Populist Movement

The Populist Movement, also known as the People's Party was a movement in late-19th century America.  It grew out of groups such as the Grange Movement.  It was largely a movement of farmers, who were poor and felt big businesses, such as railroads, were to blame.  Its leaders included Thomas Watson and William Jennings Bryan.  The populists had a series of demands known as the Omaha Platform.  Here are some of the things the Omaha Platform wanted:

 An income tax
 Direct election of United States Senators
 Free coinage of silver (at a rate of 16 ozs. of silver to one ounce of gold) to encourage inflation
 Government ownership of railroads and other large businesses

Though the Populists never and only controlled a few state governments for a few years, many of the demands of the Omaha Platform, such as the income tax and direct election of Senators, were later done as part of the Progressive Movement

Category:19th century in the United States