The economic conditions of the late 19th century drove many farmers and other working-class people to join the Populist Party. The Panic of 1893 had caused a severe economic depression, and the farmers were struggling to make ends meet. They were also facing high prices for goods and services, and low prices for their crops. The Populists believed that bimetallism, or the use of both gold and silver as currency, would help to stabilize the economy and benefit the farmers. They argued that bimetallism would increase the money supply, making it easier for farmers to borrow money and pay off their debts. They also believed that bimetallism would increase the value of their crops, allowing them to make more money from their harvests.