Populist Party Platform of 1892
July 1892
Expressions of Sentiments
1- RESOLVED, That we demand a free ballot and a fair count in all elections and pledge ourselves to
secure it to every legal voter without Federal Intervention, through the adoption by the States of the
unperverted Australian or secret ballot system.
2- RESOLVED, That the revenue derived from a graduated income tax should be applied to the reduction
of the burden of taxation now levied upon the domestic industries of this country.
3 - RESOLVED, That we pledge our support to fair and liberal pensions to ex-Union soldiers and sailors.
4 - RESOLVED, That we condemn the fallacy of protecting American labor under the present system,
which opens our ports to the pauper and criminal classes of the world and crowds out our wageearners; and we denounce the present ineffective laws against contract labor, and demand the further
restriction of undesirable emigration.
5 - RESOLVED, That we cordially sympathize with the efforts of organized workingmen to shorten the
hours of labor, and demand a rigid enforcement of the existing eight-hour law on Government work,
and ask that a penalty clause be added to the said law.
6 - RESOLVED, That we regard the maintenance of a large standing army of mercenaries, known as the
Pinkerton system, as a menace to our liberties, and we demand its abolition. . . .
7 - RESOLVED, That we commend to the favorable consideration of the people and the reform press the
legislative system known as the initiative and referendum.
8 - RESOLVED, That we favor a constitutional provision limiting the office of President and Vice-President
to one term, and providing for the election of Senators of the United States by a direct vote of the
people.
9 - RESOLVED, That we oppose any subsidy or national aid to any private corporation for any purpose.
10 - RESOLVED, That this convention sympathizes with the Knights of Labor and their righteous contest
with the tyrannical combine of clothing manufacturers of Rochester, and declare it to be a duty of all
who hate tyranny and oppression to refuse to purchase the goods made by the said manufacturers, or
to patronize any merchants who sell such goods.
Questions
1. What is the Populist view on immigration and foreigners? Give specific content to justify your
position.
2. What is the Populist view on Unionization? Give specific content to justify your position.
3. Under the Expression of Sentiments, identify the specific “resolved” points that were eventually
adopted and are now law.
The Rise of Populism
A. In the 1870s and 1880s, American farmers' costs rose because of expensive new machinery,
high shipping costs, property taxes, and interest rates.
B. Because farmers were producing more at this time, the increase in market supply drove
down the price that people would pay for those crops.
C. This combination of trends drives many farmers into debt. Farmers saw corruption and
greed within government, business, and finance as the source of their hard times.
D. Farmers complained of currency shortage and called for free coinage of silver, which would
allow the government to put more dollars into circulation.
Percentage of Labor Force in Agriculture
1860
53%
1870
52 %
1880
51 %
1890
43 %
1900
40 %
Farm Production
Year
Farms (m)
Cotton (m) Corn (m)
1860
2
3.8
839
1870
2.7
4.4
1,124
1880
4
6.6
1,706
1890
4.6
8.7
1,65
1900
5.7
10.1
2,662
Wheat (m)
173
254
502
449
599
Farmers Establish the Populist Party
A. In 1892, farmers officially established the Populist Party, which called for a larger money
supply and government loans to farmers.
B. In 1896, Democrats chose William Jennings Bryan, who supported many populist ideals, as
their Presidential candidate.
C. Election of 1896: Rep. - McKinley, Dem. – Bryan. Americans thought Bryan was too radical,
and he lost the election.
D. After 1896, Populism faded as the party never gained support outside the farming
community.
Some further thoughts on Gold and Silver
A country’s money supply is the total of everyone’s coins, paper money, money in the bank,
and checks. If the money supply increases, people have more money, and they can spend more
money. However, since the supply of money has increased it is worth less or more specifically
it buys less than it did before. This is why people who have money saved or possess significant
investments don’t want the store of value of their money eroded by an increase in the money
supply.
At the same time, the increase in the money supply encourages individuals such as store
owners to increase the price for the things that they sell. When prices increase over a period of
time this causes inflation. Likewise, if the money supply decreases, people have less money
and spend less. Store owners start charging less to try to sell their things. When prices decrease
over time this causes deflation.
During the 30 years after the end of the Civil War leading to 1896, the United States
experienced deflation. Gold supplies were low and the government was decreasing the supply
of money. By 1896, people who did not have much money wanted the government to increase
the money supply. This was especially true for farmers, who were getting low prices for the
crops they were selling. Because the supply was limited by the amount of gold available, they
wanted the government to use both silver and gold. This idea was called the Free Silver
Movement. People who felt this way were called silver bugs.
People who had money wanted to keep the gold standard and not increase the money supply.
If silver was also used, they thought that inflation would happen. They thought their money
would be worth less and that they would not be able to buy as much. They were called gold
bugs.
Questions
1. You’re a Nebraska farmer. Your corn crop is selling at a very low price. You need more money
and you want your crops to sell at a higher price. Who would you vote for in the 1896 election?
2. You are a businessperson in New York. Your business is doing well and you have a lot of
money in the bank. Who would you vote for in the 1896 election?