After 128 years in business, what historic event led to the final downfall of Montgomery Ward, causing the retail giant to permanently close all its stores in 2001?

Montgomery Ward was once one of America's retail giants, pioneering mail-order catalogs and competing directly with Sears for decades. Founded in 1872, this historic retailer shaped American shopping habits for over a century before its eventual demise. Test your knowledge about this once-dominant force in American retail history and its ultimate downfall.

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A failed merger attempt with Walmart that depleted its remaining cash reserves
A prolonged 1999-2000 battle with its CEO who attempted to take the company private, draining its finances
The dot-com bubble burst, as the company had invested heavily in an early e-commerce platform
A massive product recall of their house brand appliances that bankrupted the company overnight