Summary and Review

The Gilded Age (1870-1900) was marked by political corruption and ineffective leadership, as illustrated by the rise of the Populist movement. Farmers faced economic hardships due to falling prices and high tariffs, leading to the formation of organizations like the Grange and the Farmers' Alliance. The Populist Party emerged in 1891 advocating for reforms such as government control of railroads and a bimetallic monetary system. The election of 1896 saw William Jennings Bryan, supported by both the Democrats and Populists, defeat McKinley, but the Populist Party's identity diminished post-election due to economic recovery and the onset of the Spanish-American War.