What Was The Purpose Of The Granger Movement

The Granger Movement, a significant force in late 19th-century American history, arose from the hardships faced by farmers in the aftermath of the Civil War. While often romanticized in historical narratives, the reality was that farmers of this era faced a complex web of economic, social, and political challenges. Understanding the purpose of the Granger Movement requires delving into these challenges and examining the Grangers' multifaceted response. It wasn't simply about agrarian idealism; it was about survival, empowerment, and the pursuit of economic justice in a rapidly changing nation.

The Granger Movement, formally known as the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, was founded in 1867 by Oliver Hudson Kelley. A clerk in the Department of Agriculture, Kelley witnessed firsthand the plight of Southern farmers during a tour after the Civil War. He envisioned a fraternal organization that would unite farmers, provide education, and promote their social and economic well-being. While the initial focus was on social and educational activities, the Grangers soon found themselves embroiled in political and economic battles as they sought to address the systemic issues that plagued the agricultural community.

Understanding the Plight of the Farmers

To truly understand the purpose of the Granger Movement, it's crucial to grasp the issues confronting farmers at the time. Several factors contributed to their economic distress:

• Falling Crop Prices: Following the Civil War, agricultural production increased dramatically, leading to a surplus of crops. This oversupply, coupled with increased competition, caused prices for farm goods like wheat, corn, and cotton to plummet. Farmers found themselves earning less for their crops than it cost to produce them, leading to widespread debt and foreclosure.
• High Railroad Rates: Railroads held a virtual monopoly on transportation in many rural areas. They charged exorbitant rates to ship crops to market, further squeezing farmers' profits. Farmers felt powerless against the railroads' monopolistic practices and viewed them as exploiting their vulnerability.
• Abusive Grain Elevator Practices: Grain elevators, used to store and weigh grain before shipment, were often controlled by railroad companies or their allies. Farmers accused elevator operators of short-weighing their grain, downgrading its quality, and charging excessive storage fees.
• High Interest Rates: Farmers often had to borrow money to purchase land, equipment, and supplies. Interest rates were often excessively high, particularly in rural areas where credit was scarce. This debt burden kept many farmers trapped in a cycle of poverty.
• Deflationary Monetary Policy: The federal government's move towards a gold-backed currency (specie resumption) led to deflation, meaning that the value of money increased while prices fell. This made it harder for farmers to repay their debts, as they had to sell more crops to earn the same amount of money.

These economic hardships were compounded by a sense of social isolation and political marginalization. Farmers felt ignored by politicians and disconnected from the rapidly industrializing urban centers. The Granger Movement sought to address all these issues by providing a platform for collective action and advocating for policies that would benefit the agricultural community.

The Multifaceted Purpose of the Granger Movement

The purpose of the Granger Movement can be understood through several key objectives:

1. Social and Educational Advancement:

   • Building Community: The Grangers provided a social outlet for rural families, offering a sense of community and belonging in isolated areas. Grange halls became centers for social gatherings, dances, picnics, and other events.
   • Promoting Education: The Grangers recognized the importance of education for farmers and their families. They established libraries, reading rooms, and lecture series to promote agricultural knowledge, scientific farming techniques, and civic engagement.
   • Fostering Cooperation: The Grangers encouraged cooperation and mutual support among farmers. They promoted the idea of sharing knowledge, resources, and labor to improve agricultural practices and reduce costs.

2. Economic Cooperation and Reform:

   • Establishing Cooperatives: One of the Grangers' most significant achievements was the establishment of cooperative businesses. These cooperatives allowed farmers to pool their resources to purchase supplies at wholesale prices, sell their crops directly to consumers, and bypass the middlemen who were profiting at their expense.
   • Combating Railroad Monopolies: The Grangers spearheaded efforts to regulate railroad rates and practices. They lobbied state legislatures to pass laws that would limit railroad charges, prohibit discriminatory pricing, and ensure fair treatment for farmers.
   • Challenging Grain Elevator Abuses: The Grangers also targeted grain elevator abuses. They established their own cooperative elevators to provide farmers with fair weighing and storage services. They also advocated for state regulations to prevent short-weighing and other fraudulent practices.

