliance facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Farmers' Alliance
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First banner of the Southern Farmers' Alliance, organized on a statewide basis in Texas in 1878
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| Abbreviation | FA |
| Members | • National Farmers's Alliance (Northern) • National Farmers' Alliance and Industrial Union (White Southerners) • National Alliance and Cooperative Union (Black Southerners) |
| Part of | Farmers' Movement |
| Founded | 1877 |
| Dissolved | 1890s |
| Preceded by | The Grange |
| Succeeded by | People's Party |
| Newspaper | see below |
| Ideology | Agrarianism Left-wing populism Progressivism Land reform Monetary reform |
| Political position | Left-wing |
The Farmers' Alliance was a big movement of farmers in the United States that started around 1875. Farmers joined together to solve problems they faced with their farms and money. This movement had different groups, like the National Farmers' Alliance and Industrial Union in the South, the National Farmers' Alliance in the Midwest and Great Plains, and the Colored Farmers' National Alliance and Cooperative Union for African American farmers in the South.
One main goal was to help farmers who were struggling with unfair debt systems after the American Civil War. The Alliance also wanted the government to control things like railroads and to create a fair income tax. They also pushed for changes in the money system to make it easier for farmers to pay back loans. In the early 1890s, the Farmers' Alliance became a political party called the People's Party, often known as the "Populists."
Contents
Why Farmers Needed Help
After the Civil War, many farmers in the United States faced tough times. They struggled with unfair practices and economic problems. This led them to form groups like the Farmers' Alliance to demand changes.
Challenges in the Midwest and Plains
After the American Civil War, new railroad lines were built across the country. The government gave land to railroad companies to help them build these lines. The companies then sold this land to settlers. They advertised that new lands west of the Missouri River were great for farming.
Many people, especially after an economic downturn in 1873, moved to the Midwest and Great Plains to start new farms. States like Kansas and Nebraska saw huge increases in population. Land prices went up quickly as more people bought farms.
However, this good period didn't last. After several rainy years, a long drought began in 1887. Crops failed, and land prices dropped sharply. Banks struggled, and it became hard for farmers to get loans. Many communities faced hard times, and some were even abandoned. Farmers who stayed felt very unhappy with their situation.
Challenges in the Southern States
The economy in the Southern United States was badly damaged by the Civil War. Many people lost their money and their way of life. Large farms, called plantations, struggled without enough workers. The financial system was also in ruins, making it hard to get loans. Merchants often charged very high prices and interest rates for supplies.
A new farming system developed called "sharecropping." In this system, farmers who didn't own land paid rent with a part of their harvest. While it seemed fair, many poor white and African-American farmers got trapped in debt. They had to borrow money for seeds and tools from merchants or landowners. These loans were often tied to their future crops.
This "crop-lien system" meant farmers had to grow crops like cotton that were easy to sell, even if it meant they couldn't grow enough food for themselves. If their crop didn't cover their debt, the debt rolled over to the next year. This often led to a never-ending cycle of debt. Farmers in the South felt a deep sense of unfairness and wanted things to change.
Different Groups of the Alliance
The Farmers' Alliance wasn't just one big group. It was made up of several independent organizations that worked towards similar goals.
The Northern Alliance
The National Farmers' Alliance, also known as the "Northern Alliance," started in 1877 in New York state. Its first goal was to fight unfair practices by railroad companies and push for tax reform.
A more successful group was started in 1880 by newspaper editor Milton George in Chicago. His newspaper, Western Rural, helped spread the word. Many local groups quickly formed across the Midwest. At first, there were no membership fees, which helped the group grow fast.
The Northern Alliance became very popular in states hit by drought in 1881, like Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota. Farmers wanted protection from powerful companies and unfair government officials. They asked for fairer taxes, income tax laws, and rules for trade between states.
By 1882, the Northern Alliance claimed to have 100,000 members. However, when farming conditions improved in 1883, interest in the group slowed down. But when prices for wheat and livestock dropped again in 1884, the Alliance became active once more.
The group's ideas became stronger. They started asking for the government to own some railroad lines and to allow more silver to be used as money. They also connected with other worker groups, like the Knights of Labor. By 1890, the Northern Alliance had many members, with Kansas alone having 130,000. This growing power led them to think about forming a political party.
The Southern Alliance
The National Farmers' Alliance and Industrial Union, or "Southern Alliance," began around 1875 in Lampasas County, Texas. It started with ranchers working together to catch thieves and buy supplies. Over time, it grew to fight against unfair land deals and large cattle companies.
In 1879, a new group formed in Parker County, Texas, inspired by the Northern Alliance. This group grew quickly across Texas and into Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). By 1885, it had about 50,000 members in over 1,200 local groups.
Charles W. Macune became a key leader of the Texas organization in 1886. He helped unite the group and expand its reach. He arranged a merger with the Louisiana Farmers' Union, forming the National Farmers' Alliance and Cooperative Union of America.
