The populist party arose in the late 1800's because many farmers felt that the system was rigged- they worked, worked and did everything they possibly could yet still failed to get ahead. The United States was shifting from an agrarian to an industrial economy. This left farmers unable to sell their crops on a global scale, and left many of them in a lot of debt. Farmers from all over sought out better political representation and formed the Populist Party, which stemmed from the “Farmer’s Alliance”. This “people’s” party was designed to help better the lives of farmers and rural families. One common belief amongst populists was that farmers deserved at least enough money from their crops to pay for production and to feed themselves. Populists
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They banded together these poor rural people and gave them hope. Both Lease and Bryan fuel a desire for justice within their audiences.Throughout Bryan’s speech, he appeals to the farmers sense of worth and their right to a more fair system. Bryan states “Burn down your cities and leave our farms, and your cities will spring up again as if by magic. But destroy our farms and the grass will grow in the streets of every city in the country.” Bryan understood the importance of American farmers, just as the farmers themselves did. Bryan wanted his audience to defy them. Lease states in her speech, “...which is the worst—the black slavery that has gone or the white slavery that has come?” This comparison between black slavery and farmers of the time most likely enraged her audience, fueling their desires to make a change. Throughout Lease’s speech she uses imagery to express how a farmer’s life should be, and will be. She appeals to her audience's emotions by explaining that there will be no more children reared in poverty or people starving. Lease stands for equality.
I believe that we are still to this day dealing with some of the same issues present in 1880’s. The distribution of wealth is not equal and certain industries struggle much more than others. People today still live in poverty, some of which work in a particular industry that is failing because of today’s economy. I think that today’s politicians each have a plan when it comes to the distribution of wealth and creating jobs. I think that some of today’s politicians would agree with Lease in the sense that every working man deserves the fruits of his labor, and that no working man should be living in
They banded together these poor rural people and gave them hope. Both Lease and Bryan fuel a desire for justice within their audiences.Throughout Bryan’s speech, he appeals to the farmers sense of worth and their right to a more fair system. Bryan states “Burn down your cities and leave our farms, and your cities will spring up again as if by magic. But destroy our farms and the grass will grow in the streets of every city in the country.” Bryan understood the importance of American farmers, just as the farmers themselves did. Bryan wanted his audience to defy them. Lease states in her speech, “...which is the worst—the black slavery that has gone or the white slavery that has come?” This comparison between black slavery and farmers of the time most likely enraged her audience, fueling their desires to make a change. Throughout Lease’s speech she uses imagery to express how a farmer’s life should be, and will be. She appeals to her audience's emotions by explaining that there will be no more children reared in poverty or people starving. Lease stands for equality.
I believe that we are still to this day dealing with some of the same issues present in 1880’s. The distribution of wealth is not equal and certain industries struggle much more than others. People today still live in poverty, some of which work in a particular industry that is failing because of today’s economy. I think that today’s politicians each have a plan when it comes to the distribution of wealth and creating jobs. I think that some of today’s politicians would agree with Lease in the sense that every working man deserves the fruits of his labor, and that no working man should be living in