Springing out of an effort to meet the demands of farmers from both the West and the South, the Populist party attempted to improve the farmers" economic tensions, while the business-run government testified against the inevitable economic stagnate that would be caused silver currency and labor appeasement, pictured in the long-term view. In an effort to attain social reform, the Populist Party swayed the outcome of elections and platforms in the latter 19th century. .
In this, the populists rallied for improvement of the farmers" welfare. They demanded silver currency, graduated income tax, and government ownership of telephone, telegraph, and railroads. In order to raise national revenue, they saw it necessary to protect agrarian interests. While protecting rural inhabitants, the populists appealed to the African American population. They saw the Populist Party as one that would finally protect their rights as well, which however led to the opposition by staunch southern farmers. Although African Americans used this party as an outlet for voting, their suffrage was completely abolished within a small period of time, leaving most with even less than before or nothing at all. While civil reform seemed achievable by the populists, the changes made in consequence were minor; however, the party did propagate the idea of imperative improvement policies. .
Like any third party, the Populist Party brought about issues too often ignored, while posing as a deciding factor in the outcome of elections. In the election of 1892, the electoral votes attained by the Populists led the democratic Cleveland to know Harrison out of office. Searching for the vote of progression, they brought social, instead of just the political aspects to the surface. Voters would now have more of a basis of platform than their monetary preferences. They later merged into the Democratic party supporting bimetallism, yet there were still some of each side that began to feel that these "popocrats" were doing the worst for their individual party.
