Populism in the United States reaches back to the presidency of Andrew Jackson in the 1830s and to the People's Party in the 1890s.
[1][2] Populism is an approach to politics which views "the people" as being opposed to "the elite" and is often used as a synonym of anti-establishment; as an ideology, it transcends the typical divisions of left and right and has become more prevalent in the United States with the rise of disenfranchisement and apathy toward the establishment.
[6] The economic strain is claimed to have a longer history, including the likes of Andrew Jackson and William Jennings Bryan, while cultural populism is recognized as starting in the 1960s with George Wallace;[6] however, the early 21st-century rise of populism on both sides of the political spectrum has been said to have stemmed from voter apathy with the current governmental system and those running it, and subsequently populist politics are said to play a constitutive role in political realignments, in which moral boundaries between groups are redrawn and categories of "us" and "them" emerge.
[10][11] The political scientist Benjamin Moffitt argues that modern-day populists, such as Donald Trump, garner support by radically simplifying the terms of the crises and discussing them in terms of emergency politics, whilst offering a short-term response—appealing to the general public and setting such populists apart from the establishment.
[14] Jackson argued that "It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their selfish purposes.
Other Populist-endorsed measures included bimetallism, a graduated income tax, direct election of Senators, a shorter workweek, and the establishment of a postal savings system.
These measures were collectively designed to curb the influence of monopolistic corporate and financial interests and empower small businesses, farmers and laborers.
In the 1896 election, Bryan swept the South and West but lost to Republican William McKinley by a decisive margin.
Most of the Progressives, such as Theodore Roosevelt, Robert M. La Follette, and Woodrow Wilson, were bitter enemies of the Populists.
It was radically egalitarian in favor of the disadvantaged classes; it was weak in the towns and cities except in labor unions.
Its goals were to enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and enlarge the opportunities for upward social mobility; however, some former Populists changed their emphasis after 1900 and supported progressive reforms.
[33] His rhetoric presented him as a leader who "alone can fix" the problems of American politics and represent the "forgotten men and women of our country", with echoes of the populism of Jackson's presidency.
[38] Sanders' populism is opposed to political, corporate, and media elites, especially the American financial industry epitomized by Wall Street, as well as the wealthiest one percent.