Lesson Answer Key Populists Read Reading

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HST303B/304B: U.S. History | Unit 1 | Lesson 4: Populists

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Lesson Answer Key

Populists

Read: Reading Guide

1. During the “Gilded Age”, government was characterized by a laissez-faire attitude, a spoils system, and corruption. Match each of the following terms with its description.

A. laissez-faire __B___ rewarding friends and allies with government jobs and contracts B. spoils system __C___ dishonest proceedings like bribery and “kickbacks”

C. corruption __A___ little or no regulation of business and industry

2. Name three problems small farmers experienced in the late 1800s.

• Farmers lacked the funds to buy new equipment to improve farm efficiency.

• Small farmers were charged higher rates for shipping and grain storage than larger businesses. • Competition from global markets drove down the value of their crops.

3. Complete the following to explain how the crop lien system worked.

Farmers didn’t have cash so they bought goods from local merchants on credit.

Farmers tried to pay off their debts after their crops were harvested.

When crop prices dropped, farmers couldn’t make enough money from the harvest to repay their loans.

Farmers had to sign liens granting the merchants ownership of the next year’s crops.

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HST303B/304B: U.S. History | Unit 1 | Lesson 4: Populists

Copying or distributing without K12’s written consent is prohibited.

4. Check the correct box to identify whether each statement identifies a goal of the Grange or the Farmers’ Alliances.

Goal Grange Farmers’

Alliances

Establish cooperatives to enable small farmers to bypass merchants and use cash to buy their goods

Urge federal government to establish a sub-treasury system, in which farmers would pool their crops and store them in government-owned silos until prices were high enough to sell at a profit

Urge government to seize ownership of and regulate railroads and public utilities

Endorse bankruptcy laws protecting farmers Seek political reforms to increase people’s power Increase money supply by the coinage of free silver

5. Fill in the missing words as you read the section titled “The Populist Party.”

The Farmers’ Alliances got actively involved in political campaigns. Seeking to create a nationwide movement of urban laborers and rural farmers, in 1890 members of the Alliances established the Populist, or People’s, Party.

The Democratic Convention in 1896 was deeply divided over the question of free silver. Some delegates wanted to keep the gold standard; however, others sided with the Populist Party, which urged the coinage of silver. After William Jennings Bryan gave his memorable speech urging the coinage of silver, both political parties endorsed Bryan as the Democratic nominee for president.

Populist leaders decided to join the Democratic Party in supporting Bryan in hopes of enacting their economic agenda. When Bryan lost the election, however, this gambled failed. The Populist Party dissolved soon after Bryan’s defeat.

6. Why did the Populist Party fail?