13.5
Farmers were losing a lot of money. No good farming land. Crop prices falling. Railroad charged excessive prices for shipping and storage. 500M in greenbacks issued. Greenbacks could not be exchange for a metal. Greenbacks were being taken out of circulation. Thus value dropped. Farmers with greenbacks had to pay back more in loans then they took out. In 20 years price of bushel of wheat dropped from $2 to 67C. Farmers and other poor people wanted the government to put more money into circulation. Bland Allison Act of 1878 required government to buy and coin at least $2 million to $4 million worth of silver each month. This though was not enough to meet the farmers needs. 1867 Oliver Hudson Kelley started the patrons of Husbandry. Organization for farmers that became known as the Grange. First purpose was to provide forum and education for farm famililes. By the 1870s it was a anti-railroad organization. Taught members how to organize, and how to setup farmers copperatives and how to sponsor state legislation to regulate railroads.