During the late 19th century, large farmer
populations in the Midwest of the US were growing increasingly discontent with the
country’s political affairs. Their concerns were about deflation, debts,
mortgage foreclosure, high tariffs, and unfair railroad freight rates that
directly affected their way of living and agricultural production. Farmers
sought radical and immediate changes through political reforms. The Farmer’s
Alliance and Populist Party were established to heed the need of concerned
farmers and air them out the government. These groups had drastic effects to
national politics particularly in different monetary policies and the government’s
role in the economy.
