Question

The Populist Party of the 1890s supported all the following EXCEPT:
A) A graduated income tax
B) Maintaining the gold standard
C) Bank regulation
D) Voting reform
E) Limits of immigration

Answer 1

Hint: The People's Party was a leftwing agrarian nationalist political party of the late 19th century in the US, often called the Populist Party or simply the populists.

Complete answer:
The Populist Party was founded as a major force in the south and west of the United States in the early 1890s but failed after the 1896 presidential elections of Democrat William Jennings Bryan. The Party desired free election of senators, railroad ownership, telegraph and telecommunications services, agricultural pricing subsidies, graduated income tax, an unrestricted amount of money, an 8-hour workday and more proposals and referendums.

The agenda also called for a levy on wages, direct elections for senators, a shortened workweek, visa quotas in the United States, and public control of railways and means of communication. James B. Weaver was elected as the presidential nominee in 1892, who received 8.5% of the popular vote and won 5 States later on. The party nominated William Jennings Bryan, the Democratic candidate, who endorsed much of the ideals of the popular movement in 1896.

They chose Thomas E. Watson as their vice-presidential nominee instead of Arthur Sewall, in order to distinguish themselves from the Democrats. The Populist Party was increasingly merging into the Democratic party during this election. The Republican William McKinley was later to lose Bryan's presidency. While in the next three presidential elections the Populist Party nominated the candidates, their vote fell heavily, as many were supporting the Democrats or Republicans, or followed Eugene V. Debs to his new Socialist Party.

Now let’s discuss the given options:
Option A) A graduated income tax - As we have discussed above the Populist Party supported the maintenance of the graduated income tax. Therefore, this option is incorrect.

Option B) Maintaining the gold standard - As we have discussed above there is no such point about maintaining the gold standard and the Populist Party didn't support this. Therefore, this option is correct.

Option C) Bank regulation - As we have discussed above the Populist Party supported the idea of bank regulations. Therefore, this option is incorrect.

Option D) Voting reform - As we have discussed above the Populist Party wanted more voting reforms for better election procedure. Therefore, this option is incorrect.

Option E) Limits of immigration - As we have discussed above the Populist Party wanted to limit immigration. Therefore, this option is incorrect.

Therefore, the answer for the above given question is option (B) Maintaining the gold standard
“The Populist Party of the 1890s supported all the following except maintaining the gold standard.”

Note: The party has succeeded in the elections to the House of Representatives. They gained eight seats in 1890, won 11 in 1892, won nine in 1894, won 22 in 1896, won six in 1898 and finally won five in 1900. In 1908, the party dissolved. The official Populist Party's last recorded action was 1913.