The View Of The Populist Party Of 1892

646 Words3 Pages

Brian Nunnelley September 19, 2015
Populist Party of 1892 The United States Government in the late 1800’s had many deficiencies within its system. The Populist Party formed in 1892, comprised of mainly farmers had many reform ideas toward the government. They wanted to change the national currency system, public transportation, land distribution, and how voting was conducted. In the late 19th century the government had a currency issue consisting of people who wanted gold to back up their dollar, the view of the Populist Party to have silver coinage included in the system. They claim the gold system wouldn’t have worked out because it’s based on the amount of gold within the country and how much is being produced. With that the system would fluctuate lot and cause inflation, so the party vied for national currency of silver, because it would be “…safe, sound, and flexible issued by the general government only, a full legal tender for all debts, public and private…” . Included within their desire for the silver coin, they wanted a ratio of silver to gold of 16:1 and also a gradual income tax. The income tax would try to even the playing field, so the rich would have to pay higher taxes while the poor pay smaller taxes. Also, the income tax would serve as payment for the government so in turn they can pay for different areas of …show more content…

The railroad system was run by one man named Vanderbilt and he controlled a monopoly on this system. With this monopoly in place the prices of railroads to transport good were too high for the farmers. The party claimed that “Transportation being a means of exchange and a public necessity, the government should own and operate the railroads in the interest of the people.” . The party also wanted to rectify the news and post office system to be run by the government, so it can be used by the people for the