What groups made up the populist movement?
Populists were originally made up of Black and White Farmers in the mid-west and south who disliked the policies of the Democrats and Republicans. They adopted the name from the Kansas Populist Party which had elected members to Congress. So, some politicians were also populists. Their goals also attracted workers to their party. They were not, as some accused, socialists. Most were tenant farmers and landowners They favored reform in a peacefull, democratic way.