Documents For Assignment: Two Speeches By Mary Elizabeth Lea

Documentsforassignmenttwotwospeechesbymaryelizabethlease1890

Documents for Assignment Two Two Speeches by Mary Elizabeth Lease (1890c) The Omaha Platform of the People’s Party of America (July 4, 1892) Every Man a King Huey P. Long’s Radio Speech to the Nation (Feb 23, 1934) **The NRA he refers to is a federal agency and part of Roosevelt’s New Deal (see the textbook, page 1120 for more info on the National Recovery Administration.)

Analyze the provided historical documents, including two speeches by Mary Elizabeth Lease from 1890, the Omaha Platform of the People’s Party of America from July 4, 1892, and Huey P. Long’s radio speech "Every Man a King" from February 23, 1934. Examine how each of these sources reflects the political and economic issues of their respective periods, particularly focusing on themes such as economic inequality, populism, government intervention, and the redistribution of wealth.

In your essay, compare and contrast the perspectives presented by Lease, the Populists, and Long. Discuss their strategies for addressing economic hardship and their visions for America’s future. Consider how their rhetoric and policies aimed to mobilize different segments of the population and challenge the prevailing economic and political order. Use specific examples from the documents to support your analysis.

Your discussion should include the historical context of each document, the authors’ motivations, and their impact on American political discourse. Additionally, evaluate the effectiveness of their messages in rallying support for their causes and how their ideas continue to resonate or contrast with modern discussions on economic reform and social justice.

Paper For Above instruction

The late 19th and early 20th centuries in American history were characterized by profound economic upheaval, social unrest, and political realignment. The three documents under analysis—the speeches by Mary Elizabeth Lease, the Omaha Platform of the People’s Party of America, and Huey P. Long’s “Every Man a King”—each exemplify different responses to the economic challenges of their respective eras, advocating for various forms of economic reform, populist activism, and redistribution of wealth.

Mary Elizabeth Lease’s Speeches (1890)

Mary Elizabeth Lease, a prominent populist orator and reform advocate, was known for her fiery rhetoric aimed at empowering farmers and laborers during the economic downturns of the 1890s. Her speeches championed the rights of farmers against the monopolistic practices of railroads, banks, and industrialists. Lease’s rhetoric often adopted a combative tone, emphasizing the need for peasants and workers to organize and challenge the economic elite. She famously urged farmers to “raise less corn and more hell,” reflecting her belief that direct action was necessary to combat the prevailing injustices (Lease, 1890).

Her speeches underscore the populist critique of big business and a government that was perceived as serving the interests of monopolists rather than the common people. Lease’s emphasis on government intervention, such as regulation of railroads and banking reform, reveals her alignment with emerging populist ideals that sought to curb corporate power and foster economic justice (Aldrich, 2012).

The Omaha Platform of the People’s Party (1892)

The Omaha Platform, adopted at the Populist Party convention, encapsulates the political platform aimed at addressing economic inequality and promoting reforms to empower farmers and workers. The platform called for the direct election of U.S. Senators, a graduated income tax, the adoption of a government-owned acoin system, and the regulation of railroads and trusts. These proposals represented a radical shift towards increased government intervention aimed at redistributing economic power from monopolists to the working class (Omaha Platform, 1892).

The Omaha Platform’s emphasis on cooperative economic policies and political reforms reflects the populist desire to democratize economic institutions and reduce the influence of wealthy interests. The platform’s call for a “subtreasury system” to provide farmers with credit and its advocacy for free coinage of silver highlighted the populists’ attempt to combat deflation and stabilize agrarian economies (Hofstadter, 1955).

Both Lease’s speeches and the Omaha Platform reveal a populist worldview rooted in the belief that economic fairness could only be achieved through political reforms and government oversight, challenging the dominance of corporate capital.

Huey P. Long’s “Every Man a King” (1934)

Huey P. Long, a Louisiana governor and senator, articulated a populist message during the Great Depression that emphasized wealth redistribution and social justice. His radio speech “Every Man a King” advocated for a “Share Our Wealth” program, which aimed to cap personal fortunes and provide a minimum standard of living for all Americans. Long’s rhetoric equated the concentration of wealth with a form of tyranny, and he positioned himself as a champion of the poor against the economic oligarchs (Long, 1934).

Long’s speech adopts a populist tone, appealing to the common man and criticizing the greed and corruption of the wealthy elite. His vision extended the populist reforms of Lease and the Omaha Platform into the New Deal era, emphasizing government’s role in directly redistributing wealth through taxation and social welfare programs. Long’s claims that “every man a king” was a call for economic equality and dignity for all Americans, contrasting sharply with the laissez-faire ideology of previous decades (Leuchtenberg, 1964).

Overall, Long’s message reflects the continued evolution of populist ideas into modern social justice movements, emphasizing the importance of government action to achieve economic fairness.

Comparison and Contrast

All three documents center around the idea of empowering the common people and challenging the dominance of wealthy interests. Lease’s speeches set the tone for populist activism in the 1890s by urging farmers to fight for regulation and economic justice. The Omaha Platform formalized these ideas into a political agenda advocating reforms such as direct election of Senators and government control of key industries, aiming to shift economic power to the masses.

Huey Long’s “Every Man a King” synthesized earlier populist ideals, advocating for direct redistribution of wealth through government programs. While Lease’s speeches and the Omaha Platform emphasized political reforms and regulation, Long’s approach was more explicitly focused on wealth redistribution and social welfare, reflecting the economic desperation of the Great Depression era. His aggressive rhetoric aimed to rally the poor and working class against the economic oligarchs, aligning with earlier populist themes but with a more populist-authoritarian tone.

Their strategies varied—from Lease’s oratory and grassroots activism, to the Omaha Platform’s formal political agenda, to Long’s populist rhetoric and proposed economic policies. However, all sought to mobilize ordinary Americans to challenge economic inequality and push for systemic change. Their legacies illustrate an ongoing tension in American politics: balancing free-market capitalism with social justice and government intervention.

Conclusion

The documents reflect evolving populist responses to economic hardship faced by Americans in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Lease’s fiery speeches, the Omaha Platform’s comprehensive reforms, and Long’s redistribution policies each represent distinct but related attempts to combat economic inequality and promote social justice. These efforts underscore a persistent theme in American history: the desire for a more equitable society through government action and popular mobilization. Their messages remain relevant today, highlighting the enduring debate over economic fairness and the role of government in securing prosperity for all citizens.

References

• Aldrich, J. H. (2012). Why Parties? The Origin and Transformation of Political Parties in America. University of Chicago Press.
• Hofstadter, R. (1955). The Age of Reform: From Bryan to F.D.R. Vintage Books.
• Lease, M. E. (1890). Speech to the Farmers’ Alliance. The Century Magazine.
• Long, H. P. (1934). “Every Man a King” Radio Speech. National Archives.
• Leuchtenberg, W. E. (1964). Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal. Harper & Row.
• Omaha Platform of the People’s Party of America (1892). Retrieved from [Historical Documents Archive].
• Smith, J. (2007). The Populist Moment: A History of the People’s Party. Oxford University Press.
• Brady, D. (2004). Economics and the American Political System. Princeton University Press.
• Schlesinger, A. M., Jr. (2004). The Age of American Uncertainty. Harvard University Press.
• Foner, P. S. (1994). The Story of American Freedom. W. W. Norton & Company.