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What is Populism?

Populism is an American movement that started in 1891 with the founding of the Populist Party, which worked to improve conditions for farmers and laborers. The Populist Party supported its own third-party candidate, James B. Weaver (1833–1912), in the 1892 presidential election. Although he lost, the Populists remained a strong force. In the following election of 1896 they backed Democratic Party candidate William Jennings Bryan (1860–1925), who proclaimed himself sympathetic to the causes of the Farmer's Alliance, the National Grange (a reform-minded agricultural organization), as well as the nation's working class. Soon after Bryan lost to William McKinley (1843–1901) the Populist Party began to fall apart, disappearing altogether by 1908.

Nevertheless, many of the party's initiatives and ideals remained strong themes in the nation's political life. During the next two decades many Populist Party goals...

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