What are the main ideas of the populist party?

Answer 1

formed from frustrated farmers in the agricultural belts of the West and South. The Populists demanded inflation through free and unlimited coinage of silver. They also called for a graduated income tax; government ownership of the railroads, telegraph, and telephone; the direct election of U.S. senators; a one-term limit on the presidency; the adoption of the initiative and referendum to allow citizens to shape legislation more directly; a shorter workday; and Immigration restriction.

Answer 2

Some problems that farmers faced were monopolies. The marketplace was dominated by one or a few powerful sellers who dictated the prices. The railroad was the largest monopoly ,dominated by one or a few powerful buyers. Another problem was debt. The prices were falling dramatically and at the same time the U.S was experiencing deflation (less money in circulation) and agriculturally prices plummeted. The farmers attempted to find some solutions to their problems by creating the granger movement and farmers alliances. The Granger movement was also known as the order of patrons of husbandry). A movement of farmers cooperatives was found under the granger movement. They were all about education and helping themselves. They wanted to have a mutual insurance companies and cooperative banking. They Granger movement died out due to the Supreme Court because laws were struck down when the Granger movement started targeting the railroads. The Farmers Alliances was popular between the 1880's and 1890's. They were all about education and cooperation. They had exchange stores and they were against the taking of profit. They also tried to target monopsyny's. They mostly consisted of middle and upper class farmers. Big businesses did not like these groups and decided to boycott any farmer(s) associated with alliances. For example, Montgomery Wards refused to sell equipment to farmers in alliances. The populist party wanted a change in finance ("free silver), graduated income tax, government ownership of RR's, telegraphs/telephones, a sub-treasury plan and greater political participation. They wanted a sub-treasury plan so the government would buy storage buildings for crops and they wanted to be able to get low interest loans based upon the amount of crops they had in storage.