Populists believed that bankers, landowners, and political parties were in constant conflict at the expense of important issues. had taken over the Knights of Labor along with other labor unions. supported collective action to achieve prosperity for all. worked together to keep control of the US in the hands of the wealthy.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is: supported collective action to achieve prosperity for all.
Explanation
The Populist movement, also known as the People’s Party, emerged in the late 19th century in response to the economic struggles and political frustrations of farmers and laborers, especially in the South and Midwest. The movement sought to challenge the growing power of elites—particularly bankers, railroad companies, and large landowners—who they believed were exploiting the working class.
Populists did not believe that these groups were in conflict with each other; rather, they argued that elites—bankers, landowners, and politicians—collaborated to maintain control over the economy and political system. This is why the answer choice “worked together to keep control of the US in the hands of the wealthy” may seem accurate at first glance, but it misrepresents the key distinction: the Populists were focused on challenging elite dominance, not suggesting those elites were in conflict.
The Populists were also not responsible for taking over the Knights of Labor or other labor unions, though they often worked alongside them in shared causes. The Knights of Labor was an earlier labor organization with similar goals but a separate leadership and agenda.
The most accurate statement is that Populists supported collective action to achieve prosperity for all. They advocated for reforms such as the regulation of railroads, a progressive income tax, direct election of Senators, and the free coinage of silver to inflate currency and ease debt burdens on farmers. Their belief in collective action was rooted in the idea that individual farmers or workers had little power on their own but could demand change when united.
Ultimately, while the Populist Party declined after the 1896 election, many of its ideas—such as banking reform and direct election of Senators—were later adopted in the Progressive Era. The Populist legacy remains a key chapter in American political history, emphasizing grassroots activism and economic justice.
