“Party Games: The Art of Stealing Elections in the Late-Nineteenth-Century United States,” written by Mark Wahlgren Summers, discusses the elements of trickery and manipulation utilized by Democrats, Republican, and Populists during the Gilded Age in efforts to get their party’s candidate(s) into office. As the text points out, “the broad range of party tricks obscured the people’s will, occasionally thwarted it, and cast a moral cloud over the winner’s title” (425). All of these political schemes that the parties in the Gilded Age were privy to, basically made a mockery of the democracy in the United States. Instead of being represented by the people, America was represented by a bunch of scoundrels, also known as politicians.
As a member of the Populist Party, I would have identified with their platform of agrarian reform, economic populism, and social justice. I would have supported their calls for government intervention to address issues such as monopolistic practices, unfair banking policies, and the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few. Additionally, I would have been attracted to the Populist Party's emphasis on grassroots organizing, direct democracy, and the empowerment of ordinary citizens. Their advocacy for initiatives such as the direct election of senators and the use of initiatives and referendums to bypass entrenched political interests resonated with my belief in participatory democracy. While the Democratic and Republican parties each had their constituencies and platforms during this period, the Populist Party's focus on addressing the needs and concerns of farmers, workers, and ordinary citizens aligned most closely with my values and priorities.
The 19th century was a period of widespread social, economical and political problems in the United States, from the 1890s to the 1920s in need of reform. Both parties were created by the people’s dissatisfaction with the government and its ability to appeal to the majority. The Populist movement was founded my farmers, laborers and middle class civilians that wanted government regulation in the economy, more authority in the government, educating immigrants, to prevent government corruption and high positions to be based on experience.
Countless citizens in the 1840s and 1850s, feeling a sense of mission, believed that Almighty God had “manifestly’’ destined the American people for a hemispheric career. They would spread their uplifting and ennobling democratic institutions over at least the entire continent. Land greed and ideals—“empire’’ and “liberty’’—were thus conveniently conjoined. 14. What political party cost Henry Clay the popular vote in the state of New York, & what is ironic about Polk’s election in 1844 regarding this party’s position on Texas?
Suggesting, a reason onto to why the populists did not receive a majority vote. Ultimately, the Populist Movement in America may have not been as successful as they hoped for, but as a new party during the Political run they did make it further then they assumed in the election. The Populists also did not mind the loss, due to the fact of forming an alliance with the Democratic Party, in which their major concerns were addressed and settled in peaceful
But control of the government would be a hard-won battle. To overthrow the Democrats the Populist needed to show credibility and win the support of the dissatisfied farming community, who in spite of their complaints, would be more likely to vote Democrat if they could not be persuaded otherwise. Another challenge was the issue of race. In order to overthrow the Democrats, the Populist needed the support of all the dissatisfied farming population, including black farmers.
Out of all the effects of the Populist party, the effect with the greatest impact is the idea that the downtrodden could organize and have political impact. The very recent example of this was the rise of the Tea Party in this last election. Unfairness and unaccomplished goals can lead a faction of a group to rise from the ashes and spread like a wildfire. One significant factor in discontinuing the populist party was the Panic of 1893, silver and gold, and the support of the population. Throughout the 1880’s, Bryan’s free silver-stand not only led gold bug Democrats to nominate their own candidate, but it also weakened his support in the cities, where consumers feared inflation due to the attitude about it further increasing the price of
The populists started from farmers and grew into a national movement and political party. It all started with Oliver Kelly and the grange of the patrons of husbandry. The patrons of husbandry promoted economic and political well being of community and agriculture. The populist party was organized in st. Louis in 1892.
Farmers and workers began to organize in the late 1860s and succeeded in building powerful national organizations to oppose, as a Nebraska newspaper put it “ The wealthy and powerful classes who want the control of government to plunder the people.” As the nation’s most important, the railroad played a large part in generating this unrest. By the end of the century, the communities whose livelihoods depended directly or indirectly on the railroads presented the most significant challenge to the two-party system since the Civil War. The Populist Movement is a major third party of the 1890s formed on the basis of Southern Farmers’ Alliance and the other reform organizations. The populist party is also known as the people’s party.
As we criticize and read it, we can encounter styles and techniques he used. For example, is it the word frog in his book is an animal? Or have another meaning? He wrote this book especially for youth because it has something to do in their life and also can change our/their perspective in life. This book tells us how we stand in our own feet especially in facing disaster or tragedy in life.
The effects of the Populist
Michael McGerr focuses on a variety of topics, including the middle-class during this time and he coverers a wide variety of themes, including the importance of individualism. Michael McGerr states, “The enter of this book looks at four quintessential progressive battles: to change other people; to end class conflict; to control big business, and to segregate society.” (McGerr, xv) A Fierce Discontent is a history book in its own and Michael McGerr does an excellent job of incorporating detailed account of Americans during this era of social and political unrest. While we might “live in a politically disappointing time” (McGerr, xiii), Michael McGerr makes what might be a little boring better by offering compelling evidence of the Progressive
He thinks that too many people simply accept ideas as being truths. He wants his readers to question society and their beliefs that are not backed up by sound reasoning. He urges his readers to question popular beliefs and ideas that are accepted by society. He tells us to think independently and search for the truths in the world.
The human nature value system of his works has a far-reaching
Scholars and scientist immersed in perspective defining populism as a form of political strategy distinguish various aspects of focus in their research such as forms of mobilization, political organization, and policy choices. One of them being, a sociologist from the University of Michigan, Robert S. Jansen’s article entitled “Populist Mobilization: A New Theoretical Approach to Populism” that introduced the concept of populist mobilization upon the example of mid-twentieth century politics of Latin America. He advocated for the shift of the term away from “populism” to “populist mobilization,” and explained it as “political means that can be undertaken by challengers and incumbents of various stripes in pursuit of a wide range of social,
