How Effective were the Populist Party?

After the Civil War, the economy started to rise, in terms of farmers, land owners, big businesses, and many other organizations for profit. The population of the nation grew larger and the need for production of food grew greater. Americans were using and eating up so much food that there were none or very little to be exported. Because of the demand for food, many of the large factories had to come up with new industrialized material, such as the improvements in the cotton gin, the introduction harvesters,combines, and reapers, stronger plows made up of steel,and specialization in agricultural production. All of these new inventions were improved and very good at producing food at a faster rate than the older machines. But all of the newer productions caused many of the storage and transportation companies to raise there rates. This led to the farmers not being able to afford these ridiculous prices. Some organizations formed due to all of this. They were the Grangers and many Farmer Alliances. These organizations eventually led up to the Populist Party. This party included some of everyone, many of which who had previously had been in organizations that did not succeed. The Populist Party were very effective at achieving all or most of its goals and trying to form an alliance between poor whites and blacks.

When the Populist Party first evolved,their main focus was becoming known and making a difference. In the election of 1892 James Weaver of the Populist Party received 1 million votes from the citizens and even the Electoral College votes. About 1,500 members of the Populist Party were elected into state legislatures, three were elected in gubernatorial elections,five were elected U.S. Senators, and ten were elected to the House of Representatives. Everywhere except the South favored the Populist Party. The South did not like the Populist Party because at the time this party came about, the South was going through Jim Crow Laws and trying to keep whites and blacks segregated while the Populist Party were trying to unite poor whites and blacks. The Populist Party provided financial support and stability to many workers and people who were on strike or down on luck.
In the Presidential election of 1896 many of the government officials were split in two ways. Many did not know whether to go with "Gold Bug" candidate or "pro-silver". The people who were for silver currency did not have a candidate to run for the presidency until William Bryan gave his speech about the silver or gold currency issue. Bryan gave his speech so well that he had almost all of the democrats taken aback. After his speech the Populist Party chose to take him as their candidate for this election. Although the Populist Party chose Bryan as their candidate, many of the mambers of this party were fearful that the goals they worked hard at would be ruined by having a Democratic candidate.
The Populist was becoming more effective each time they achieved something or a goal that they were trying to acheive. Although things seemed to be going well with the Populist Party and their candidate, many Republicans were trying to find ways to defeat the party. They gained votes and got peoples attention by telling them, that if the Populist advised a low protective tariff then that would lead to business closings. This led to the Republican defeat over the Democratic candidate. In all Wiiliam Mckay defeated William Bryan in the Presidential election of 1896. This election also led to the down fall of the Populist Party
When the Populist Party came about, their goals were very thought out and well regulated. In everything they did, they tried to succeed. Many historians have different views of how they thought the Populist Party was. Some say their decline came from the social status and racial discrimination inside and outside of the organization, and other historians say they fought for blacks rights, no matter what other people and groups thought about it. In the years that the Populist Party was around, thier goals, elections, and members were very effective at trying to make a difference in the way that America was running. In terms of everything they did, this party was the most effective of all of the organizations around at the time when they were out.