The Populist Party emerged in response to the difficulties faced by farmers after the Civil War. Farming the free land in the West was difficult due to drought, debt, and natural disasters. Farmers joined the Grange movement to socialize and lobby for political changes to help address their issues with debt and high shipping rates charged by railroads. The Populist Party proposed solutions like inflation to put more money in the system, as well as free coinage of silver instead of just gold backing the dollar, and greater democratic reforms. Their rise was led by William Jennings Bryan and aimed to give more power to ordinary citizens.