Granger Movement

The Granger Movement for kids: Granges and the Grangers
The Granger Movement Granger movement took its name from the National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry, the organization founded by Oliver H. Kelley in 1867. The local units of the organization were called Granges and its members were called Grangers.

The Granger Movement: Railroad Protest Picture
The picture depicts the power of the railroads and its effects on the farmers. The train has the words "Depression", "Bribery" and "Extortion" on the train on an unstoppable track towards farmers being crushed by the power of the railroads. A graphic representation for the reasons that the Granger Movement became popular.

The Granger Movement: Period of Civil Unrest
A period of economic depression followed the Civil War and it was the time in American history when wealthy 'Robber Barons' took control of industries sparking protests and demonstrations from workers that resulted in riots and strikes in the cities during the Industrial Revolution.  For additional facts refer to the History of Urbanization in America

Granger Movement: Railroad Companies Monopoly
The livelihoods of the farm workers in the country areas were effected when the railroad companies  gained a monopoly on the Grain Elevators, the "Prairie Skyscrapers", the new, fast system for loading grains transported from local farms via the railroad to distant markets. For additional facts refer to Rise of Big Business and Corporations

Facts about the Granger Movement for kids
History and interesting Facts about the Granger Movement are detailed below. The history is told in a series of facts providing a simple method of relating to the events surrounding the Granger Movement and the monopolies of the Railroads.

Facts about the Granger Movement for kids

Granger Movement Fact 1: The organization started with only six members and like many other worker organizations of the era, like the Knights of Labor adhered to the ideals of fraternalism and developed secret rituals

Granger Movement Fact 2: A local organization was called a Grange and the members were referred to as Grangers. The movement was supported by the farmers of Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, and the Dakotas

Granger Movement Fact 3: The Grangers first organized educational programs and social events which addressed the isolation problems of farmers and provided discussion forums on the problems affecting the farming industry.

Granger Movement Fact 4: The discussion forums of unified action led to the establishment of Cooperative purchasing ventures to attain lower prices on farm equipment and supplies

Granger Movement Fact 5: The Cooperative approach developed into a credit union that enabled Grangers to avoid lending money from corrupt banks that charged extortionate interest rates

Granger Movement Fact 6: The Railroad companies gained a monopoly on the Grain elevators by providing the land on which they were  together with specially designed grain cars for transporting crops via the railroads.

Granger Movement Fact 7: The Grain elevator operators bought the grain from farmers and then sold the crops on at inflated prices and gaining large profits. These Grain Elevator operators used their purchasing power to control prices of crops.

Granger Movement Fact 8: The rail magnates, the 'Robber Barons', of the era included wealthy men such as Charles Crocker, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Leland Stanford, Mark Hopkins, Henry Bradley Plant and Edward Harriman

Granger Movement Fact 9: The organization built up funds which enabled the Grangers to build some of their own Grain Elevators to challenge the monopolies of the railroad companies.

Granger Movement Fact 10: The Grangers used the cooperative system of to band together to combat the problems caused by low prices for their products and discriminatory treatment by the railroad companies. This led to the Grangers becoming an important political force, their numbers enabled them to apply pressure on politicians

Granger Movement Fact 11: The influence of the Grangers was particularly strong in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois, where political pressure resulted in a series of "Granger Laws" designed to give legislative assistance to the farmers.

Granger Movement Fact 12: The 'Granger Laws' set maximum railroad rates, and established state railroad commissions legislation covering warehouses and grain elevators

Granger Movement Fact 13: The Railroad Companies challenged the constitutionality of these laws but the U.S. Supreme Court, in Munn v. Illinois (1876), established the principle of public regulation of private utilities devoted to public use as constitutional and led to demands for national legislation.

Granger Movement Fact 14: In 1887, Congress passed the Interstate Commerce Act which created the Interstate Commerce Commission as a federal regulatory agency to address Shipping rates and Price discrimination

Granger Movement Fact 15: The Grange association led to the rise of Populism in America and the formation of the Populist Party by the American farmers

Granger Movement Fact 16: The Colored Farmers Alliance saw the rise of Black Populism

Facts about the Granger Movement for kids

Granger Movement for kids
The info about the Granger Movement provides interesting facts and important information about this important event that occured during the presidency of the 22nd and 24th President of the United States of America.

Granger Movement - President Grover Cleveland Video
The article on the Granger Movement provides detailed facts and a summary of one of the important events during his presidential term in office. The following Grover Cleveland video will give you additional important facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 22nd and 24th President of the United States whose presidencies spanned from March 4, 1885 to March 4, 1889 and from March 4, 1893 - March 4,1897.

Granger Movement

● Interesting Facts about Granger Movement for kids and schools
● Summary of the Granger Movement in US history
● The Granger Movement, a major event in US history
● Grover Cleveland history timeline of major events
● Fast, facts about major events in his presidency
● Foreign & Domestic policies of President Grover Cleveland
● Grover Cleveland Presidency and Granger Movement for schools, homework, kids and children