Essay On The Populist Party

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The Populist Party, also known as the People’s Party was a former political party of the United States in the late 1800s with roots in the Grange and Farmer’s Alliance and the Knights of Labor. The agrarian farmers viewed that urban life, capitalism, and technology to be destructive to the independence and dignity of the weak and improvised. The aggrieved workers wanting reform banded together with the indebted farmers wanting reform to battle against the capitalist order of the mistrusted elitists and Big Business in partnership with the national banks. Together they advocated for a Populist democracy which included more political participation through reforms such as the use of popular referendums where citizens would be allowed to propose and review legislation. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. In addition, they advocated for government ownership of public services and currency expansion and the abolishment of the national bank. Their push for equality at the ballots is seen as the Populists wanted to direct election of United States Senators. They felt that the senators were being chosen by the elites and weren’t representing the common man in that aspect. As a result, the 17th Amendment was eventually passed. Another reform they wanted was that Americans should have a graduated income tax meaning that income tax should be proportional to the amount of wealth and individual has. As part as the fairness they sought in government, they believed that the rich should be taxed more in order to pay for programs that would give the weak and poor opportunities that they otherwise would not have. With Amer... ... middle of paper ... ...ts had a liberal mindset by viewing the capitalistic society with mistrust as they held great power among the nation. Throughout the Populists’ many reform movements, liberal aspects to be skeptical towards power and individualistic suitably fit with them. Their goal was to bring about change that would meet standards that would bring about a sense of fairness and equality to all in the nation during the period of rapid industrialization. Fairness and equality would hinder the assault of corruption against the common man. Through their liberal movements as a political party, the Populists did bring about certain changes such as the 16th and 17th Amendments as well as the congressional power to regulate interstate commerce that majority of Americans have come to accept today. As their name states, the Populists renewed the sense that in democracy, the majority rules.

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