Populism and the Populist Movement in America for Dummies

Summary

This lecture explores populism in U.S. history, linking it to the Progressive Era and industrialization. Populism, stemming from the people's demand for reform, influenced federal reforms like the Progressive Era's Square Deal and income tax. The Populist Party, formed in 1891, united urban and rural reformers, advocating for public ownership of railroads, a silver standard, and graduated income tax. Though they never won a presidential election, their ideas influenced moderate change and Teddy Roosevelt's progressive reforms, showcasing how grassroots movements can shape national policies.

Takeaways

• 📚 Populism is a political approach that seeks support from the people and is not confined to any specific political ideology.
• 🏭 The Progressive Era, which includes significant federal and state reforms, is rooted in populism and emerged as a response to the Industrial Age.
• 🔗 Populism is a reaction to the societal issues caused by industrialization, aiming to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor.
• 👷‍♂️ The Populist Party was founded in 1891 as a coalition of reform-minded individuals from urban and rural backgrounds, including the Knights of Labor and farmer alliances.
• 🚂 The party advocated for public ownership of railroads and other industries that serve the public good, as a means to prevent abuse of power and to level the economic playing field.
• 💰 They supported the silver standard to increase the money supply, making loans more accessible to the common people and promoting economic growth.
• 🏦 Populists called for the abolition of the National Bank, favoring local banks that were more accountable to the people.
• 🗳️ The Populist Party pushed for the direct election of United States senators to ensure that they represented the interests of the general public.
• 💼 They championed a graduated income tax to fund social welfare programs, providing opportunities for those less fortunate and promoting social mobility.
• 🎓 The platform of the Populist Party, though not winning the presidency, influenced later Progressive reforms and highlighted the need for change from the people.

Q & A

What is populism and how is it defined in the context of this lecture?

Populism is defined as support from the people, transcending liberal or conservative ideologies. It is a political approach that seeks to appeal to the common person and is characterized by a focus on the interests of the general population.

How is the Progressive Era connected to populism?

The Progressive Era is rooted in populism, as the demand for federal and state reforms during this period was a direct response to the issues faced by the people during the Industrial Age. Populism acted as a catalyst for the Progressive Era, bringing about change from the bottom up.

What were the two main groups that formed the Populist Party?

The Populist Party was formed by a marriage of reform-minded people in cities, represented by the Knights of Labor, and reform-minded people in rural farming areas, represented by organizations like the Grange.

What were the key reforms that the Populist Party advocated for?

The Populist Party advocated for public ownership of railroads and transportation industries, the silver standard to expand the money supply, abolition of the National Bank, direct election of United States senators, and a graduated income tax to fund social welfare programs.

Why did the Populist Party support the silver standard?

The Populist Party supported the silver standard as a means to expand the money supply, making it easier for people, particularly farmers and the working class, to obtain loans and improve their economic conditions.

How did the Populist Party view the role of banks and the money supply?

The Populist Party believed that the National Bank was controlled by the elite and favored the wealthy, and they advocated for local banks that would be more responsive to the needs of the people.

What was the significance of the direct election of United States senators in the Populist Party's platform?

The direct election of United States senators was significant because the Populist Party believed that senators chosen by the elite did not represent the interests of the general population, and they sought a more democratic process.

Why did the Populist Party advocate for a graduated income tax?

The Populist Party advocated for a graduated income tax to tax the wealthy more heavily in order to fund programs that would provide opportunities for those who were less fortunate, promoting social mobility and the American ideal of equal opportunity.

Who were some of the notable figures associated with the Populist Party?

Notable figures associated with the Populist Party included William Jennings Bryan, who was a prominent Democratic leader and ran for president as a Populist candidate in 1896 and 1900.

How did the ideas of the Populist Party influence later political movements?

