Populist Downfall

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I agree with your point that the silver issue was the main cause of the Populist’s downfall. Despite its rapid growth in southern and western states, the Populists failed to make further progress after 1892. The fusion Populists, people who sought to merge with one of the major parties, argued that Populist party could never hold national power as a third party because of its dependence on regions. And their strategy was to cooperate with the Democrats, supporting William Jennings Bryan for the presidential election in 1896. (1)
Bryan demanded for “free coinage” of silver, the unrestricted minting of silver money. While Bryan’s free-silver platform attracted numerous Populists, bankers and industrialists were frightened and alarmed by Bryan’s