United States Greenback Party

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Greenback Party
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Years active 1874 - 1884
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Political Ideology
Political Position N/A
International Affiliation None
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Preceded by
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Succeeded by Populist Party
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Colors N/A
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See also Politics of the U.S.

Political parties
Elections

The Greenback Party (also known as the Independent Party, the National Party, and the Greenback-Labor Party) was an American political party that was active between 1874 and 1884. Its name referred to paper money, or "greenbacks," that had been issued during the American Civil War and afterward. The party opposed the shift from paper money back to a specie-based monetary system because it believed that privately owned banks and corporations would then reacquire the power to define the value of products and labor. Conversely, they believed that government control of the monetary system would allow it to keep more currency in circulation, as it had in the war. This would better foster business and assist farmers by raising prices and making debts easier to pay. It was established as a political party whose members were primarily farmers financially hurt by the Panic of 1873.

The Greenback Party was founded at a meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, on November 25, 1874. It was originally called the Independent Party or the National Party. In 1878, it was the largest force involved in the election of 21 independents to the United States Congress. In 1880 the Greenback Party broadened its platform to include support for an income tax, an eight hour day, and allowing women the right to vote. The party's influence declined quickly, and after 1884 it was no longer a force in American politics. Many Greenback activists, including 1880 Presidential nominee James B. Weaver, later participated in the Populist Party.

Other than name, there is no continuity between this historic movement and the 1952 campaign of Frederick Proehl [1], nor that of Whitney Hart Slocomb in 1960.[2]

Election Year Presidential Candidate Vice Presidential Candidate
1876 Presidential Election Peter Cooper Samuel F. Cary
1880 Presidential Election James Baird Weaver Benjamin J. Chambers
1884 Presidential Election Benjamin Franklin Butler Absolom M. West

Contents

[edit] National Conventions

11/25/1874 - Organizational Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana

5/16-18/1876 - Academy of Music, Indianapolis, Indiana. There were 239 delegates present from 17 states. Peter Cooper was nominated for President with 352 votes to 119 for three other contenders. Newton Booth was nominated for Vice President by a vote of 418 to 58 scattering. When Booth declined to run, the national committee substituted Samuel F. Cary.

6/9-11/1880 - Exposition Hall, Chicago, Illinois. There were 714 delegates present. James B. Weaver was nominated for President with 224.5 votes to Hendrick B. Wright with 126.5, Stephen D. Dillaye with 119, and 246 scattering. (After the roll call, all delegates who had supported other candidates shifted their votes to Weaver: New York Times 6/12/1880.) Benjamin J. Chambers was nominated for Vice President with 403 votes to 311 for Absolom M. West.

5/28-29/1884 - English's Opera House, Indianapolis, Indiana. All states were represented except Delaware and Mississippi. Benjamin F. Butler was nominated for President with 323 votes to 98 for Jesse Harper and five scattering. Absolom M. West was unanimously nominated for Vice President.

9/12/1888 - Cincinnati. Only eight delegates attended, and no candidates were nominated.

[edit] Elected officials

The following were Greenback members of the U.S. House of Representatives:

46th United States Congress, March 4, 1879 - March 3, 1881.

47th United States Congress, March 4, 1881 to March 3, 1883.

48th United States Congress, March 4, 1883 to March 3, 1885.

49th United States Congress, March 4, 1885 to March 3, 1887.

  • James B. Weaver, Iowa's 6th congressional district

50th United States Congress, March 4, 1887 to March 3, 1889.

  • James B. Weaver, Iowa's 6th congressional district

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "It's a Free Country", Time Magazine, 1952-09-01. Retrieved on 2006-10-03. 
  2. ^ "Female presidential candidates 1870-1990", Guide To Women Leaders. Retrieved 1/11/08.
  3. ^ seated June 3, 1882, subsequently died August 12, 1882. Seat filled by Democrat Joseph Wheeler after special election.

[edit] References

Ohio Elects the President (Mansfield OH: Bookmasters, 2000), pp. 50-59.

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