Populism was an American political movement that attained its greatest strength during the 1890’s. The Populists supported an increase in the money supply, greater government regulation of business, and other changes they believed would help farmers and laborers. In addition, they called for many reforms to increase the political power of voters. Many Populist leaders were colorful figures who stirred up the people with rousing speeches. The word populist also describes political policies like those of the Populists, especially policies that favor the common people.
Origins.
Farmers in the Midwest, South, and West began to form protest groups during the 1870’s and 1880’s. Farmers found themselves increasingly caught up in an uncontrollable world market. Many had expanded their operations, but falling prices for their products and increased operating costs made it hard for them to pay their debts. They blamed their troubles on railroads, manufacturing trusts, bankers, and the government’s monetary system. When the two major parties seemed unwilling to adopt their proposals for relief, many farmers joined farmers’ alliances.
The farmers’ alliances called for the government to put more money into circulation, either by printing more paper money or by coining unlimited amounts of silver. Such a coinage policy was called free silver. The farmers believed an increase in the money supply would help them get higher prices for their crops. The farmers also wanted the government to regulate the railroads or take them over completely. These demands became the chief goals of the Populist movement.
The People’s Party.
In 1891, the farmers’ alliances met with delegates from labor and reform groups in Cincinnati, Ohio, and discussed forming a new political party. They formed the People’s Party, usually called the Populist Party, a year later in St. Louis, Missouri.
In 1892, the party nominated James B. Weaver of Iowa for president and James G. Field of Virginia for vice president. Their platform called for free silver, government ownership of railroads and telegraph and telephone lines, and many political reforms. The candidates did not win, but they received more than a million popular votes and 22 electoral votes. Nine Populists were elected to Congress.
In 1896, the Democratic Party nominated William Jennings Bryan of Nebraska for president. His platform included free silver and other Populist demands. The Populists joined the Democrats in supporting Bryan, but he lost to William McKinley, the candidate of the Republican Party. Giving up its power to the Democrats led to the People’s Party’s decline, and it disappeared by 1904.
Influences of populism.
The People’s Party enjoyed momentary success in a few states, but it never threatened the two major parties nationally. Although the People’s Party faded away, some of its goals were adopted during the Progressive Era and later became law (see Progressive Era ). These goals included the graduated income tax, direct election of U.S. senators and the initiative and referendum, a process by which voters propose a law and vote on it. Other Populist-supported reforms, such as free silver and government ownership of railroads and communications lines, never won adoption.
Today, the word populist is often used to describe a politician who opposes party leaders and appeals directly to the public for support. Many leaders with widely varying philosophies have been called populists, including President Jimmy Carter, President Bill Clinton, Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, Senator George S. McGovern of South Dakota, activist Ralph Nader, Governor Jesse Ventura of Minnesota, and Governor George C. Wallace of Alabama.