3. Political Advocacy and Reform:

   • Lobbying for Legislation: The Grangers became a powerful political force at the state and national levels. They lobbied for legislation to regulate railroads, protect farmers from unfair business practices, and promote agricultural education and research.
   • Electing Pro-Farmer Candidates: The Grangers actively supported candidates who were sympathetic to their cause. In several states, they were able to elect Grangers or Granger-backed candidates to state legislatures and even governorships.
   • Advocating for Monetary Reform: The Grangers recognized that the deflationary monetary policy was hurting farmers. They advocated for the expansion of the money supply through the use of greenbacks (paper money) and silver coinage.

The Granger Laws and Legal Challenges

The Granger Movement's political activism led to the passage of a series of state laws, known as the Granger Laws, in the 1870s. These laws aimed to regulate railroad rates and practices, as well as to address abuses by grain elevators and other businesses. The Granger Laws were particularly influential in states like Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

However, the railroads and other affected businesses challenged the constitutionality of the Granger Laws, arguing that they violated the Fourteenth Amendment's protection of property rights and the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which gives Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce.

The Supreme Court addressed the constitutionality of the Granger Laws in a series of landmark cases known as the Granger Cases. The most important of these cases was Munn v. Illinois (1877). In Munn v. Illinois, the Court upheld the power of state governments to regulate private industries that affect the "common good." The Court ruled that grain elevators were businesses "affected with a public interest" and therefore subject to state regulation.

While the Granger Cases represented a significant victory for the Granger Movement, their impact was limited by subsequent Supreme Court decisions that narrowed the scope of state regulatory power. Nevertheless, the Granger Laws and the Granger Cases established the principle that government could regulate private businesses in the public interest, paving the way for future regulatory reforms.

Decline and Legacy of the Granger Movement

The Granger Movement reached its peak in the mid-1870s, with over 850,000 members. However, the movement began to decline in the late 1870s and early 1880s due to several factors:

• Economic Recovery: As the economy improved in the late 1870s, farmers' economic distress lessened, reducing the urgency for collective action.
• Internal Divisions: The Granger Movement faced internal divisions over issues such as monetary policy and the role of government regulation.
• Political Opposition: The railroads and other businesses mounted a strong political opposition to the Granger Movement, lobbying against its policies and supporting candidates who opposed its agenda.

Despite its decline, the Granger Movement left a lasting legacy. It demonstrated the power of collective action in addressing economic and political grievances. It laid the groundwork for future agrarian movements, such as the Farmers' Alliance and the Populist Party. It established the principle of government regulation of private businesses in the public interest. And it helped to raise awareness of the challenges facing farmers and the need for policies to support the agricultural community.

The Enduring Relevance of the Granger Movement

While the Granger Movement emerged in a specific historical context, its concerns and objectives remain relevant today. Farmers continue to face challenges such as falling crop prices, high input costs, market volatility, and the power of large corporations. The issues of economic justice, political representation, and the role of government in regulating the economy are still debated and contested.

The Granger Movement's emphasis on education, cooperation, and community building also has enduring value. In an era of increasing social isolation and political polarization, the Grangers' commitment to fostering dialogue, understanding, and mutual support offers a model for building stronger and more resilient communities.

In conclusion, the purpose of the Granger Movement was multifaceted. It sought to address the social, economic, and political challenges facing farmers in the late 19th century through education, cooperation, and political action. While the movement ultimately declined, it left a lasting legacy of agrarian activism, regulatory reform, and community building that continues to resonate today. The movement serves as a reminder of the importance of collective action in addressing economic injustice and promoting the well-being of rural communities. How can we apply the lessons learned from the Granger Movement to address the challenges facing farmers and rural communities today?