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Populism. Populism refers to the political movement (and the Populist Party) of mostly farmers who demanded government reforms in the late 19 th century Their demands: Regulation of railroads and other big businesses; the adoption of silver as basis for issuing money. Farmers’ Problems.
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Populism • Populism refers to the political movement (and the Populist Party) of mostly farmers who demanded government reforms in the late 19th century • Their demands: Regulation of railroads and other big businesses; the adoption of silver as basis for issuing money
Farmers’ Problems • Falling price of farm products and rising cost of farm operations: railroad transportation; machinery; fertilizers • Populist solutions: government regulation of railroad to keep costs down; lower tariff to reduce machinery cost and increase export of produce; adoption of silver to increase money supplies
Impact of Populism • Populists gained some local political power and split white votes, thus making black votes important and target of Jim Crow laws • Influenced Democratic platform in 1896 election and became symbol of third party activism