Who did the working-class public trust to challenge powerful business leaders like Rockefeller and Carnegie?

• A. Franklin D. Roosevelt
• B. Theodore Roosevelt
• C. William Jennings Bryan
• D. Woodrow Wilson

Answer: (C)

The working-class public looked to William Jennings Bryan as a trusted challenger of powerful business leaders such as John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie. Bryan was a prominent political figure and a staunch advocate for the interests of farmers and workers during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His strong populist stance, which included calls for monetary reform and anti-trust measures, resonated deeply with the concerns of ordinary Americans who felt marginalized by the growing power of industrialists and corporate monopolies.

Bryan's passionate oratory and ability to connect with the struggles of the working class helped him gain widespread support, as he positioned himself as a defender of the common people against the excesses of big business. His campaigns, particularly those for the presidency, emphasized the need for reform and aimed to limit the influence of wealthy elites in politics and economics.

The other figures listed, while significant in their own right, did not capture the same level of support or direct connection to the working-class concerns regarding business leaders like Rockefeller and Carnegie.