Why were the populists attempts to form a coalition of white and black farmers and industrial workers ultimately unsuccessful?

Answer 1

The populists' attempts to form a coalition of white and black farmers and industrial workers were ultimately unsuccessful due to deep-seated racial tensions and systemic racism in the South. Many white farmers were unwilling to collaborate with black farmers, fearing that such alliances would undermine their social status and economic interests. Additionally, the political climate of the time, marked by Jim Crow laws and segregation, further exacerbated divisions, making it difficult to unify diverse groups around common economic grievances. This fragmentation weakened the populist movement's ability to effect meaningful change.