Who were the Populists, what did they represent, why did the populist movement fail? These questions have been some of the greatest controversies of American History.
Who exactly were the populists? In the early 1890s many farmers, laborers, and middle class activists came together to form their own independent political party which they called the People 's Party, or in other terms often referred to as the Populist Party. The party was a result of multiple social movements which occurred due to the changes in the American economy and its society (American Populism: An Overview of Populism). The Populist Party meant that they worked for reform, they would do this by trying to influence the two major parties of this era, the Democrats and the …show more content…
However, this makes little sense in regard to the original Populists from the 1890s. In the 1890s the federal government was extremely small and the Populists had wanted to make it bigger and much more effective (American Populism: Populists Politics: The Business of Government). Populism can often take on a very different meaning. Especially when one assumes who was possibly modern and who was not. Many farmers and laborers had callused hands, rough spots, and mud on their shoes. They also viewed themselves as modern people. Industrialization had very little to do with the farmer’s. The consistent changes in the prices of corn and wheat contributed greatly to the farmer’s everyday struggles (American Populism: Populists Politics: The Business of Government). The farmers were highly concerned with the idea of being overlooked and exploited, however, the farmers were even more concerned that there was a deep unease with the belief that absolutely any collaboration, between government and big business, would harm American democracy (Digital History). Reformers often sought innovation within commercial relations, government, and in many different ways of life. Hundreds upon thousands of young women also joined the Populist movement. This was a way for them to gain education, employment and freedom. The Populists thrived at the idea of inventions …show more content…
During the 1896 election, William Jennings Bryan, was defeated by the hands of the Republican candidate, William McKinley. William Jennings Bryan had been selected by both the Democrats along with the Populists. The Populists, or The People 's Party, was never able to recover from the defeat. The corporate model had won, they defeated the Populist alternative, which combined public, private, and cooperative ownership. It also offered a more inclusive and humane form of development. However, even though the Populists had been defeated, the Democratic and Republican Parties adopted a great deal of the Populist program. Populism may have been defeated, but it provided powerful rural, labor, and urban constituencies for the future reforms that created what is now known as modern America (American Populism: An Overview of Populism). Republican Theodore Roosevelt resurrected many of the Populist ideals and he then re-cast them into new forms. Roosevelt had expanded the federal regulations of business corporations (1896: The People 's Party).
Who were the Populists and what did they represent and why did the populist movement fail, these have been some of the greatest controversies of American
Who exactly were the populists? In the early 1890s many farmers, laborers, and middle class activists came together to form their own independent political party which they called the People 's Party, or in other terms often referred to as the Populist Party. The party was a result of multiple social movements which occurred due to the changes in the American economy and its society (American Populism: An Overview of Populism). The Populist Party meant that they worked for reform, they would do this by trying to influence the two major parties of this era, the Democrats and the …show more content…
However, this makes little sense in regard to the original Populists from the 1890s. In the 1890s the federal government was extremely small and the Populists had wanted to make it bigger and much more effective (American Populism: Populists Politics: The Business of Government). Populism can often take on a very different meaning. Especially when one assumes who was possibly modern and who was not. Many farmers and laborers had callused hands, rough spots, and mud on their shoes. They also viewed themselves as modern people. Industrialization had very little to do with the farmer’s. The consistent changes in the prices of corn and wheat contributed greatly to the farmer’s everyday struggles (American Populism: Populists Politics: The Business of Government). The farmers were highly concerned with the idea of being overlooked and exploited, however, the farmers were even more concerned that there was a deep unease with the belief that absolutely any collaboration, between government and big business, would harm American democracy (Digital History). Reformers often sought innovation within commercial relations, government, and in many different ways of life. Hundreds upon thousands of young women also joined the Populist movement. This was a way for them to gain education, employment and freedom. The Populists thrived at the idea of inventions …show more content…
During the 1896 election, William Jennings Bryan, was defeated by the hands of the Republican candidate, William McKinley. William Jennings Bryan had been selected by both the Democrats along with the Populists. The Populists, or The People 's Party, was never able to recover from the defeat. The corporate model had won, they defeated the Populist alternative, which combined public, private, and cooperative ownership. It also offered a more inclusive and humane form of development. However, even though the Populists had been defeated, the Democratic and Republican Parties adopted a great deal of the Populist program. Populism may have been defeated, but it provided powerful rural, labor, and urban constituencies for the future reforms that created what is now known as modern America (American Populism: An Overview of Populism). Republican Theodore Roosevelt resurrected many of the Populist ideals and he then re-cast them into new forms. Roosevelt had expanded the federal regulations of business corporations (1896: The People 's Party).
Who were the Populists and what did they represent and why did the populist movement fail, these have been some of the greatest controversies of American