How is the legacy of the Populist Party carried on by Progressive movements?

Answer 1

The pursuit of socio-economic justice bound the Populists together, along with ongoing commitments to liberty, equality, justice (in a broad sense) and the rule of law. Progressive movements which followed the Populist Mary Ellen Lease's admonition to farmers to "raise less corn and more hell" successfully established: the rights of laboring people to form unions; the rights of farmers to establish Alliances and farm cooperatives; the necessity of passing the 16th amendment to the U S Constitution, giving the federal government the power to tax incomes; the passage of the 17th Amendment, creating direct election of Senators, and the 19th amendment, giving females the right to vote, among other reforms. Not to be forgotten are the myriad actions protecting consumers and ongoing protection of public parks and monuments, among other ideas and actions which aided our nation to "progress" in its ongoing evolution as a democratic society. It's fair to say that the New Deal was rooted in the Progressive movement of the early 20th century, with its roots in the People's movement, the POPULISTS of the late 19th/early 20th century. Twenty first century Americans need to relocate their Populist roots!

Martha Warner, retired high school social studies teacher, from Vermont