Populism

Populism, “grass roots” agrarian political movement incorporating a farmer-labor coalition. Specifically, it refers to the doctrines of the U.S. People's Party. The post-Civil War farm depression had created agrarian reform movements like the Grange and the Farmers' Alliance. In 1891–92 delegates from the Farmers' Alliance and labor organization set up the People's Party, which espoused an eight-hour day, government ownership of railroads, graduated income tax, government postal savings banks, direct election of senators, increase of the money supply, and free silver. At first the party gained support rapidly. However, the People's Party declined following the 1896 presidential election, when the Democratic candidate, W.J. Bryan, captured most of the populist vote. The term populism is also applied to any policies appealing to the common citizen, such as those advocated by Huey Long and George Wallace.