Principle vs. Pragmatism: Henry Loucks and South Dakota Populism 1884-1890

The People’s Party of the United States was the most successful third party in American history. The formation of that party was linked to that of local Farmers’ Alliances in a number of states. One such organization, the South Dakota Farmers’ Alliance, was founded and led by a Canadian immigrant named Henry Langford Loucks. Although historians have noted the influence of Americans like Henry Wise Wood on Canadian agrarian movements, few have considered Canadian influence south of the border. This study uses Loucks’ speeches and newspaper writings as well as secondary sources, to examine the politicization of Loucks and the Dakota Alliance. Dakota populists faced many of the same pitfalls and the same fate as the People’s Party nationally, for many of the same reasons. Trapped between pragmatism and principles, the group split and was eventually coopted by another political party. Loucks, who chose principle over pragmatism, lost political power.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

History

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Graduate Studies

Year dc:date.issued

2015

Author dc:creator

• Varsanyi, Andrew

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Jameson, Elizabeth

• History--United States

Statement dc:rights

• University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/27432

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:11023/2249