The period after the American civil war was marked by third parties. From 1870 to 1896, Greenbackers pursuing fiat money, Farmer’s candidates associated with the Granger movement, Union Labour candidates, Liberal Republicans, and People’s Party candidates all contended with the Democratic and Republican parties for election. Though there was a clear evolutionary link between these parties, it is important that they be distinguished from each other. In addition, various reform movements swept across the plains and west, even reaching the developed urban areas of the East. These included religious revivalists, prohibitionists, bimetallists, workplace reformers, anti-corruption campaigners, and pro-democracy activists seeking womens’ suffrage and the direct election of the United States Senate, as well as wider use of referenda. The common theme uniting most of these movements and parties was a reaction against monopolies and cartels, particularly railroad trusts and Banks. Th...
This is a collection of personal and largely unedited observations covering the years from 2006 to now; I assert my copyright but am fine with links and footnotes. Some posts are obviously much more researched than others, and any errors are wholly mine except where I have innocently disseminated or linked to other bloggers or commentators.