The ideas of the Populist Party influenced later political movements by introducing and advocating for reforms that were later adopted during the Progressive Era, such as the direct election of senators and the graduated income tax. Their influence can also be seen in third-party movements that followed, which aimed to bring about change by introducing new ideas into the political discourse.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Populism and the Progressive Era

This paragraph introduces the topic of populism within the context of United States history, focusing on its emergence during the Industrial Age and the Progressive Era. The lecturer aims to define populism and its eras, highlighting key figures and events of the Progressive Era such as Teddy Roosevelt, the Square Deal, and various amendments. Populism is described as a broad-based support from the people, crossing political lines, and is linked to the demand for reforms. The paragraph also discusses the role of third parties in influencing federal reforms and the founding of the Populist Party in 1891, which united urban and rural reformers. The Knights of Labor and the Farmers' Alliances are mentioned as precursors to the Populist Party, which sought to address the issues faced by the common people during the Industrial Age.

05:01

🗳️ Populist Party's Platform and Influence

The second paragraph delves into the specific demands and platform of the Populist Party, emphasizing their desire for public ownership of key industries like railroads and utilities to prevent abuse of power and serve the public good. It also touches on the party's stance on monetary policy, advocating for a silver standard to expand the money supply and make loans more accessible. The paragraph outlines other reforms the party sought, including the abolition of the National Bank, direct election of senators, and a graduated income tax to fund social welfare programs. The Populist Party, despite not winning the presidency, influenced future political movements and figures, including Teddy Roosevelt's progressive reforms. The lecturer concludes by emphasizing the party's role in advocating for the American ideal of opportunity for all, regardless of wealth.

Keywords

💡Populism

Populism refers to a political approach that seeks to represent the interests of ordinary people, often against the perceived elite. In the video, populism is described as a movement that sprang up in response to the challenges faced during the Industrial Age, particularly among farmers and urban laborers. It is noted as a precursor to the Progressive Era, advocating for reforms that would later be adopted by major political parties. The video uses the founding of the Populist Party in 1891 as a key example, highlighting its role in pushing for federal reforms.

💡Progressive Era

The Progressive Era is a period of widespread social activism and political reform across the United States spanning from the 1890s to the 1920s. The video connects this era to the populist movement, suggesting that the demands of the people for change, as seen in populism, led to the federal and state reforms characteristic of the Progressive Era. Examples given include the Square Deal, the establishment of the income tax, and the direct election of senators.

💡Industrialization

Industrialization is the process of social and economic change where industry becomes a predominant part of the economy and society. The video script positions industrialization as a catalyst for populism, as it created significant societal changes and challenges, particularly for farmers and workers, that necessitated a political response.

💡Knights of Labor

The Knights of Labor was one of the first significant labor unions in the United States, advocating for workers' rights, including an eight-hour workday and an end to child labor. In the video, it is mentioned as an urban reform element that merged with rural reform movements to form the Populist Party, illustrating the union's role in the broader populist movement.

💡Farmer Alliances

Farmer Alliances, such as the one referenced in the video by the character from 'Little House on the Prairie,' were organizations formed by farmers to collectively address issues like exploitation by railroads and other industries. These alliances are highlighted as a rural component of the populist movement, showing how they sought to pool resources to gain more power in negotiations.

💡Third Parties

Third parties in the U.S. political context refer to political parties other than the two major parties (Democratic and Republican). The video discusses how third parties, such as the Populist Party, rarely win elections but can influence policy by introducing new ideas and pushing major parties to adopt their reforms. The script mentions that the Populist Party won some Senate seats and had a competitive presence in the Electoral College.

💡Reform-Minded

Reform-minded individuals or groups are those who advocate for changes in political, social, or economic structures to address perceived injustices or inefficiencies. The video uses this term to describe both urban and rural supporters of populism, emphasizing their shared goal of pushing for societal changes to improve conditions for the common people.

💡Silver Standard

The Silver Standard was a monetary policy proposal that sought to back paper currency with both gold and silver, as opposed to the Gold Standard which used only gold. The video explains how the Populist Party advocated for the silver standard as a means to increase the money supply and make loans more accessible to the common people, reflecting their economic reform goals.

💡National Bank

The National Bank in the context of the video refers to the centralized banking system that the Populist Party sought to abolish. They believed that local banks, more closely tied to and controlled by the community, would better serve the interests of ordinary people rather than the wealthy and powerful.

💡Graduated Income Tax

A graduated income tax is a tax system where the tax rate increases as the taxable income increases. The video mentions this as one of the reforms advocated by the Populist Party, suggesting that wealthier individuals should contribute more to fund social programs that provide opportunities for those less fortunate, aligning with the populist goal of creating a more equitable society.

