Progressives versus Populists

The progressive Era was times in History were local state and federal government took a leap forward in power and activism. In addition, the progressive era, was a time of development of new reforms and changes for America. Progressivism handles a wide range of problems and struggle for America. Such problems were created by unstructed industrialization, urbanization and immigration. As well as, the unfavorable distribution of power and wealth. Progressives believed strongly that problems such as these needed immediate action. Progressives existed in churches, organized labor, local political life, organizations and progressives of high education. Progressives wanted to make America better through inniatives, arranged action, idealism and social scientific research. Progressive had a tendency to expect the best possible outcome of situations. By, the 1920’s, progressives put in effect, changes of all aspects of society and government. Nevertheless, progressives had unhonorable qualities as well. They were biased of class and prejudiced against races.

The Populists and Progressive were form of movement that occurred during the outbreaks of the workers union after the civil war. The populists began during the late 1800s.The progressive began during the 1900s. There are many differences between these two movements, but yet these movements have many things that are similar.

The goals of the Populist Party were to represent the common folk against the large corporate personals, such as railroads, politicians and banker including corporations themselves. Some ways the Populist Party succeeded was it helped raise awareness and concern for the plight of farmers and workers. It led the national Democratic Party to adopt many populist causes, such as bimetallism, corporate regulation and workers rights. The pro-worker, anti-corporate mindset that permeated populism persisted, becoming part of the progressive movement that produced extensive regulation during the administrations of Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson.

The Populist Movement ultimately failed to survive because of their desire for inflation and the support for the coinage of silver, as well as the fact that they merged with the Democratic Party to combat the Republicans. The 1896 election undermined agrarian insurgency, and a period of rapidly rising farm prices helped to bring about the dissolution of the Populist Party. Another important factor in the failure of the party was its inability to affect a genuine urban-rural coalition; its program had little appeal for wage earners of the industrial east. Although the populists were not outright socialists, many conservative interests saw the Populists as a threat to the basic economic system of the United States. The Populists’ agenda was

While the Populists were able to inspire some more government involvement in the economy with their currency concerns, the Progressives both reformed the government into a less corruptible system and called for more government participation in reducing the growing power of certain industries. Similarly, although the Populists managed to bring attention to the plight of the workers, the Progressives, with their wider range of supporters due to their broader appeal, was able to pass workplace regulations and to organize institutes to help foreigners assimilate into American society. Finally, as the Populists failed to convince the nation to address most of their most basic beliefs and goals, the Progressives succeeded in obtaining government recognition of their side of a long-standing racial dissension. In conclusion, historians are correct in believing that the Populists were less successful than the Progressives in attaining their goals because of the vast differences between the two results of the groups’ reform

They supported the government control of railroads, a graduated income tax on the rich, a new federal sub-treasury, and a more relaxed monetary policy to help borrowers. (Henretta, 2014, pg. 644) The Populist Party Platform of 1892 explained their grievances towards the lack of political control in the government stating, “We charge that the controlling influences dominating both these parties have permitted the existing dreadful conditions to develop without serious effort to prevent or restrain them...They propose to sacrifice our homes, lives, and children on the altar of mammon; to destroy the multitude in order to secure corruption funds from the millionaires.” (Doc 7) Populists believe that the government's role in society was to protect the consumer. And in their eyes the corruption and ignorance of the government was

The Progressive Era influenced new parties to focus on people’s rights and advocated for their ideas to be implemented into law. The Populist Party strongly advocated for producerism, which the profit of the product returns back to farmers and workers to produce wealth and end the special privileges for companies. Fair railroad rates, silver coinage and greenbacks as solutions to expand the money supply and equality for all in the economy (Presentation, 11/9). The Progressive Party advocated for social- welfare ideas supporting minimum wage and limited working hours for women and children and the recall of judicial decisions (Nugent, pg. 92).  

After the Grant Administration Scandal and the intimidation of Political Machines like Tammany Hall, Americans in the 1890s were fed up with the traditional Republican and Democratic parties. The people were ready for change, and from this dissatisfaction, the Populist Party was born. The Populist Party, also call the “People’s Party,” sought to transform the federal government in favor of public interest. The Populist Party helped to bring about change that Americans wanted, and the efforts of this party are still noticeable in today’s government.

From 1881-1920 the progressive movement was inspired by the populists movement years later. They moved to improve living conditions by using three methods. These methods are to help regulate business, make government more responsible, and social changes. Their main goals were to change the industrialization and urbanization of cities. They found that fundamental change is the perceived function of the federal government. In order to enforce and create these goals they had economic, social, and political reforms to show the importance of this movement and the extension of reformers’ ideas and their programs from 1880-1920.

     Progressives are activists in a political reform movement known as progressivism, which is a broadly based reform movement that reached its height early in the 20th cent. In the decades following the Civil War, rapid industrialization transformed the United States. A national rail system was completed, agriculture was mechanized, the factory system spread, and cities grew rapidly in size and number all because of this newfound movement. The progressive movement arose as a response to the vast changes brought by industrialization. Progressives were often frustrated, however, because state legislatures, controlled by railroads and large corporations, obstructed the municipal struggle for their rule. Throughout all of the reform movements, progressives began to play a major role in politics and the creation of a new political party known as the

Populism and Progressivism were responses to a growing industrial economy that resulted in disparities between rich and poor and increasing social and political conflict. The solutions of the Populists and Progressives were varied, however established from the same central ideas. Despite the differences between each group, both contributed to a change in state and society and the fundamental role of government in the lives of the people in the West. Through Populist origin and Progressive action, the role of the government became a socially conscious, active body working to ensure the rights of Western citizens. Both the Populists and the Progressives sought to reform the conflicts and ills that had arisen from the growth of industrialization and the changing Western landscape following reconstruction. Populism had the most significant impact on the political evolution of the West as it gave way to Progressivism, which implemented many policies and benefits

From 1890 to World War I, U.S experienced an era of social unrest, racial concerns, and questioning of true democracy. Many of these problems arise from the economic problems faced by growing American middle class. Because economy and politics are close linked, political parties and party platforms were inevitability affected by these changes in social patterns. A new political party, populists’ party, gained widespread acknowledgement from Americans while democrats and republicans set out to remake their platforms to fit the ideals of the common man. Faced with growing economic and expansion problems in American society, these three major influential parties of the era had their own distinct economic visions as well as similar interests as time progressed on.

The Populist Party was started by a massive grassroots movement that wanted political reform. The supporters of the Populist Party were usually laborers who were sick of the government supporting big businesses. Because of this support, there were many violent strikes, such as Pullman, Homestead, and Haymarket, where strikers were killed, and the government did nothing. Eventually, the Populist Party combined with the Democratic Party because the Populist Party was limited because of its regional location.

The Populists and Progressive were two major movements that occurred during the outbreaks of the workers union after the civil war. The populists began during the late 1800s and the progressives began during the 1900s. There are many differences between these two movements, but yet both of these movements have many things in common. During this time, farmers united to protect their interests by creating a major political party. This party was known as the Peoples Party, which became known as the Populist Party. Populists drew their strength from rural areas as many Populists tended to mostly be poor and uneducated. They had ideas such as government ownership of major industries. Progressives, also affected by industrialization, began their movements in order to reestablish their society.

1. A permanent union of all working classes; wanted farmer and working to share the same bond.