Question

The Ocala Demands eventually were turned into the platform of the People’s (or Populist) Party. What were those demands, and why were they popular with farmers?

Answer 1

Answer:

In 1890, they created the Ocala Demands, a series of reforms designed to help farmers and supported by the National Farmers' Association and populists. Now, the Ocala Demands pushed for populist governmental reforms, things that would benefit farmers. For instance, they wanted the government to create grain storage for farmers. This would allow farmers to put their grain into a silo and to collect 80% of what that crop was worth until it sold as a loan. Then they would pay that loan back to the government after the crop had sold. This would allow farmers to earn money for grain that hadn't been sold yet and would reduce the problem of having too much grain supply. They also wanted money to be based on the value of silver instead of gold. This would increase the money supply by a ratio of 16 to 1 because silver was much more common than gold at the time. That would make it easier for farmers to pay back all of the debts they had accrued because all of a sudden money is worth a little bit less. If you're paying the same amount, if you're paying $100 but you can get $1,000 for the price of $100 in the old times, you've just increased your ability to pay back your debt. Then we have the end of national banks. This would end the series of bank panics that wiped out many farmer's savings. There was a call for a federal graduated income tax which they believed would raise taxes on richer citizens. That's what the graduated income tax is. It's at different levels for different people instead of being flat. This means that rich farmers and poor farmers would be paying in proportion to what they earn rather than the same amount. They also wanted the direct election of senators, which would make the Senate more accountable to citizens than to legislatures. Now, all of these measures will be adopted in some form by many of the progressive parties that will come after the Populist Party has run out of steam.

Another possible answer is:

The Ocala Demands included reforms that would create economic relief for farmers. The demands included changes such as ensuring that crops were stored and held by the government, creating free coinage of silver to free up the currency in the west, instituting fewer tariffs, ending national banks, providing for the direct election of senators, and legislating more regulation of railroad companies. Farmers had been struggling in the late 1800s, especially with overwhelming debt and falling prices. Many saw the Populist initiatives as a step toward addressing those issues.

Explanation:

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