What economic assumption underpinned the Ocala Platform?

The Ocala Platform, adopted by the Farmers' Alliance in 1890, articulated a range of economic reforms aimed at addressing the grievances of farmers and promoting their interests. Option B is correct because it reflects the economic assumption that federal income taxes disproportionately impacted average working Americans, particularly farmers, who often struggled to make ends meet. The platform sought to address this inequity by proposing reforms such as the direct election of U.S. senators and the implementation of a graduated income tax that would lessen the burden on lower- and middle-income individuals.

This perspective was aligned with the broader agrarian discontent of the time, as many farmers felt that existing tax structures favored wealthy landowners and corporate interests over the working class. The goal of the Ocala Platform was not only to reform taxation but also to elevate the financial standing of farmers by advocating for monetary policy changes like the free coinage of silver, which they believed would lead to easier credit and inflated prices for their goods.

The other options do not capture the key economic assumption underlying the Ocala Platform as effectively. While discussions around tariffs and corporate profits were relevant in the broader economic context of the late 19th century, the central theme of the Ocala Platform was more focused on how to alleviate the economic