"The Spirit of Their Fathers Moves Within Them": The Radical Conservatism of the Virginia Populists.

This article examines how evangelical Protestantism shaped the ideology and rhetoric of the Populist Party in Virginia, enabling its leaders—often drawn from the state's established, affluent families—to articulate a political stance that was simultaneously radical and conservative. Virginia Populists combined a critique of corporate capitalism and economic injustice with a nostalgic commitment to Jeffersonian and agrarian traditions, framing their movement in religious terms that emphasized rural community, moral reform, and a divine mission. Their political language drew heavily on Jacksonian anti-monopoly rhetoric and biblical imagery, portraying themselves as true conservatives defending authentic republican values against corrupt elites and false conservatives. The article highlights how evangelical faith was central to the Populists' identity and strategy, legitimizing their call for fundamental social and economic change while grounding it in Christian restorationist ideals.