The Southern Alliance had similar goals to the Northern Alliance. They wanted to end powerful banks and monopolies, use more silver money, and create an income tax. They also pushed for government-run storage facilities for crops.
In 1889, the Southern Alliance joined with another large group called the Agricultural Wheel. They tried to merge with the Northern Alliance, but it didn't happen. They had different ideas about how to run the group and whether African Americans could join. Also, farmers in the North and South had different economic needs. The Southern Alliance eventually changed its name to the National Farmers' Alliance and Industrial Union.
The Colored Farmers' Alliance
The Southern Farmers' Alliance did not allow African American farmers to join because of racism at the time. This meant that African American farmers had to create their own organizations to address their problems.
In December 1886, a group of black farmers in Houston County, Texas formed the Alliance of Colored Farmers of Texas. This group later became the Colored Farmers' National Alliance and Cooperative Union, often called the "Colored Farmers' Alliance." They aimed to help each other, improve farming methods, and raise money for members who were sick or disabled.
The organization quickly grew across the Southern United States. The Colored Farmers' Alliance set up cooperative stores where members could buy goods at lower prices. They also published newspapers to teach new farming techniques and helped raise money for segregated black schools in the region.
By 1891, the Colored Farmers' Alliance was very strong, claiming about 1.2 million members.
Groups That Disagreed with the Alliance
Not everyone supported the Farmers' Alliance. A group called the Knights of Reciprocity was formed in 1890 in Garden City, Kansas. This group, made up of Republicans, opposed the Alliance's political ideas.
The Knights of Reciprocity wanted to protect American businesses and support Union veterans. They believed the Farmers' Alliance was a secret political group that was misleading farmers. They encouraged people to organize against the Alliance's plans.
What the Alliance Wanted to Achieve
The Farmers' Alliance had many goals, which changed over time and varied by region. As one leader, C.W. Macune, said, the Alliance aimed to fix "every evil" that affected farmers.
Local Efforts and Successes
Many local Alliance groups set up their own cooperative stores. These stores bought goods directly from big suppliers. They then sold these goods to farmers at lower prices, sometimes 20 to 30 percent cheaper. This helped farmers save money on supplies.
The Alliance also created its own mills for flour, cottonseed oil, and corn. They even had their own cotton gin. These facilities helped farmers process their crops at a lower cost. This was important because many farmers had little cash to pay other mills.
National Goals
Local efforts helped, but they couldn't solve bigger problems like falling crop prices. By 1886, some Alliance members wanted to focus on national political changes.
In Cleburne, Texas, in 1886, political activists pushed for new demands. These included supporting other worker groups like the Knights of Labor. They also wanted changes in land policy and rules for railroads. A key demand was to use silver as legal money. They believed this would increase the money supply and help farmers pay off debts.
The Alliance also wanted an eight-hour workday and to replace national banks with local ones. They asked for an income tax and for farmers to be able to borrow money from the government to buy land. They also wanted to directly elect federal judges and senators. The Alliance became very powerful in politics, influencing elections in the South and West.
In the South, a major demand was the "Sub-Treasury Plan." This plan called for government-owned warehouses where farmers could store their crops. Farmers could then get low-interest loans from the government based on the value of their stored goods. When the Democratic Party didn't support this plan, the Farmers' Alliance decided to get directly involved in politics by forming the People's Party.
Becoming the Populist Party
As an economic movement, the Farmers' Alliance had some success, but it was often short-lived. Big businesses like cotton brokers and railroads sometimes boycotted the Alliance. This made it hard for the Alliance to keep its economic power.
The Alliance had not run its own political candidates at first. It tried to work with existing parties, like the Republicans in the Midwest and the Democrats in the South. However, these parties often didn't fully support the Alliance's goals.
Because of these challenges, the Farmers' Alliance changed. In 1889–1890, it became the People's Party, also known as the "Populists." This new party included both Alliance members and members of the Knights of Labor. The Populists ran candidates in national elections in 1892, repeating many of the Alliance's demands in their platform.
Important People from the Alliance
Here are some people who were elected to public office after being involved with the Farmers' Alliance:
- Ezra T. Champlin, a leader in the Minnesota House of Representatives.
- James Cockrell, a member of the Illinois House of Representatives.
- Marion Butler, a U.S. Senator from North Carolina.
- Hosea H. Moore, a member of the Illinois House of Representatives.
- John Rankin Rogers, who became the Governor of Washington.
- Herman Taubeneck, a member of the Illinois House of Representatives.
Alliance Newspapers
These newspapers helped spread the ideas and news of the Farmers' Alliance:
- American Nonconformist, edited by Henry Vincent.
- Alliance Vindicator, edited by James H. Davis.
- Kansas Farmer, edited by William A. Peffer.
- National Alliance
- National Economist, edited by Charles William Macune.
- Progressive Farmer, edited by Leonidas LaFayette Polk.
- Southern Mercury, edited by Harry Tracy.
- Western Rural and Family Farm Paper, edited by Milton George.
See also
In Spanish: Farmers' Alliance para niños
