A Level History - America - Practice Exam

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What ultimately happened to the Populist Party by 1908?

It merged with the Republican Party
It was absorbed by the Democratic Party
It remained a strong independent party
It gained power in multiple states

The correct answer is: It was absorbed by the Democratic Party

By 1908, the Populist Party had largely declined and was effectively absorbed by the Democratic Party. This process occurred as the Populists faced challenges in maintaining their separate identity amid the political landscape dominated by the two major parties. Their key platforms, which included advocating for the interests of farmers and laborers, particularly in terms of monetary reform and regulation of railroads, began to resonate more with the Democratic Party, especially under leaders like William Jennings Bryan. As the Democratic Party started to adopt some of the Populist ideas, particularly in the context of the 1896 presidential election and beyond, many former Populists chose to align with the Democrats, believing that they could better achieve their goals within this larger party structure. The diminishing electoral success of the Populists, especially after their defeat in the late 1890s, further pushed members to seek influence through the Democratic Party instead of continuing to support a declining independent party.