How Did The Populist Party Affect The Political Parties?

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Farmers were restricted by the change in stability for currency and trading as well as the strength of manufacturers and businesses in influencing farmers. Due to these reasons, farmers realistically became poorer and being unable to pay off debts, seeking inflation for cheap money. Farmers became bankrupt from high railroad costs, and could not support themselves with low earnings. While currency deflated, and farmers were influenced by the world market, railroads, and the heightened costs of goods, farmers banded together, creating strikes, groups, and alliances. However, their push to clear their debts and cause inflation from silver did not solve their issues of debt, labor, or profit, but ultimately altered the stances of the political parties. Farmers became increasingly poor and unhappy due to their reliance on cash-crops, the demand of their crops, and their fight to afford goods and transportation. Although the Homestead Act allowed more settlement and …show more content…
With the Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890 repealed, income taxes declared unconstitutional, and a strengthening in tariffs to cover Treasury deficits, the Farmers’ Alliance did not gain much in farming conditions. However, the political parties of the United States would change, with Democrats like the candidate William Bryan siding with the farming West and Republicans like William McKinley siding with the industrial East. The Fourth Party System period emerged from the battle between these parties, with Republicans ruling the White House, and the Gold Standard Act of 1900 claiming victory over silver coinage. Ultimately, the farmers discontent was rational, but their attempts to solve their issues led to their demise economically and