Vocabulary
What is agrarian?
Relating to farming or agriculture
Who made up the core of the People's Party?
farmers
When was the People's Party formed?
1892
Where was Populist support especially strong in Louisiana?
Rural areas
Why was the People's Party less successful in the South?
Racial prejudice and support for segregation and Jim Crow laws limited its success.
What is populism?
A political perspective that gives priority to the interests of ordinary people.
Who gave the Cross of Gold speech?
William Jennings Bryan
When did a People's Party form in Louisiana?
1891
What is inflation?
A rise in prices and a fall in the purchasing value of money.
What is a cooperative?
An organization owned and operated by its users for economic benefit.
What is a glut?
An excess or oversupply of crops or goods.
Who were the Bourbon Democrats?
A powerful political group in Louisiana that supported business interests, laissez-faire government, and Jim Crow laws.
Who defeated William Jennings Bryan in the 1896 presidential election?
William McKinley
Why did farmers oppose banks?
Banks charged farmers higher interest rates on loans than they charged industries.
What is a political party platform?
The policies supported by a political party.
What was the Granger movement?
The nationwide movement of Granges that organized farmers to fight unfair business practices.
Who was the People's Party presidential candidate in 1892?
James B. Weaver
What economic event caused Populists to take up free silver again?
The economic panic of 1893
What was the United States like before industrialization?
It was an agrarian country where most Americans lived and worked on farms.
Why did Populists support free silver?
They wanted more money in circulation to create inflation and help farmers pay their debts.
What was another name for the People's Party?
The Populists.
Who became the Democratic presidential nominee in 1896?
William Jennings Bryan
What did the 1873 law do to silver coins?
It stopped the production of silver coins and began shifting the country toward the gold standard.
Why did farmers oppose railroads?
Farmers often paid higher shipping rates than large shippers and had to pay fees to use grain elevators.
What was the Patrons of Husbandry?
An organization formed in Minnesota in 1867 to educate farmers and provide opportunities for farmers to socialize.