The Populist and Progressive MovementsThe Populists and Progressives were a form of movement that occurred during the blossoming of the labor union after the Civil War. The Populists emerged in the late 1800s. The Progressives began in the 1900s. There are many differences between these two movements, yet they have many similarities. Farmers united to protect their interests, even creating a major political party. The party was called the People's Party, which became known as the Populist Party. The populists drew their strength from rural areas. Populists were generally poor and uneducated. They had ideas such as government ownership of major industries. The populists supported the union demand for an eight-hour working day. The most controversial populist demand concerned the money supply. Farmers, both sellers and debtors, saw inflation as a way to improve their standard of living, but they wanted to increase the money supply. The farmers convinced the government to use silver as well as 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 favor of coining silver to increase the money supply. Democrats agreed with the Populists, but most Republicans favored the gold standard and a lower money supply. The Democrats agreed on a presidential candidate who was with the currency money, who...