💡William Jennings Bryan

William Jennings Bryan was a prominent populist and Democratic leader who ran for president in 1896 and 1900. The video uses Bryan as an example of how the populist movement influenced mainstream politics, as he carried the populist message into the Democratic Party and helped to shape its platform.

Highlights

Lecture explores the roots of populism in the context of industrialization and the Progressive Era.

Populism defined as support from the people, transcending liberal and conservative divides.

The Progressive Era, marked by Teddy Roosevelt's Square Deal and significant federal and state reforms.

Populism as a response to the Industrial Age, leading to the Progressive Era.

Third parties, like the Populist Party, influence federal reform despite not winning elections.

The Populist Party's founding in 1891 as a marriage of urban and rural reform movements.

Knights of Labor and farmer alliances like the Grange contributed to the formation of the Populist Party.

The Populist Party's platform included public ownership of railroads and other public utilities.

The call for a silver standard to expand the money supply and aid struggling farmers and workers.

Demand for the abolition of the National Bank and support for local, people-owned banks.

The Populist Party's push for the direct election of U.S. senators to represent the people's interests.

Advocacy for a graduated income tax to fund social welfare programs and equalize opportunities.

William Jennings Bryan's role as a prominent figure in the Populist Party's presidential campaigns.

The Populist Party's influence on Progressive change, later adopted by figures like Teddy Roosevelt.

The lecture concludes by emphasizing the lasting impact of populism on American political reform.

