Populism, before it became a concrete political movement in the 1890's, was a strong sentiment in the United States. It involved a direct democratic process and the public control of the monetary system as a way to empower citizens in the political and the economic sphere. The best example early on in America was the political structure of Vermont which developed as a separate republic rather than a colony. However, over time, industrialism and the centralization of banking had eroded populism to a passive participation through voting and only a small minority owning the means of production.