What did the populists want as part of their party platform?

Answer 1

The Populist Party expanded, grew and did well in elections. The Populist Party was formed from the resent in the Gilded Age.

Answer 2

Neither of the two major political party's satisfied the needs of farmers. The Populist Party, aka the People's Party, existed from 1891 to 1908 and was popular in the Southern United States, the Southwest and the Plains States. It was during the period in US History when the need for reform, at all levels of government and society, was most evident. It organized in opposition to mainstream parties and the government's regulation of currency, opposed railroads, banks, merchants, brokers, powerful landowners and other entities that were considered elite, and promoted agrarianism, regulation and reform.

They advocated for a postal savings system so that ordinary people might avoid depositing their money in privately owned banks, and for a graduated income tax. They felt the wealthy should pay a higher percentage in taxes than the middle class or poor. They also called for an increase in the amount of money in circulation through the unlimited coinage of silver.

The Populists believed the Republican and Democratic parties were controlled by those powerful entities and the small farmer had no voice in government policies. The Populist party actively included women. Its platform was called the Omaha Platform and it called for such action as the abolishment of national banks, civil service reform, a graduated income tax, an eight hour work day, government control of railroads and telephones and telegraphs. The Populists sought to replace the Democratic Party.

The Populists supported William Jennings Bryan in the 1896 election who ran with a Populist vice presidential nominee, Thomas E. Watson of Georgia. Bryan was the democratic nominee. Bryan won the Populist strongholds but was defeated by the republican candidate, William McKinley.

The Populist Party ended because it could not get enough of its candidates elected. Also, many of its ideas were taken over by the two main political parties. One populist group, The Farmer Labor Party, in Minnesota, became the local Democratic Party. However, other Populists, such as Bob LaFollette, were Republicans.

What impressed people most about the Populist Party was the zeal with which they addressed the needed reforms of the day, almost like and evangelical fervor. Many of the ideas and goals of the Populists would become laws later on in American history. It called for the election of US senators by popular vote, rather than by state legislatures (17th Amendment). It demanded the universal use of the secret (Australian) ballot, to prevent employers from forcing workers to vote a certain way. It introduced the ideas of the initiative, referendum and recall which were added to many state constitutions.

Answer 3

Populism is a political philosophy that focuses on serving and listening to the concerns and ideas of common people, as opposed to the elite. The United States has seen a number of populist political parties, starting with the first one in the 1890s.