Populism

Populism: too many rich people, top of the triangle people in power, so we want the general public in office, and to get involved in politics to get what they want

Society was hit hard by industrialization

• increased efficiency equals increased output, which causes dropping prices

• farmers fell into debt, lost their farms, became farm workers on other farms, or industrial labor

  • individual power declined

Mass Production and consolidations = corporations and monopolies

Farmers and industrial workers joined to change and earn control in gov’t

Not anti-capitalist, but wanted a strong gov’t to keep industrialists in check

• In favor of nationalizing some essential industries

• reduce the possibility or power of American aristocracy

• Panic of 1893 - worst depression to date, saw an increase in populism

• Populism and early feminism broke apart over racial lines

William Jennings Bryan

• a democrat with populist principles

  • defended farmers and urban laborers

  • supporting bimetallism - not the gold standard

• Dem. Candidate in the 1896 election

  • lost to conservative McKinley

    • 1900 = Gold Standard Act

SOCIALISM

Socialism was an extension of populism

• it argued that too few held all power and money

  • united urban laborers and tenant farmers

  • created Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)