People's Party (United States)

The People's Party, also known as the "Populists", was a short-lived political party on the left in the United States. It was established in 1891 during the Populist movement. It was most influential from 1892 to 1896, and it faded away rapidly after. Based among poor, white cotton farmers in the South (especially North Carolina, Alabama, and Texas) and hard-pressed wheat farmers in the plains states (especially Kansas and Nebraska), it represented a radical crusading form of agrarianism and hostility to banks, cities, railroads, gold, and elites generally. It sometimes formed coalitions with labor unions in the North and with the Republican Party in the South. Its strongest election came in 1894. In 1896 the Populists endorsed the Democratic presidential nominee, William Jennings Bryan, but added their own vice presidential nominee. They lost their distinctive identity and faded away. The terms "populist" and "populism" are commonly used In the 21st century for anti-elitist appeals in opposition to established interests and mainstream parties, and may refer to the left or right.

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