During the presidential election of 1892, the Populist Party had a chance to change the future by presenting their platform. Known as the Omaha Platform, the Populist Party wanted to correct the wrongs that they had experienced from the government. The background, Omaha Platform, and the failure of the Populist Movement to survive, influenced the future direction of the nation. To further understand why the Populist Party’s platform was influential, a background check is needed. During the timeframe of the Populist Movement between 1870 and 1900, the Republican Party dominated the government. They had previously won the Civil War, which led Americans to support them for their success. Economic growth continued with the building of railroads and factories to creating more jobs, more cash availability, and incomes. With these systems being established, people quickly learned how to cheat the system. Lots of corruption was intertwined in the government. Politicians were being bought off to influence the wealth’s opinions. Railroad companies were given land to build with very few …show more content…
Weaver. Running against the Republican and Democrat Parties, their Omaha Platform stated in their preamble, “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.” To correct the problems that the government had created, the Omaha Platform wanted free coinage of silver, abolition of the national bank, a direct election of senators, along with the government taking control of the railroad, phones, and telegraphs. The Platform also called for a graduated income tax, a working day of eight hours, and a secret voting ballot. Although the Populist Party did not win the election, the Omaha Platform created ideas for future reform