Question

Why did the Populists support the Democratic candidate—William Jennings Bryan—in 1896?

A) Because they believed he strongly supported the gold standard.
B) Because they wanted to see a return to the silver standard.
C) Because Bryan embraced many populist positions and causes.
D) Because they believed in a laissez-faire economic policy.

Answer 1

The Populists supported William Jennings Bryan in 1896 C) Because Bryan embraced many populist positions and causes. even though endorsing a Democratic candidate put the Populist Party at risk of losing its separate identity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Populists supported the Democratic candidate, William Jennings Bryan, in 1896 primarily because Bryan embraced many populist positions and causes (C). Bryan was an advocate for the silver standard, which the Populists favored as a means to inflate the money supply and relieve debtors, primarily farmers.

He was also sympathetic to other Populist issues, such as the farmers' plight. Despite concerns about maintaining their identity as a separate political entity, the Populists saw in Bryan a candidate who largely represented their platform and held out hope that he could bring about the changes they sought. However, Bryan's loss to McKinley meant the eventual decline in influence for the Populist Party.