Question: After its startling successes of the late 1880's and early 1890's, why did the Populist Party quickly fade into oblivion after 1896?
Key Words: Analyze - examine the motives; answer the question
Time Period: 1880's-1900
Geography: United States of America, specifically the Midwest
Type of History: Political, Economical
Thesis: While a number of factors contributed to the demise of the Populist Party, the failed election of 1896 played an integral role in its fall due to the party's inability to find a strong figurehead.
Outline:
I.Introduction
A.Background information
B.Thesis: While a number of factors contributed to the demise of the Populist Party, the failed election of 1896 played an integral role in its fall due to the party's inability to find a strong figurehead.
II.Body
A.The formation of the Populist Party
B.Agricultural issues
C.The silver issue
D.The Election of 1896
E.The party's demise
III.Conclusion
A.Restatement of thesis
B.Linkage
Towards the end of the 19th Century, agricultural discontent was growing among the nation's farmers. In the South, cotton that was selling for roughly 30 cents per pound after the Civil War was, at times, worth under six cents in the 1890's. Wheat from the Midwest that had sold at $1.50 per bushel after the Civil War brought in 60 cents in the 1890's. The nation's agricultural base was tired of getting the raw deal from politicians, and finally made their voice heard through the Populist Party. When it first stepped onto the public stage, the party was very successful. However, the success was relatively short lived. While a number of factors contributed to the demise of the Populist Party, the failed election of 1896 played an integral role in its fall due to its inability to find a strong figurehead.
The Populist Party formed from Alliances that had come from farm radicalism. Many of the Alliances were statewide, and most