National Politics and the Populist Party

Learning Objectives

1. Explain how the Farmer’s Alliance spread and led to the development of the Populist Party. Identify the goals and issues of the Populists.
2. Evaluate the effectiveness of the Populists in achieving their goals. Explain the obstacles they faced, such as race and the challenge of uniting urban workers and farmers. Finally, analyze how well the Populists were able to bridge these gaps.
3. Summarize the issues and results of the election of 1896. Explain the fate of the Populists and their ideas and describe how the Populists affected the political history of the United States.