The Populist Movement Essay

The popular reform movement altered American history between 1860 and 1890 so that it included the Gilded Age, the Reconstruction Era, and the Progressive Era. (Seymour 54). Industrialization grew during this period, which contributed to the U.S. migrant boom. During this time, the north and west experienced a rapid roaring of wealth and economic growth, making the United States the most significant nation in terms of industrial, commercial, and agricultural power. Farmers’ incomes initially increased starting in 1865 and then continued to do so until 1918. (Seymour 102). The popular reform movement will be the main topic of this essay, along with any effects it had. With a decisive victory over the United States over the southern secessionists, it became a powerful and united nation with a stable national government. When the state was reconstructed, slavery got to an end and built their political power. After 1900, the progressive era developed business, political and social reforms that modernized many areas of the government. New roles like the expansion of education, curtailment of corporate excesses and modernization of the state and society were embraced. Through progressive work, the new middle-class organizations that fought against corruption under the power of the entrenched was also formed.

Challenges faced in the great-plains and the south during the movement

In America, farmers went through a lot of problems in the late nineteenth century. The prices of agriculture declined steadily after 1870 due to foreign competition and domestic overproduction. Farmers had to spend more when it came to buying of machinery because of the high rates that were charged by the grain elevator operators and railroads with the aim of having a constant source (Harold 114). The high tariffs are what brought the high prices. Farmers were also forced to borrow money to purchase land or farming equipment thus making them falling into debts. Lack of finances also made money circulation to be scarce either through the unlimited coinage of the silver or the printing greenbacks.

Despite the fact that the opening of the Great Plains and the use of farm machinery made farmers grow as well as the spread of the railroads, more crops were dumped into the American markets. This depressed the prices in a way that farmers could not demand their produce. The primary reason for this effect is that the rapid growth of roads directed most farmers to take food to a remote place. Also, more farmers were growing but yet the profits were less. The cotton production between 1873 and 1894 on the other hand also lost its value after losing about 15 cents a pound because of overproduction (Bernadette 201). All sectors of the agricultural economy faced the same phenomenon.

After seeing immediately at the end of the civil war, farmers came up with new plans. For instance, in 1867, the Patrons of the Husbandry was established to sponsor social and educational programs for farmers as well as to encourage the existing cooperatives. Also, the Grange that was in the political arena was successfully secured in different states to regulate warehousing and railroad rates that were supported by the Greenback labor party. Farmers also encouraged the Congress to print the greenback dollar which was similar to the ones used during the civil. Inflation was also created by expanding the money supply to include dollars instead of gold (Bernadette 255).

The reasons for the rise of the farmer’s alliance movement

The Framers alliance was formed because the Grange declined in 1870. By the time the year 1890 reached, there were two large alliances developed in the South and Northwestern that had over three million members globally (Harold 98). Despite the fact that the Alliance movement encouraged women to participate among the outspoken leaders, the southern alliance was later separated. As a result, the National Colored farmers was formed by the American farmers under the representatives of the Farmers mutual benefit association and the southern alliance in Florida (Ocala) in December 1890 (Harold 144). These demands brought the abolition of the national banks, the creation of the federal sub-treasuries and the unlimited coinage silver which controlled the communication and transportation of graduated income tax and the direct election of senators.

The primary reason why farmers formed the alliance is that they wanted to create inflation because it helped the debtors. This formed the granger laws in 1874 thus establishing maximum shipping rates. Grangers also gathered their resources together, and they managed to buy grain elevators that made them enjoy storing grains. A good example was that if a farmer had $ 3,000 and for every bushel of wheat they can earn $ 1, then 3,000 bushels were supposed to be sold to pay off the debt they had. Inflation the pushed the prices of the bushel of wheat to $3 which will make the farmer make sell less and make more (Bernadette 250).

Why the populists attempted to shape the future of the United States

Since the populist was the most significant third-party group, America had, they set up hundreds of newspapers, cooperatives, journals and party chapters to activate the elections. The party platform made the government to have ownership in various sectors of the economy like telegraphs, railroads and telephone systems. Also, since it was a third party, it had a challenge to the U.S due to the republic and democratic candidates. The populist also wanted to keep the blacks from voting as well as splitting racism because the majority of them were anti-racist. Today the word racist means either someone who is anti-wealthy with elite power or an ignorant bigot.

Why the populist allied with William Jennings Bryan

In 1896, the populist decided to ally with William Jennings Bryan because they wanted a greater control over the government and the economy. Their intention was also to give the people power over the state through direct election of the U.S senators, secret ballot and by the replacement of the Electoral College. Most party members demanded the inflation of the currency by issuing the silver currency. Since the mid-1870’s, there have been questions arising concerning money from the government because they wanted the silver bullion to be represented at the historical value ration which was between silver and gold (Harold 198). The populist also believed that the free silver policy initiated by Bryan would inflate the currency thus leading to prosperity

The long-term significance of the populist movement

One initial impact of this action was the creation of the third party in 1891 which activated the elections. The party platform under the name government ownership had several sectors in the economy like telegraphs, railroads and the telephone systems. Another significant impact was that the people’s party gained momentum during the 1892 elections mainly the Western State. James Weaver a national candidate also won the elections after drawing to more than one million votes especially in Colorado, Nevada, and Kansas.

The fact that there was success, the populist also supported the Democrat of William Jennings in the 1896 elections because he had the same views concerning the proportion of the silver. Lastly, the impact of the populist movement brought the silver coinage which became a national issue in 1890 (Seymour 154). The coinage silver was a way of inflating the currency to stop the high deflation of unemployment. It is therefore essential to know about the populist reform movement because it has made America to have two major political parties. Also, it has enabled the presidential elections of 2016 to reshape the agenda and platforms of the government. It is also vital to understand this movement because it has made America to become the second industrial revolution regarding opportunities and inventions.

The impact of the populist reform movement on progressive reform efforts

In 1892, the Populist Party paved the way for the liberal reform through its party platform. They did this because demand was high particularly the boycott of merchants who made many sales from the oppressive manufacturers as well as the outlaws of the Pinkerton detective agency. Also, there was the demand of government control utilities and graduated income tax that generated the widespread of the progressive form in the nation (Bernadette 250).

Conclusion

The populist reform movement as elaborated on the essay had a different effect on America. As much as it had adverse effects, it also made America become a great nation. America has also been built. However, the Populist Party paved the way for the progressive reform through its party platform.

Works Cited

Brexel, Bernadette. The Populist Party: A Voice for the Farmers in the Industrialized Society. Vol. 3, Rosen Classroom, 2014. 200-304

Dudley, Harold M. The Populist movement: a study of the farmer’s revolt of the nineties resulting from the economic discontent in agrarian sections of the United States, 1865-1890. Vol. 5, University of Alabama Press, 2010. 54-275

Seymour, Glen Huron. The Populist movement. Vol. 6, Sage Publishing, 2011. 40-160