"Did You Do It?"

The  patriotism of the Spanish-American War of 1898 also played a role in destroying Populism.  Criticism of the nation's leaders or institutions can be painted as evidence of disloyalty by opponents during wartime.  Thus, reformers usually mute their criticism or are silenced during periods of international turmoil.  Most Populists probably  supported freeing Cuba from autocratic Spanish rule. 

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