Transcripts

to

the to

the hey guys welcome to another United

States history lecture this one on

populism in 10 minutes let's see if we

can't get to the root of populism

actually if we're going to discuss

populism let's kind of Define the um

eras around it a little bit which is

industrialization and the Progressive

Era if we look at the Progressive Era

most people are kind of familiar with

that it's 1900 Teddy Roosevelt the

Square Deal mck rakers the jungle 16th

Amendment income tax Progressive

graduated income tax the 17th Amendment

the direct election of senators sound

familiar this um Progressive age of

federal reform and there's State reforms

too like initiatives and referendums uh

the direct primary the recall mechanism

people power uh that's in a sense part

of progressivism too but progressivism

is rooted in populism right um populism

is a word that that is never dead what

it what it means is support from the

people so you can say on the left you

have populism that might be the uh

support that Obama found on the internet

when he ran his presidential campaign um

on the right we might see some people

might see the tea party as having

elements of populism from the from the

people um so populism isn't isn't a

liberal thing or conservative thing it

is a people thing so if we look at the

progressive age that comes from

somewhere um you know the support for

federal reform and all of those reforms

we mentioned previously doesn't just

kind of vaporiz out of thin air um as I

explain in class all big change starts

from the bottom up it starts for the

need or the demand of Reform about some

type of issue that people are facing so

populism is is a direct response to the

Industrial Age and the effect on the

federal level will be the Progressive

Era populism is in a sort the elevator

that brings us from the problems to the

reform um we have a thesis in class

we've said many

times excuse me um third parties never

win but they bring ideas that sometimes

influence and get passed um on on the

federal level so populism and we can

actually say the founding of the

populist party which is the political

party that is um um the example of

populism at the turn of the century um

is uh founded in 1891 right kind of as

as we kind of tailed of into the the end

of the 1800s and uh populism is a

marriage of um reform-minded people in

the cities and reform minded people in

the rural areas in the farming areas and

it's actually kind of a bringing

together of two reform um Avenues or

different um vehicles for reform um one

of them was the Knights of Labor the

Knights of Labor if you remember from

class 1869 was one of the first trade

unions and they were basically an

unskilled labor union that really was

reform minded and had big goals like

eight hour days and the ending of child

labor and um and I see them as kind of

the city element um although the Knights

of Labor you know extends Beyond cities

in a sense that's the urban reform um

part of the populist party and then on

the other side you have farmer alliances

like the gra I remember Little House on

the Prairie it's uh paw or Charles Mr

Engles and I remember him going to

Minneapolis to the gra be he was a

farmer that felt as though the railroads

were abusing his his um his Meek stature

right his his lack of power by

overcharging and really controlling that

kind that that Freight and that industry

so farmers pulled the resources together

in the 1870s and 1880s and formed um

institutions like the gra which they

felt kind of by pooling their resources

they could compete with with with

railroads and with the big boys with

shipping companies so these two forces

the gra and the Knights of Labor and and

trade unions formed the populist party

which was seen as an alternative to the

Democratic party which was kind of still

the party of the Old South and just

States right centered and the party of

the north which was the Republican party

which was the party of lay fair and um

big business and railroads and what was

seen as the elite of of the United

States so here's the party platform all

right you're going to see elements of

this or you you should hear elements of

this that we we previously mentioned

because third parties never win the

populist party's never going to win a

president presidential election but

they're going to bring good ideas and

just to preface that they did win US

Senate seats and and I think 1892 they

won four states in in the Electoral

College and 1896 they were they were

quite competitive before they they kind

of died out we'll explain that in a

minute but here's basically what they

want they want public ownership of the

railroads and um transportation

Industries utility companies um

industries that serve the public good

and uh this idea might sound socialistic

today um but when we think about it the

post office is owned by the federal

government right the male in a sense um

and we have other parts of our our lives

that are kind of owned by the federal

government I'm not saying it's a good

idea or a bad idea but um during that

era people felt as though that was a

power to you know transportation that

could be abused and it was best to run

that for the public good that we all

kind of did that um to expand the

economy and give the little guy a chance

yada yada yada um other reforms that

they wanted um they wanted the silver

standard and uh it's kind of hard to

explain on YouTube in you know in a

couple minutes or in 30 seconds but

basically the gold standard was was the

way that we valued money um then which

meant that if we had x amount of gold

you had x amount of money and this in a

sense limited the money supply so

Bankers might be less willing to lend

money out that they didn't have a lot of

because of gold limiting them to Farmers

and to people who were struggling so the

populist party asked for the silver

standard and they felt by expanding the

monetary Supply that this would give

more people an opportunity to take loans

out and to um to improve their

lives what else do they want Mr Hughes

well I'll tell you they wanted the

abolition of the National Bank um they

felt as though that the bank was in the

hands of the Republican party of Bankers

of nor wor earners and that they were

controlling the money supply to feed

themselves and that it was best to have

local banks um banks that were supported

by people um like uh today this might be

if you go to a bank you go to a credit

union which is in a sense owned by the

customers and again some of this might

sound socialistic but this is the

reforms that they were asking for in

response to very tough conditions in the

Industrial Age monopolization trust big

business um and really the lacking of a

middle class so it was very poor people

and very rich people and um I think that

that led poor people to demand big

change and what we're going to get is

moderate change so what else because

we're going to run out of time soon my

friends they wanted the um uh direct

election of United States senators they

felt as though senators were being

chosen by the elite and by party people

and weren't representing the interest of

regular people and they believed that we

should have a graduated income tax that

we should tax rich people in a sense to

pay for programs that might give other

people opportunities that might not have

opportunities and I don't want to sound

like a communist and I don't want to

sound like a you know libertarian

fascist or in a sense but you know

seeing it from the populist standpoint

what this meant was that America was the

land of opportunity and if all we had

was rich people giving their kids their

money um that opportunity for public

schools and good education and you know

kids that were born into poverty having

a chance that stuff cost money so the

graduated income tax was was seen as the

answer to that in a sense to begin um

social welfare programs um so the

populists uh basically ran in a couple

presidential elections William Jennings

Bryan a great um known Democratic leader

at the time became a populist and ran in

1896 and I'm believe in 1900 but the

mantle of the populist party of the

demand for federal reform was picked up

by none other than a Republican and that

being Teddy Roosevelt but that

Progressive change which most people

today would say was necessary began with

populism from the people and hopefully

that sticks with you um populism again

political party never won but brought

good ideas and we hope that you can use

that thesis for other parties in

American history whether it's the green

party or um maybe it's the Tea Party or

um perhaps it's the I don't know the

Bull Moose Party that's it folks we hope

that you learned something and we hope

that we see you again watching more

lectures to make you a little bit more

smart see you later

alligator that's all