The success of the populist party of 1890s can best be measured by what development

Hey there!

The populist party (or the people's party) was created for the farmers and laborers that wanted several democratic reforms created into laws. They mainly believed in the free, unlimited coinage of silver, federal income tax being based on income level (a.k.a. graduated income tax), and government ownership of railroads to cut down on monopolies causing high shipping rates for farmers. Many populists eventually got seats on Congress. 

Populists got many of their democratic reforms to pass as laws. These include the unlimited coinage of silver and graduated income tax. They also got the government to own the railroads and reformed banks, whose practices farmers believed was part of their financial hardship. The passing of these reforms as laws was the development that the populist party owed their success to. 

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