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The agricultural depression triggered an outburst of political radicalism, the Alliance movement. The Farmers Alliance spread throughout the South and into the Midwest. The farm groups entered politics in the elections of 1890. In 1892, these farm groups combined with representatives of the Knights of Labor and various professional reformers to organize the People's, or Populist, party.
The convention adopted a sweeping platform calling for a graduated income tax; the nationalization of rail, telegraph, and telephone systems; the "subtreasury" plan, and the unlimited coinage of silver. The party also called for the adoption of the initiative and referendum, popular election of United States senators, an eight-hour workday, and immigration restrictions. In the presidential election, Cleveland defeated Harrison. The Populist candidate, James B. Weaver, attracted over a million votes, but results in congressional and state races were disappointing.
Opponents of the Populists in the South played on racial fears, and the Populists failed to attract the support of urban workers.
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