Populist Party Goals

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The Populist Party, although short lived, was one of the most successful third party movements in American history. Though the party itself is no longer existent, many of the party’s ideas and goals lead to legislation after their demise. Made up of mostly farmers and rural workers, the Populist Party sought to make changes to help the rural people of the South and Midwest. The rapid urbanization, immigration, and western expansion that took place at the end of and decades after the Civil War caused the government to keep focus on urban cities and how they were aiding in the country’s economic growth as a whole. Farmers now had access to more land and innovative strategies and were more productive than ever before, but with the population However, farmers were not the only members of the Populist Party. Industrial workers and miners became very involved in the Party as well. Their dim view of government was that it was corrupt and needed change. They had several goals in mind, many of which were successes, even if it didn’t happen until years after. The Populist Party elected James Weaver as their presidential candidate in the 1892 election. After receiving 8% of the votes, the Populist Party finally had national attention and could finally voice a solid platform. One of their biggest goals was the “subtreasury plan,” which is now the Warehouse Act of 1916. The subtreasury plan was created to assist the farmer to yield maximum profit. In this plan, the government would build storage warehouses where farmers could store their commodities and sell them when prices were high while the government paid the farmers in advance at low interest rates, and when the crops were sold, the farmers could pay back their loans. Populists also wanted the federal government to regulate railroads and telegraphs so private companies could no longer charge high rates and the farmer could get his crops to market at a low cost. A gradual income tax was also on the wish list of the Populist Party, as well as the coinage of silver, all to increase money supply throughout the country and especially in rural

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