Black and white photograph of members of the Home Guard, December, 1917.

Members of the Home Guard on Duty During the Twin Cities Rapid Transit Workers Strike

Members of the Home Guard, December, 1917. The Home Guard was created by an order of the Public Safety Commission after Minnesota's National Guard units were federalized. Though the Home Guard helped citizens in need, it was also used by the Minnesota Commission of Public Safety to break strikes and police the citizenry.

Black and white photograph of Governor Joseph A. A. Burnquist with a military group, c.1916.

Governor Joseph A. A. Burnquist with military group

Governor Joseph A. A. Burnquist with a military group, c.1916.

Black and white photograph of Minnesota Commission of Public Safety members, c.1918.

Minnesota Commission of Public Safety

Minnesota Commission of Public Safety members, c.1918.

Minnesota Commission of Public Safety

The Minnesota Commission of Public Safety (MCPS) was a watchdog group created in 1917. Its purpose was to mobilize the state's resources during World War I. During a two-year reign its members enacted policies intended to protect the state from foreign threats. They also used broad political power and a sweeping definition of disloyalty to thwart those who disagreed with them.

Black and white photograph of Ignatius Donnelly, 1888.

Ignatius Donnelly

Ignatius Donnelly, 1888. At this point Donnelly was the leader of the Farmers' Alliance in Minnesota and serving as a state representative. Photograph by John Collier.

Black and white photograph of J. H. Thomas, head of the Grange in Young America, 1873.

J. H. Thomas, head of the Grange in Young America

J. H. Thomas, head of the Grange in Young America, 1873.

Patrons of Husbandry Badge, 1867.

Patrons of Husbandry Badge

Patrons of Husbandry Badge, 1867.

Black and white photograph of a State Grange meeting at Northfield. Taken by Edward Newell James, c.1875.

State Grange meeting at Northfield

State Grange meeting at Northfield, c.1875. Photograph by Edward Newell James.

Populism in Minnesota, 1868–1896

In the late nineteenth century, a movement arose in Minnesota and across the United States to support the interests of working people and to challenge the power of big business and wealthy tycoons. That movement, called populism, shaped the young state's politics for close to three decades.

Black and white photo print of a drawing of the first Minnesota state capitol, c.1853–1873.

First State Capitol of Minnesota

Black and white photo print of a drawing of the first Minnesota state capitol, c.1853–1873.

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