Changes

== Effects ==

== Effects ==

The severity of was great in all industrial cities and mill towns.  Farm distress was great because of the falling prices for export crops such as wheat and cotton. [[Coxey's Army]] was a highly publicized march of unemployed men from Ohio and Pennsylvania to Washington to demand relief.  A severe wave of strikes took place in 1894, most notably the Midwestern bituminous coal strike of the spring, which led to violence in Ohio. Even more serious was the [[Pullman Strike]] which shut down much of the nation's transportation system in July, 1894.  

The Panic was severe in all industrial cities and mill towns.  Farm distress was great because of the falling prices for export crops such as wheat and cotton. [[Coxey's Army]] was a highly publicized march of unemployed men from Ohio and Pennsylvania to Washington to demand relief.  A severe wave of strikes took place in 1894, most notably the Midwestern bituminous coal strike of the spring, which led to violence in Ohio. Even more serious was the [[Pullman Strike]] which shut down much of the nation's transportation system in July, 1894.  

[[Image:Octops2.jpg|thumb|550px|The Populist book ''Coin's Financial School'' (1894 p. 124) blamed the Rothschild's for controlling the world's money and causing the panic]]

[[Image:Octops2.jpg|thumb|550px|The Populist book ''Coin's Financial School'' (1894 p. 124) blamed the Rothschild's for controlling the world's money and causing the panic]]

[[Image:96SILVER.JPG||thumb|280px|July 19, 1896 ''Puck'' cartoon shows farmer hung up on pole and helpless, his free silver wagon destroyed by the gold express of William McKinley]]

[[Image:96SILVER.JPG||thumb|280px|July 19, 1896 ''Puck'' cartoon shows farmer hung up on pole and helpless, his free silver wagon destroyed by the gold express of William McKinley]]

Many of the western silver mines closed, and a large number were never re-opened.  A significant number of western mountain narrow-gauge railroads, which had been built to serve the mines, also went out of business.  The [[Denver and Rio Grande Railroad]] stopped its ambitious plan, then under way, to convert its system from narrow-gauge to standard-gauge.   

Many of the western silver mines closed, and a large number were never re-opened.  A significant number of western mountain narrow-gauge railroads, which had been built to serve the mines also went out of business.  The [[Denver and Rio Grande Railroad]] stopped its ambitious plan, then under way, to convert its system from narrow-gauge to standard-gauge.   

The depression was a major issue in the debates over [[Bimetallism]]. The Republicans blamed the Democrats and scored a landslide victory in the 1894 state and Congressional elections.  The [[Populists]] lost most of their strength and had to support the Democrats in 1896. The presidential election of 1896 was fought on economic issues, and was marked by a decisive victory of the pro-gold, high-tariff Republicans led by [[William McKinley]] over pro-silver [[William Jennings Bryan]].

The depression was a major issue in the debates over [[Bimetallism]]. The Republicans blamed the Democrats and scored a landslide victory in the 1894 state and Congressional elections.  The [[Populists]] lost most of their strength and had to support the Democrats in 1896. The presidential election of 1896 was fought on economic issues, and was marked by a decisive victory of the pro-gold, high-tariff Republicans led by [[William McKinley]] over pro-silver [[William Jennings Bryan]].