William Jennings Bryan had a significant impact on the Populist Party during the late 19th century. He was a charismatic speaker and was able to energize and unite the various factions of the party. In 1896, he was nominated as both the Democratic and Populist Party candidate for president, running on a platform that called for the free coinage of silver, farm relief, and government control of railroads.
Although he was ultimately defeated by Republican candidate William McKinley, Bryan's campaign helped to solidify the Populist Party's support for many of the same issues. However, after the election, Bryan chose to align more closely with the Democrats and focused on reforming the Democratic Party from within. This caused a split within the Populist Party, with some members abandoning the party and joining the Democrats, while others continued to support the Populist platform.
Overall, Bryan's impact on the Populist Party was significant, as he helped to bring together various factions and promote their causes. However, his later alignment with the Democrats also contributed to the eventual decline of the Populist Party as a standalone political organization.
Explain the effect that William Jennings Bryan had on the Populist Party.
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