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The populist party, although having some good points, was not a party fit to rule the United States. The populists represented a radical view of the society of the time that is was formed in the late 1800s. Some of the points brought up by the party would have benefitted society. However the clear majority would have turned the entire capitalist society present in the United states upside down. The populist party argued various points that were beneficial to society. Some of the points of the party were changes that were necessary at the time. For example, the idea of the initiative. This idea helped increase democracy by allowing people to bring up laws that their corrupt or incompetent leaders could not. Also the ideas of a referendum and a recall f
Their idea of free coinage of silver would have freed up the debts of the farmers at first, but would have later resulted in an even larger debt as the cost of everything rises due to inflation. They also helped raise issues of importance to workers, who were being abused by the huge corporations, such as a shorter workday. If these ideas were implemented during a presidency at that time, the United States may have turned into a communist nation instead of the capitalist nation it is today. urther helped the democratic cause by giving voters more power on certain issues and over corrupt leaders. They represented the classes who were forsaken by both the republicans and the democrats. The populist platform of 1896, lead by William Jennings Bryan, strove to help the workers and farmers, but would have only hurt them in the end. They gave a voice to suffering farmers struck hard by the cycle of over production, which kept them in continuous debt. Even though the populists never won a presidency they were effective in forcing the major parties to focus more on the laymen, since if a party did not the vote would have went to the populists. The populists also represented socialist ideals that conflict with a free society. Theses ideas would have helped the lower classes at first but the hurt of the upper classes would have resonated down to the poor. Also the apparent cause for their formation was itself honorable. The populist party was overall a dangerous political party during the late 1800's. However, many other ideals founded with the party, such as free coinage of silver, would have only lead less freedom. Therefore the populists were able to give more recognition to everyday people. The Populist party was founded on certain democratic ideals: representing the laymen and giving voters increased rights.
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