Ohio History Central
Ohio History Central: Populist Party
The Populist Party was one of the more successful third parties, at least in state politics. Read about its platform on the national and state levels in the 1890s.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Power: Taming the Octopus: The Populist Party Platform, 1892
The 1892 platform of the Populist Party that argued for significant changes to improve the economic condition of farmers and industrial workers. Included are discussion questions and a link to the exact wording of the platform.
Vassar College
Vassar College: 1896: Tom Watson
Tells about Watson's early life and involvement with the Farmers' Alliance in addition to later information about the 1896 Populist Party Presidential campaign.
Other
Kevin Baker: The Populists
Essay on the history of the Populist party including reasons for its formation, notable people within the party, its political agenda, and its struggle to achieve country-wide support.
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Texas Joins the Battle: Cartoon, Houston Daily Post, March 30, 1896
Here is a political cartoon showing showing the split between those who favored the gold standard and those favoring the silver standard, and how the Populist Party took advantage of that split. Learn what this means by taking a look at...
Siteseen
Siteseen: American Historama: Black Populism
This article contains interesting facts and a timeline about the history of Black Populism, the cotton farmers of the south, and the Populist Party.
Kansas Historical Society
A Kansas Portrait: Mary Elizabeth Lease
A short biography on the Populist orator Mary Elizabeth Lease, who "advised Kansas farmers to 'raise less corn and more hell.'"
Curated OER
People's Party Convention, Nebraska
The 1892 platform of the Populist Party that critiqued the power of laissez faire economics and argued for significant changes to improve the economic condition of farmers and industrial workers.