Populist Movement Research Paper

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“You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.” William Jennings Bryan, populist supported Democratic presidential candidate, said this while campaigning for presidency in 1896. Bryan marked a cornerstone in the populist movement, because even though the populists were unable to nominate their own candidate, they shifted the balance in major politics, and marked the success of the populist movement. This success can be seen in both their immediate impact on politics, as well as their long term effect on policies in the United States of America.
Before the populist movement affected America in the long run, they had several immediate effects on politics of the late 1800’s. In 1892, the populist party had one of the most successful third party candidates for the presidential office. Their candidate, Grover Cleveland, won five states, and secured twenty two electoral votes. This such success marked a shift in the voting dynamics of the American populis. Four years later, when the populist party met again to propose a new candidate, they face the decision to either back William Bryan or to put forth their own candidate. Eventually, the party decided to back …show more content…

Almost all of the ideals the party's platform came to fruition after the party had ceased to exist. Most of these ideals can still be seen today, including the direct election of senators, which came to be in the seventeenth amendment. The eight hour workday for government employees is still in effect to this day. Graduated income tax, which came to be in the sixteenth amendment, and the regulation of trade, in which congress broke up monopolies and kept one corporation from holding to much power. Each of these now standard policies where all major points in the populist platform before they were ever policy in

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