An Analysis of the Populist Partys Premature Fall free essay sample

Many of the Alliances were statewide, and most formed in the late sasss. Eventually, using the success of minor farm groups who had won elections, the Populist Party formed from southern and western farmers. Although there was a large group of northerners that was sympathetic to the party, it still tended to vote Republican. The partys first convention, held in Omaha, Nebraska, brought in a variety of groups, including the Knights of Labor. The Peoples (Populist) party was trying to attract anyone and everyone to join its cause. General James B. Weaver of Iowa was nominated for President, and his running mate was a Confederate veteran.The partys platform was very widespread, and it bordered on socialistic. The platform included graduated income tax, national ownership of utilities, a substructures, and bimetallism. To please industrial workers, the party also advocated eight hour workdays, restriction of undesirable immigration, and it also shunned Pinker detectives. We will write a custom essay sample on An Analysis of the Populist Partys Premature Fall or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The partys main supporters were still, however, the farmers. In order to raise prices on agricultural products, it supported unlimited coinage of silver, increasing the amount of money in circulation, and also allowing the holding of agricultural products off the market in times of low prices.In the 1 asss, the amount of silver it took to make a silver dollar was actually worth more than $1 , which made coining the metal unprofitable. However, with the discovery Of a large number Of silver deposits in 1 874, it again became plausible to coin the money. However, the Coinage Act of 1873 denominated the metal and put the U. S. On the Gold Standard. This Crime of 73 infuriated inflations and silver miners, who demanded a return to bimetallism. In 1 878, the Bland-Allison Act made for the purchase of $2-4 million of silver per month, at market value.The government always bought the minimum, however, and this did very little to the economy. In 1 890, the Sherman Silver Purchase Act required 4. 5 million ounces of silver to be bought monthly, but even this was not enough to save the plummeting value of silver. As no one was happy with the compromises, Grover Cleveland repealed the Sherman Silver Purchase Act in 1893, which reverted the country back to a gold standard, and caused the southern and western democrats to split from the party. These issues were still present for the election of 1896.The Democratic nomination for President, William Jennings Brian, was also supported by the Populists. While they feared losing their individual identity, they had no candidate of their own that could win the election. As a matter of fact, a pure populist nominee would ensure McKinley election. In an attempt to preserve the partys identity, the Populists nominated a vice-president separate from the Democrats. Although Brian managed to win the South, the Plains states, and the Rocky Mountains, McKinley pulled out the rest, and won with 271 electoral votes toBrans 176. Brian lost in the popular votes by fewer than 600,000 votes. The lost election spelled the end of the Populist party. In addition to the lost presidential election, the party also lost many local and state elections. The South divided again, because their support of blacks went against their white supremacy beliefs, which caused a great rift. In addition, the western farmers agendas were quite different from those of the southerners, which caused another split in the already wounded party. It was just a matter of time before the party faded into obscurity.