In the late 1800s, the Populist Party primarily represented the goals and interests of farmers. Here's why:
1. **Farmers' Plight:** During this time, farmers faced economic hardships due to falling crop prices, high railroad shipping rates, and mounting debts.
2. **Populist Party Goals:** The Populist Party aimed to address these issues by advocating for policies such as government regulation of railroads, free coinage of silver to increase money supply, and a progressive income tax to alleviate the financial burden on farmers.
3. **Support Base:** The party drew much of its support from rural areas, where farmers felt marginalized and exploited by powerful interests like railroad companies and banks.
4. **Notable Figures:** Prominent Populist leaders such as William Jennings Bryan championed the cause of farmers and sought to challenge the dominance of big business in politics.
Therefore, the group primarily associated with the goals of the Populist Party in the late 1800s was farmers, as the party emerged as a voice for agrarian discontent and advocated for reforms to benefit this group.
