The Populist (or People's) Party platform in 1892 incorporated a host of popular reform ideas, including the following: * Australian (or Secret) Ballot. Voting was still conducted publicly in many areas, potentially subjecting voters to pressure or recrimination by employers and landlords. (This proposal was adopted almost everywhere in the United States in the early 20th century.) * Popular Election of U.S. Senators. As provided in the Constitution (Article I, Section 3), senators were selected by the state legislatures, not by popular vote. It was believed that business lobbies exerted inordinate influence over the selection of these officials. (This plank would become part of the Constitution in 1913 when Amendment XVII was ratified.) * Direct Democracy. The Populists urged the adoption of the initiative, referendum and recall as means to give the people a more direct voice in government. (Some or all of these procedures became part of the constitutions of many states during the early 20th century.) * Banking Reform. The Populists believed that much of their economic hardship had been caused by bankers' unfair practices. They proposed to end the national banking system, a point of view not widely held. (The Populists failed with this proposal and a Federal Reserve System was established by law in 1913.) * Government Ownership of the Railroads. Anger against the railroads for alleged price discrimination was so intense that the Populists advocated for federal appropriation. (Opponents charged the Populists with socialism and little public support existed for this plank. However, during the Theodore Roosevelt administration, steps were taken toward reform of the railroads.) * Graduated Income Tax. The Populists viewed the graduated income tax as a means to pry loose a portion of the tremendous wealth of the nation's most prosperous citizens. A "graduated" tax meant that the rate of taxation would increase as one's income increased. (A step was made in this direction in the Wilson-Gorman Tariff of 1894 when a uniform tax was imposed, but that portion of the law was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court the following year. Authority to impose such taxation was granted to Congress under Amendment XVI in 1913.) * Free and Unlimited Coinage of Silver. The Populists in 1892 raised the silver issue, but not with the same fervor that would emerge four years later. (The free silver crusade would die a natural death in the years following 1896, as prosperity returned and the world's gold supply increased.)
The Populist Party was popular in Cleveland, Ohio where it began. It first appeared in the Presidential election of 1892.
Omaha Platform
No one thought that their party party would have a bigger impact than the democrat and republican party.
A graduated income tax, Limits on immigration, and the secret ballot
William McKinley and William J. Bryan ran in both the 1896 race and the 1900 race. McKinley was a Republican and ran on a conservative platform. He attracted supporters that were in the upper crust. Bryan was the Democratic and Populist candidate; he represented the working man and advocated crusade against the rich.
James B. Weaver
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The People's Party (Populist) in 1892.
The Populist Party Platform in 1892 was called the Omaha Platform. It called for the graduated income tax, the secret ballot, the direct election of Senators, and the eight-hour day.
The Populist Party was popular in Cleveland, Ohio where it began. It first appeared in the Presidential election of 1892.
populist
In the presidential race of 1892, fear of the Populist Party's egalitarian proposals (such as __________) caused Southern Democrats to use fraud and intimidation because they feared the effect on white supremacy.
The Populist movement was not successful. They ran a third party candidate for president in 1892 and lost. However, it was the most successful of the third parties.
The Omaha Platform
It did not unite various interest groups.
The Populist Party adopted the Omaha Platform at its first convention in Omaha, Nebraska on July 4, 1892. In the elections that year, more Populists won races than at any other time in American history.
Omaha Platform