Populist and Progressive MovementsPopulist and Progressive movements were forms of movement that occurred during the outbreak of workers' unionism after the Civil War. Populists began in the late 1800s. Progressive began in 1900. There are many differences between these two movements, but these movements have many similar things. Farmers have banded together to protect their interests, even creating a major political party. The party was called the People's Party and became known as the Populist Party. The populists drew their strength from rural areas. Populists tended to be poor and ignorant. They had ideas such as state ownership of major industries. Populists supported workers' demand for an eight-hour working day. The most controversial populist demand concerned the money supply. Farmers, being both sellers and debtors, saw inflation as a way to improve their standard of living, but they wanted to expand the money supply. Farmers convinced the government to use both silver and gold to support the money supply. Congress passed the Bland-Allison Act and the Sherman Silver Purchase. The populist platform urged Congress to authorize the free and unlimited minting of silver. Populists were united in favoring the minting of silver to expand the money supply. Democrats agreed with the populist, but most Republicans favored the gold standard and a smaller money supply. The Democrats agreed on a presidential candidate who was with the silver mint, wh...