Populist Party Platform By Robert Zeigler: An Analysis

As the rich became richer and the poor became poorer, it was realized by the laborers of the railroad that their nation's economic growth and prosperity was not being equally shared among the people. Coupled with years of wage cuts (35% over 3 years), and workforce reductions, that then required remaining workers to work 15-18 hour days, the workers fought back.

In the late 1800s and the early 1900s, labor was anything but easy. Factory workers faced long hours, low pay, high unemployment fears, and poor working conditions during this time. Life today is much easier in comparison to the late 1800s. Americans have shorter days, bigger pay and easier working conditions. Not comparable to how life is today, many riots sparked, and citizens began to fight for equal treatment. Along with other important events, the Haymarket Riot, the Pullman Strike, and the Homestead strike all play a vital role in illustrating labor’s struggle to gain fair and equitable treatment during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Throughout the early 19th century many unions were in act, striving for better pay due to the harsh working conditions they were condemned to work in. Many famous leaders who lead these unions were sent to prison for opposing their companies and conducting violence even though the cause of misconduct was caused by their followers who misinterpreted their words. These following documents thoroughly explain how the actions of the labor unions did not destroy the free market, instead restricted business with regulations essentially penalizing the wealthy from being successful. Furthermore, these unions desired to improve the living and working conditions of the poor, the Progressives stood in opposition to the wealthy who justified their actions through social darwinism, and abolished the exploitation of children.

In the opening of 1873 the economy wavered consistently, creating tireless recessions every five to six years, all more regrettable than the last. Nearly all workers in the late nineteenth century would agree that there was a significant rise in their standard of living. Workers often sacrificed and worked in places with dangerous working conditions, diminishing control over their own work, and a growing sense of helplessness.

Populists believed that the GOVERNMENT should own railroads and telegraph lines, instead of private businesses. They also wanted a free silver currency, instead of the gold based currency that was used then. They wanted the unlimited production of silver coins so that farmers would have more money to pay the bills. The Populist Party's main goal was to appeal to the common people.

The years following the Civil War and Reconstruction was an era somewhat gilded. The Second Industrial Revolution came about with new inventions, and revolutionized how factories and jobs were worked. Factory workers in this time period were working in poor conditions and had no power whatsoever. Often they were abused and their wages were cut very low. The mass immigration also did not favor laborers as it made them so easy to replace. In order to fight back laborers would join labor unions in order to protest; however, during this time the labor unions were not that affective during 1875 and 1900 because although they had their efforts many of them would not work to their advantage; efforts would give them a bad reputation, go out of

Leading up to 1865, the United States underwent its first Industrial Revolution. Factories began to develop and new labor techniques, such as the Lowell System, were implemented. There were significant changes to transportation and communication and new technologies began to develop. These innovations changed living and working conditions, urbanization, and overall life in the United States. Due to this, industrialization greatly impacted United States society from 1865 to 1900 through labor and political parties.

The gilded and progressive eras in America were times of expansion, urbanization, and what seemed like a golden pathway to an industrialized future. In the 1850s, railroads were being built all across America, and with that came the rise of the steel and oil industries, as well as dramatic population increases in the newly urbanized cities. Such a change in society created a gap between social classes causes incredible amounts of poverty for many, and incredible wealth for few. Three main struggles during this crucial time in America were political corruption, the rapid expansion of urban cities, and the unfair, and unsafe working conditions. Through these difficult times, many different types of reform were supported, but few were actually effective.

Already in the late 19th century, the American Federation of Labor had begun to represent a growing segment of the American population discontented with the status quo of corporate exploitation. At the onset of the 20th century however this message began to take particular weight, as evidenced by the tripling of the AFL’s membership and the rise of the Industrial Workers of the World. Labor unions, the Socialist Party and progressives as a whole took issue with the doctrine of Social Darwinism and moved forward as a somewhat united front with the goal of bringing meaningful change to American society.

The Populist party was a third party of the 1890s formed to fight for the rights of working people. This party was largely made up of farmers. There were several reasons why this party was formed. By the beginning of the 1880s, millions of farmers had found themselves trapped under the mountains of debt that they couldn’t get out of. There were various causes of why this happened with these farmers.

During the 1880’s there was a lot that was changing in many people’s lives. New things were being invented left and right and being an old farmer was becoming less popular than working in a factory with new high tech machines. However there was a small group of people truly gaining mass wealth from this change and that was the head business men who controlled businesses such as the railroad and drilling for oil. The common people working under them put in long and hard hours of labor with very little pay in often dangerous work conditions. Men were not the only ones subjected to this reality, women and children often worked in factories to try to support themselves with a fraction of what their male counter parts were being paid. The people

This common ground inspired people to amass in order for their voice to be heard. Some of these people went on strike, while others formed new political parties and others formed/joined unions. One party was the new Populist Party which stood to “restore the government of the Republic to the hands of the “plain people,” with which class it originated. We assert our purposes to be identical with the purposes of the National Constitution…” (Populist Party, 1892) the others that formed unions decided to due to the fact that “two millions of their fellows are unemployed, and though willing and able, cannot find the opportunity to work, in order that they may sustain themselves, their wives and their children.” (Gompers, 1894) None of the responses was wildly successful but the idea of these responses would lead to later successes.

During the late 1850s, times were hard all around the country. Many banks and businesses had to close and many people lost their homes, farms, savings, and jobs. These troubles, combined with the desire to "strike it rich," fanned the flames of

Businesses, laborers, and farmers faced major challenges between 1877 and 1920. This was a time period that included both the Gilded Age and World War 1, and the challenges that these three parts of society faced were very different between each group and throughout each period. Businesses had to deal with things called “trusts” with other businesses. Many businesses desired to hold the monopoly of an entire industry, and competition was intense and cutthroat. Laborers, of course, faced the challenges of not having the previously mentioned working conditions, as well as pay cuts and unemployment during the depressions in the 1870s and the 1890s. Farmers had to deal with major drops in the prices for their crops due to the second Industrial Revolution and the development of new technology, as well as the already-difficult farming of the West. Many southern farmers were sharecroppers, as well, and as the prices for their goods fell, so did their standard of living.

The fight for wages and better working conditions The United States during the 19th Century is best known for the Industrial Revolution and how it had a significant role on making the United States the most powerful country in the world. America began to capitalize on mass production of goods with the introduction of machines while also enabling an era of revolution. During this controversial period, The US Economy had obtained an expanded labor force. It was a time for industrial prosperity and growth but it was an entirely different narrative for the men, women and children, who were more often than not, forced to work in horrendous conditions.