Although there are some similarities between the two (Especially with the nomination of William Jennings Bryan in 1896 with the silver standard issue), the Populist Party was an agrarian party. It was essentially a bunch of farmers that were upset with both the Republican and Democratic Party for their treatment. The taxes on the items they used daily were going up as well as the astronomical price for using the railroad to sell their products (Not to mention being underpaid for the products that they were able to sell). They used this party platform to stand up to both parties and fight for their rights as the farmers of America (The ones who grew all the food and kept everyone fed).