Organizing Protests
What was the name of the organization founded in 1867 to help farmers form cooperatives and press for regulations of railroads?
The Grange
What is the term for the federal government's plan for the nation's money supply?
Monetary policy
Name one demand included in the Populist (People's Party) platform.
Any one Populist demand: e.g., unlimited coinage of silver; increased money circulation; progressive income tax; government ownership/regulation of railroads/telegraph; eight-hour workday; opposition to child labor.
Who gave the famous "Cross of Gold" speech?
William Jennings Bryan
Name one practical action the Grange or Farmers' Alliances took to help farmers save money or fight unfair business practices.
Examples: formed cooperatives to buy supplies in bulk; pressured state legislators to regulate railroads and grain elevators; organized pooled resources to lower costs.
What does deflation mean for prices and for people who have lent money?
Deflation — general fall in prices; helps lenders/creditors because money repaid is worth more.
What progressive tax idea did the Populists support?
Progressive income tax — tax rate increases as income increases, placing larger burden on wealthy industrialists and less on farmers/poor.
Which 1896 Republican candidate was supported by wealthy industrialists and won the presidency?
William McKinley
Why did "Colored Farmers' Alliances" form separately from other Farmers' Alliances?
The Colored Farmers' Alliances formed because of segregation and racial exclusion; they pursued similar goals for economic help and political organization.
What was the Bland-Allison Act (in brief), and why did silver supporters like it?
Required the federal government to purchase and coin a limited amount of silver, increasing the money supply somewhat; silver supporters liked it because it raised prices/inflation, helping debtors.
Why did the Populists support government ownership or regulation of communications and transportation?
To prevent abusive practices and high rates by private railroad and communications companies; government ownership/regulation would ensure fair pricing and access for farmers.
Who was Mary Elizabeth Lease and what was she known for saying to encourage farmers?
Kansas lawyer and speaker known for urging farmers to "raise less corn and more Hell!"
(encouraging political action)
Explain one specific reason natural disasters increased the urgency of Farmers' Alliance programs in the 1880s.
Examples: Mississippi River flood (1882), 21-month drought (1886–87), terrible blizzards (1887) — these disasters destroyed crops and livestock, increasing urgency for aid and reform.
Explain how moving the U.S. to a gold standard in 1873 affected the money supply and why many farmers opposed that change.
The 1873 move to the gold standard reduced currency in circulation, causing tighter money and deflation; farmers opposed it because deflation lowered crop prices while debts remained the same, making repayment harder.
List 1 of the 3 major components of the Populist platform and briefly explain how it was intended to help farmers.
Major components & purpose:
Explain why William Jennings Bryan won support from many western and southern states but still lost the 1896 election. (2 reasons needed)
Reasons Bryan won many western/southern states but lost: McKinley won more electoral votes; McKinley had strong financial backing from industrialists and more organized campaign funding; the gold standard and support from urban/financial interests helped McKinley in key states.
Describe how improved communication and transportation helped farmers organize politically in the late 1800s.
Improved railroads, telegraph/telephone, and trains made communication and travel faster, enabling farmers to meet, coordinate, and form statewide/national organizations.
Compare the positions of "gold bugs" and "silverites" — include how each group's policy preference affected who would benefit (creditors vs. debtors
Gold bugs favored gold-only standard (benefitted creditors, bankers, and those with fixed assets)
Silverites (free silver) favored bimetallism/unlimited coinage of silver (benefitted debtors like farmers by increasing money supply and causing inflation).
Describe the Populists' strategy for building a political coalition across racial and regional lines — and one major obstacle they faced.
Strategy — unite poor white and Black farmers around shared economic interests (e.g., money supply, railroad regulation)
Obstacle — deep racial prejudices, regional differences, and opposition from business and political elites which undercut unified voting.
Summarize the main point of the "Cross of Gold" speech in one or two sentences.
Bryan argued that the gold standard harmed farmers and workers by causing deflation and economic suffering; he supported bimetallism/free silver to help ordinary people and said they should not be "crucified" on a "cross of gold."