Oldest minor U.S. political party still in existence.
It was founded in 1869 to campaign for legislation to prohibit the manufacture and sale of liquor. The party was strong in rural regions and among small-town voters affiliated with Protestant evangelical churches. It nominated candidates for state and local offices and attained national strength in the 1888 and 1892 presidential elections, when its candidates polled 2.2% of the vote. Since 1900 it has been active mainly on local levels.