Which political group advocated for the interests of farmers and workers in the late 1800s?

• A. Democrats
• B. Populists
• C. Federalists
• D. Republicans

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is recognizing the political movement formed to champion farmers and workers during economic distress in the late 1800s. The group that fits this description is the Populists, or the People’s Party, which arose in the 1890s to unite rural farmers from the South and plains states with workers who felt left behind by the major parties. They organized around a platform aimed at shifting power toward ordinary people and curbing the influence of big business.

Their program highlighted reforms like bimetallism to expand the money supply, a graduated income tax, and direct election of U.S. Senators, along with government ownership of railroads, telegraph, and telephone lines. These proposals were designed to relieve debt and rail rates that burdened farmers and workers, giving ordinary citizens more control over the economy and politics.

In contrast, the major parties at the time—Democrats and Republicans—were broad, longstanding political parties representing a wide range of interests and were not built specifically to advocate for farmers and workers in the way the Populists were. The Federalists, on the other hand, were a much earlier party that had faded long before this era. So the group that most clearly represents advocacy for farmers and workers in the late 1800s is the Populists.