Final answer:
William Jennings Bryan and Populists believed that the free coinage of silver would bring financial relief to the common people.
Step-by-step explanation:
William Jennings Bryan and the Populists believed that the free coinage of silver would bring financial relief to the common people. They saw adherence to a strict gold standard as a pressing problem for farmers and working-class Americans who struggled with high costs and low wages. By increasing the money supply through the production of silver dollars, they believed it would provide relief for those in debt and stimulate investment in the cities.