Populist Party’s Platform of 1892

INTRODUCTION

The Populist Party commonly refereed to as the peoples party was a relatively short lived political party within the United States during the 19th century . It was particularly popular within western farmers since it was directly opposed to the gold standard system of international trade . However the party did not last long in United States politics

Regardless of this fact the party 's ideas or manifestos have been employed in United States politics even to date . In essence the party grew out of an agrarian uprising especially after the collapse

of agricultural prices in 1873 . It arose from a farmer 's alliance of farmers who had an economic target of collective action against merchants , brokers and rail roads as well as an integrated nation wide policy

Most importantly the driving force towards the creation of the party arose from the refusal of both the democrats and the republicans to accept the farmers ' alliance idea of the use of silver as the national model of coinage

SHORT HISTORY

The Populist Party or the people 's party was formed by the farmers alliance in collaboration with the knights of labor . This initial formation took place between the years 1899 and 1890 . The actual realization of their dreams was in 1892 when the party held its annual convention in Nebraska . This is the time that the party actually nominated members for the first time for national elections . In 1896 the democrats incorporated ideas of the people 's party 1892 platform and this negatively impacted on the party 's progress . In addition the ensuing collaboration between the democrats and the Populist Party did not auger well with the already existing relation between the populists and the republicans in the south . This marked the onset of the party 's decline in United States politics

THE 1892 PARTY PLATFORM

The Populist Party 's 1892 platform was commonly refereed to as the Omaha platform since it w3as held in Omaha Nebraska . In this platform the Populist Party demanded the following

Complete overhaul of all national banks . This was aimed at reducing the risk to citizens of excessive exploitation by these corporations

Immediate Imposition of direct election of senators within the United States was demanded as well . This was directed at reducing the prevalence of corruption and bribery in the voting system . It was also aimed at increasing public participation in the electoral process , as well as to reduce instances of insider trading within the big parties

The platform also sought immediate introduction of civil service reforms . In the preamble of the manifesto the party claimed that the time had come for the railroads to own the people or the people to own the railroads . For the later to happen there was need to introduce constitutional amendments to make sure that the government would not use the power of the employees to intimidate the people . Thus civil service reforms and regulations had to be introduced to prevent this

The platform also demanded the introduction of a national...