Chapter I: Preface

Rapid growth accompanied by a somewhat painful readjustment has been one of the leading characteristics of the history of the United States during the last half century. In the West the change has been so swift and spectacular as to approach a complete metamorphosis. With the passing of the frontier has gone something of the old freedom and the old opportunity; and the inevitable change has brought forth inevitable protest, particularly from the agricultural class. Simple farming communities have wakened to find themselves complex industrial regions in which the farmers have frequently lost their former preferred position. The result has been a series of radical agitations on the part of farmers determined to better their lot. These movements have manifested different degrees of coherence and intelligence, but all have had something of the same purpose and spirit, and all may justly be considered as stages of the still unfinished agrarian crusade. This book is an attempt to sketch the course and to reproduce the spirit of that crusade from its inception with the Granger movement, through the Greenback and Populist phases, to a climax in the battle for free silver.

In the preparation of the chapters dealing with Populism I received invaluable assistance from my colleague, Professor Lester B. Shippee of the University of Minnesota; and I am indebted to my wife for aid at every stage of the work, especially in the revision of the manuscript.

Solon J. Buck.

Minnesota Historical Society,
St. Paul.

Contents.

The Agrarian Crusade
Chapter Chapter Title Page
Preface vii
I. The Inception of the Grange 1
II. The Rising Spirit of Unrest 11
III. The Granger Movement at Flood Tide 25
IV. Curbing the Railroads 43
V. The Collapse of the Granger Movement 60
VI. The Greenback Interlude 77
VII. The Plight of the Farmer 99
VIII. The Farmers' Alliance 111
IX. The People's Party Launched 125
X. The Populist Bombshell of 1892 142
XI. The Silver Issue 154
XII. The Battle of the Standards 172
XIII. The Leaven of Radicalism 194
Bibliographical Note 203
Index 207

THE AGRARIAN CRUSADE

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