Question

Discuss the Populist Movement of the 1890’s? What changes did they want? How successful were they in getting those changes? Be sure to consider the Election of 1896 in your answer.

Answer 1

Throughout the 1880.local political action groups known as Farmers Alliances sprang up against Middle Westerners and southerners who were discontented because of crop failure, falling prices, look marketing and credit facilities.Although the movement tested moderate successes at regional level it fails miserably at eider scale particularly at National level. This leads to formation of Populist party by melting down Farmers Alliances. While trying to widen their base to include labour and other group, majorly Populist movement remained agrarian oriented.

They demanded an increase in circulating currency ,graduated income tax, government ownership of railroads, a tariff for revenue only, direct election for U. S Senators, and other measures designed to strengthen political democracy and give farmers economic parity with business and industry.

Though the Populist movement was not so successful in bringing out changes to larger part of Society, the movement successfully raised awareness about the plight of workers and farmers, giving way for first farm grants and encoded workers rights.