The populists party ideology resonated with the problems that farmers were facing at the time. Farmers were having problem with money supply as a results of bank inexpedience, and railroads or transportation problems. Crop failure was also affecting the farmers. The populist party agenda included <span>Increased
money supply, a rise in prices, federal loans plans, 8 hour work day,
restrictions on immigration, secret ballots, single term for VP, and
election of senators by popular vote. some of these issues were at the heart of the farmers.
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Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th
The expansion of railroads created more ways for things such as general goods to be shipped elsewhere to buyers or companies. (Hope this helps a bit, sorry for such a short answer.)