LAD #23: The Populist Party Platform

The Populist Party was a reaction to industrialization, and opposed big business. It emerged from the farmer's alliance in the 1800s, and was the third independent party of Democrats and Republicans. They were usually Southern farmers, and opposed big business because small farmers could not compete with it. Populists believed that the workers were being denied their basic rights, and supported workers and the formation of unions. Populists opposed immigration because it took away jobs from Americans. They believed in the increase of power of the government and the free coinage of silver and gold in the ratio of 16 to 1. They also wanted an income tax, an increase in the circulation of wealth, and the formation of a permanent union of workers. Essentially, the Populists were fighting for more more power for the average working man.