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1. Describe the historical roots of populism
The populist movement began in the more rural regions of the United States, during the late 19th century. The movement evolved due to the changing demographics in the nation, and a sense of disenfranchisement and disempowerment among rural residents—particularly those in Midwestern and Western states. Touted as a grassroots movement of the people, populism used rhetoric that slammed political power being centralized in Washington.
2. Farmers essentially started the populist political movement as a means of gaining political and economic power. With industrialists encroaching on the economy, and brokers controlling the prices of agricultural commodities, farmers had little control over the income they earned through their work. To improve their economic situation, farmers united in a common front, much as any other labor movement.
3. Populists demanded that the government become more responsive to the needs and concerns of the common person, rather than continuing to cater to the wealthy and powerful elite. Demands included the dismantling of strong federal government initiatives like a central banking system, as divesting power from the government and from the Eastern industrial states would mean diverting power back to the people. At the same time, populists made some contradictory demands on the government to provide more social safety nets for farmers.
4. The populist movement has continued to inform some of America’s political discourse, philosophy, and culture but is generally a failure. Most Americans live in cities or near them, and few are farmers with the concerns that gripped those of a century ago. However, the ongoing resurgence in anti-government sentiments is a vestige of the populist movement. Populism is also evident in some of the supporters of Trump from the regions that lack economic self-determination.
Having started as a bookkeeper in Cleveland, John D. Rockefeller accumulated money while being a merchant, and then bought his first oil refinery in 1862. By 1870 he had started Standard Oil Company of Ohio. His secret agreements with railroads allowed him to ship his oil with rebates and discounts, thusly driving competitors out of business. By 1899, The Standard Oil Company, acting as a holding company, controlled the stock
American history as a radical and revolutionary society. Specifically, it will discuss the works of "The Jungle," by Upton Sinclair, and "Coming of Age in Mississippi," by Anne Moody. Radical reform and revolutionary ideas are at the very foundation of our freedom in America, and this tradition of freedom of speech and rebellion has continued from 1865 onward in our society. There has always been dissention and disagreement in
Populist Persuasion," Michael Kazin sees populism as a vehicle for the weak and disenfranchised common person to address and challenge the ruling elite. As such, Kazin views populism as an "impulse" that is at the very root of American democracy. Kazin's view of populism can be seen as an outgrowth of the democratic ideology of the American Revolution, as described by Wood. Kazin argues that populism has gradually moved
" The need for reform in the political system illustrates how, despite the numerous legislation passed to ensure the honest conduct of business in the country, corporations are able to control particular sectors of the society, specifically, the poor farmers living in rural communities. The emergence and development of Populism in America during the 19th century serves highlights the need for both economic and political reform at a time where
Emerson believed that the broader culture could rid itself of slavery through moral persuasion. At the beginning of the renaissance, Emerson "maintained that reform was best achieved by the moral persuasion of individuals rather than by the militant action of groups," (Lowance, 2000, 301). but, in the years immediately leading up to the Civil War, Emerson's philosophy collided with reality. In 1855, he wrote and delivered his Lecture on
The lack of public support is one of the key factors that resulted to the failure of the U.S. There were false claims that the American government acted against people's aspirations and that the American youth protested against the war. Early initiatives of the United States under Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Truman obtained a lot of support. Only two members of the United States congress voted against giving Johnson the