The Agrarian Crusade: A Chronicle of the Farmer in Politics

A historical study traces the evolution of American farm activism from its origins as a cooperative, ritual-based society dedicated to social and educational uplift through a series of increasingly political and radicalized movements. It recounts the expansion and contraction of the Grange, farmers' campaigns to regulate railroads, and the later Greenback and Farmers' Alliance responses to economic distress. The narrative explains how agrarian organizations transformed economic grievances into party politics, leading to the formation and electoral impact of a people's movement and a dramatic confrontation over monetary policy. Chapters analyze tactics, ideological strains including calls for currency reform and broader radicalism, and close with bibliographic guidance.