Compare And Contrast Populism And Progressive Movements

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Following the Age of Enlightenment, two significant political movements began to occur in the late nineteenth onward towards the early twentieth century. These two essential advancements, known as Populism and Progressive movements, both ultimately led to a increase in advances of science, human rights, improved economic development, and was predominately centered around the wants and needs of the people. Although both these movements were vital to the success of the United States, they had a significant impact in varying ways. Through Progressive liberalism in the twentieth century and a populist movement following the industrialization of the Western world, despite having opposing views, both movements led to an overall well being and economic …show more content…

These individuals, who were most likely white, poor, republican farmers, believed that their government favored industrialists and big banking rather than small business owners and farmers, like themselves. As stated by author O’Donnell, “ the alliances promoted the establishment of cooperatives that combined the buying and selling power of farmers to gain better prices for their produce and lower rates for loans and crop insurance” (Pearson 519). With the antagonism rising within the southern farming community, the Populist movement, which was emergence of the opinion of the majority, materialized. This anti-elite mentality of the southern farmers led to an increase in change of agriculturalist for the better and an overall opposition of the elites as well as banks and railroads. Due to the fact that this movement began in the south, many of the members who, as stated above, were white and republican, happened to belong to the Ku Klux Klan. This not only created hostility towards the elite, but to anyone who was against them such as individuals belonging to the Republican party, Non-Christians, and non-whites. Populism in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century may not have been long lived, but had an everlasting effect on United States

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