Feb. 25, Populist Party & Reform Movements (1890–1900)

Background

  • ~63% of Americans lived in rural areas (until 1920).

  • Farmers vs. wealthy Eastern elites.

  • Populists = “People’s Party.”

Goal: Unite farmers + poor industrial workers.

Problem: One major issue divided them (silver/inflation).

Populist Party Platform

Political Reforms (Targeting Corruption)

1. Secret Ballot (Australian Ballot)

  • Private voting.

  • Prevented political machine intimidation.

  • Reduced power of urban political bosses (ex: Tammany Hall).

2. Direct Election of Senators

  • Senators chosen by voters, not state legislatures.

  • Aimed to reduce corruption.

3. Initiative

  • Citizens propose laws.

4. Referendum

  • Citizens vote directly on laws (ex: school funding).

5. Recall

  • Remove corrupt officials before term ends.

  • Example: Arnold Schwarzenegger elected after recall in California.

Economic Reforms

Graduated Income Tax

  • Higher earners pay higher rate.

  • Replace tariff revenue.

Government Ownership of Railroads

  • Lower shipping rates for farmers.

End National Banking System

  • Seen as favoring wealthy elites.

Free & Unlimited Coinage of Silver

  • Increase money supply.

  • Create inflation.

Why Industrial Workers Didn’t Join

Inflation helps farmers:

  • Raises crop prices.

  • Makes debts easier to repay.

Inflation hurts workers:

  • Prices rise.

  • Wages don’t rise.

  • Goods become unaffordable.

Result: Workers refuse to support free silver.

Decline of the Populists

  • Too radical for many voters.

  • Couldn’t unite farmers + workers.

  • Lost national influence after 1896.

Populist presidential candidate:
William Jennings Bryan
Lost to William McKinley (1896, 1900).

Party fades by 1900.

Legacy (Later Progressive Era Reforms)

  • Direct election of senators (17th Amendment)

  • Income tax (16th Amendment)

  • Secret ballot

  • Initiative, referendum, recall (state level)

Cultural Reference

Some historians argue The Wonderful Wizard of Oz symbolizes Populism:

  • Dorothy (Kansas farmer)

  • Silver shoes (silver standard)

  • Yellow brick road (gold standard)