Populist Party :: American History Politics Essays

democrat PartyThe Populist Party, a third political party that originated in America in the latter part of the nineteenth century, derived as a result of husbandman discontent and economic distress. This was caused by the countrys shift from an agricultural American invigoration to one in which industrialists dominated the nations development. The public felt as if they were world cheated by these robber barons, a term given to those who took advantage of the bosom and lower classes by boldly stealing the fruits of their toils (Morgan, 30). These corporate tycoons conduct was legal, still ethically dubious it was. Cornelius Vanderbilt, a well-known railroad baron, reportedly in one case said, Law What do I care about the law? Haint I got the power? (Morgan, 30) The change from agrarian to industrial had a profound do on everyones life. Ignatius Donnelly, a leader in the Populist Party wrote, We outfit in the midst of a nation brought to the verge of moral, political, and mater ial ruin. decadency dominates the ballot-box, the Legislatures, the Congress, and touches even the ermine of the bench . . . A vast conspiracy against human beings has been organized (Tindall, 957). As a result of this significant transformation, along with some(prenominal) different perspectives of peoples mores, several reform movements were commenced, such as prohibition, socialism, and the Greenback sedulousness Party. Each of these movements was launched by different coalitions in hopes of making a rest either for themselves or for the good of the country. The farmers, specifically, were unhappy for four particular reasons animal(prenominal) problems, social and intellectual concerns, economic difficulties, and political frustrations. The physical concerns the climate of the eon period. Following 1885, there was a large drought on the American prairie, thus causing this land to become known as the trunk Bowl. Furthermore, there were extreme blizzards resulting in innume rable deaths of cattle and livestock. Also, farms were very single out causing the women and children to lead a life of solitude and boredom. They demanded change. In fact, the women were the ones to extend libraries and other meeting places for themselves and their children. This isolation made schooling for children quite difficult. some kids who lived on the farm did not receive a proper education, or one of any kind for that matter. Farmers economic problems are more intricate. Events amaze the farmer. They believed that deflation was the cause of their problem.