Changes

The '''Populist Party'''. formally the '''Peoples Party''' existed from 1890 to 1908. It was a coalition of poor farmers in the cotton belt of the South and wheat belt of the Midwest, with considerable support among silver miners, coal miners, and some labor unions.  It opposed banks and industry generally, called for government ownership of railroads, and demanded federal financial support to keep up farm prices. As a political movement it peaked in the 1892 presidential election,  when its presidential candidate won one million votes and carried four states. Its candidates were badly defeated in 1894 by the resurgent Republicans. In 1896 the remnants endorsed the Democratic candidate [[William Jennings Bryan]] (who was never a Populist). "[[Populism]]" more generally means a political movement highly hostile to elites and calling for power to the common peoplel; it can be either conservative or liberal.

The '''Populist Party''', formally the '''Peoples Party''' was a radical left coalition party that was important 1890-1896, at the end of the [[Gilded Age]]. It was a coalition of poor farmers in the cotton belt of the South and wheat belt of the Midwest, with considerable support among silver miners, coal miners, and some labor unions.  It opposed banks and industry generally, called for government ownership of railroads, and demanded federal financial support to keep up farm prices. As a political movement it peaked in the 1892 presidential election,  when its presidential candidate won one million votes and carried four states. Its candidates were badly defeated in 1894 by the resurgent Republicans. In 1896 the remnants endorsed the Democratic candidate [[William Jennings Bryan]] (who was never a Populist).  

 

"[[Populism]]" more generally means a political movement highly hostile to elites and calling for power to the common people; it can be either conservative or liberal.

==History==

==History==

Most Protestant ministers rejected the Populists, and not a single prominent minister endorsed it. However Populist speakers and cartoonists often used Christian religious imagery, portraying the common man crucified by evil capitalists. One brutal August 1896 cartoon echoed Bryan's famous speech which denounced the Republicans for crucifying labor on a cross of gold. The Populists attacked as well the world's most famous Jewish banker (Rothschild was the leading banker in London).

Most Protestant ministers rejected the Populists, and not a single prominent minister endorsed it. However Populist speakers and cartoonists often used Christian religious imagery, portraying the common man crucified by evil capitalists. One brutal August 1896 cartoon echoed Bryan's famous speech which denounced the Republicans for crucifying labor on a cross of gold. The Populists attacked as well the world's most famous Jewish banker (Rothschild was the leading banker in London).

The Populists frequently attacked Jews, ewspecially jewish bankers, using [[Anti-Semitism]] as a tool to attract voters.

The Populists frequently attacked Jews, especially Jewish bankers, using [[Anti-Semitism]] as a tool to attract voters.

==Historians look at Populism==

==Historians look at Populism==