The Granger & Populist Movement
A common characteristic of third political parties in the United States is that they 1. tend to focus on one person or one issue 2. come into existence only during periods of corruption 3. have dealt mainly with foreign policy issues 4. have frequently forced Congress to decide Presidential elections Explanation: The vast majority of the third parties in American history have focused on one issue or one set of issues. For example, the Populists Party was focused on the reforms needed in government and the economy and most recently the Reform Party of Ross Perot was centered on the reduction of national debt and balancing of the budget.
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A main goal of the Granger movement of the 1870's and 1880's was to 1. force the railroads to lower freight rates 2. reduce the rate of inflation 3. strengthen labor unions 4. improve living conditions in urban slums Explanation: Railroads had the farmer in a tough position. Areas typically had only one rail line out and as such farmers were forced to pay the rates that the lone railroad company charged. The result was that many railroads charged more for "short hauls" than for much longer distances. The frustrated farmers eventually organized around the Granger organizations in order to push for regulation of the railroads and their rates.
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As a result of the trends shown in the graphs, the Populist Party wanted the federal government to increase the money supply to 1. raise the prices of crops 2. limit the exportation of corn 3. discourage the consumption of corn 4. increase agricultural imports
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In the late 19th century, farmers desired "cheap money" policies because farmers believed that rising prices for their crops would 1. enable them to pay back their loans more easily 2. require banks to lend them more money at reduced interest rates 3. force manufacturers to reduce the prices of manufactured goods purchased by farmers 4. cause the price of undeveloped farmland to drop Explanation: The idea of "Free Silver" (the open coinage of silver backed dollars, as opposed to those backed by more expensive gold) was one supported by the Populist Party. The belief was that silver backed money would cause inflation, making money more available and as such "cheaper". This would allow the struggling farmer to pay back loans with the "cheaper" money.
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The Farmer is the Man When the farmer comes to town With his wagon broken down, Oh, the farmer is the man Who feeds them all. . . . The farmer is the man, The farmer is the man, Lives on credit till the fall; Then they take him by the hand And they lead him from the land, And the middleman's the man Who gets it all. . . . — American folk song The problem identified by this folk song was a result of 1. low profits forcing many people out of farming 2. farm productivity declining for several decades 3. too many Americans entering the occupation of farming 4. poor farming practices destroying cropland
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The Populist movement was most interested in improving conditions for 1. farmers 2. business leaders 3. African Americans 4. Native American Indians
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The Populists believed that most of the United States economic problems would be solved by establishing 1. currency reform 2. postal savings banks 3. a national property tax 4. a renewed policy of open immigration Explanation: The idea of "Free Silver" (the open coinage of silver backed dollars, as opposed to those backed by more expensive gold) was one supported by the Populist Party. The belief was that silver backed money would cause inflation, making money more available and as such "cheaper". This would allow the struggling farmer to pay back loans with the "cheaper" money.
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The mechanization of agriculture in the United States led directly to 1. an increase in production 2. less dependence on railroads by farmers 3. fewer agricultural exports 4. the decreasing size of the average farm
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Transportation being a means of exchange and a public necessity, the government should own and operate the railroads in the interest of the people." (1892) Which group showed the greatest support for this idea? 1. western farmers 2. union leaders 3. factory owners 4. railroad owners
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We mean to make things over, we are tired of toil for naught, With but bare enough to live upon, and never an hour for thought; We want to feel the sunshine, and we want to smell the flowers, We are sure that God has will'd it, and we mean to have eight hours. We're summoning our forces from the shipyard, shop and mill, Chorus. Eight hours for work, eight hours for rest, eight hours for what we will! Eight hours for work, eight hours for rest, eight hours for what we will! — I.G. Blanchard, "Eight Hours," 1878 During the late 1800s, the ideas expressed in these lyrics were the goals of 1. organizers of labor unions 2. sharecroppers following the Civil War 3. Grangers demanding railroad regulation 4. owners of big businesses Explanation: Demands for the eight hour day were common among labor unions in the later 1800's, such as the American Federation of Labor and the Knights of Labor. The Chicago area march and demonstration of May 1886 that erupted into the Haymarket Riot after a bomb exploded, killed several police and inciting chaos, was initial held as support for the eight hour day initiative.
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Which conclusion can be drawn about the impact of the Populist and the Progressive parties on the United States? 1. Some third-party goals eventually become planks in the platforms of the major parties. 2. The United States has steadily moved from a two-party system to a multiparty system. 3. Religious ideals have most often motivated people to splinter away from major parties . 4. An increasing number of citizens have grown weary of party politics and fail to vote in elections. Explanation: The Populist Party advocated for a graduated income tax and the direct election of senators (both ideas became popular among the larger 2 political parties and resulted in Constitutional amendments establishing them). The Progressive Party advocated for regulations of businesses and civil service reform (both ideas became reforms of the government, involving such ideas as antitrust legislation and civil service exams).
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Which trend is shown in these graphs? 1. When production increases, prices decrease. 2. When production increases, prices increase. 3. When production remains unchanged, prices decrease. 4. Prices and production are usually unrelated.
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-Free and unlimited coinage of silver -Government ownership of railroads -Graduated income tax Which of these political parties first proposed these reforms in its platform? 1. Republican Party in 1876 2. Populist Party in 1892 3. Bull-Moose Party 1912 4. Democratic Party in 1932 Explanation: The Populist Party advocated for a graduated income tax and the direct election of senators (both ideas became popular among the larger 2 political parties and resulted in Constitutional amendments establishing them). The Progressive Party advocated for regulations of businesses and civil service reform (both ideas became reforms of the government, involving such ideas as antitrust legislation and civil service exams). The idea of "Free Silver" (the open coinage of silver backed dollars, as opposed to those backed by more expensive gold) was one supported by the Populist Party. The belief was that silver backed money would cause inflation, making money more available and as such "cheaper". This would allow the struggling farmer to pay back loans with the "cheaper" money.
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A goal of the Granger and Populist movements was to 1. expand rights for African Americans 2. help western farmers fight unjust economic practices 3. provide support for the banking industry 4. enable big business to expand without government interference
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During the 1870's and 1880's, midwestern farmers found that earning a living was increasingly difficult because 1.prices of agricultural products were increasing 2. railroad companies charged high rates for transporting farm products 3. agricultural output was declining rapidly 4. farm labor was becoming more unionized Explanation: Railroads had the farmer in a tough position. Areas typically had only one rail line out and as such farmers were forced to pay the rates that the lone railroad company charged. The result was that many railroads charged more for "short hauls" than for much longer distances. The frustrated farmers eventually organized around the Granger organizations in order to push for regulation of the railroads and their rates.
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During the early 1900's, the initiative, recall, and referendum were changes made in many states to give 1. citizens the right to choose Presidential candidates 2. voters greater direct participation in government 3. workers more rights in the collective bargain-ing process 4. business leaders more control over their industries Explanation: Initiative is the ability of citizens to suggest legislation for consideration by a state legislature. Referendum is the passage or rejection of a proposed law by the citizens of a state in a statewide vote. Recall is the ability to recall a candidate once he or she has been elected if he/she is not fulfilling the promised duties of office.
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In the late 1800s, many business practices of the railroads led to 1. an increase in the unemployment rate 2. an increase in the demand for government regulation 3. a decrease in the demand for raw materials 4. a decrease in the variety of products available for consumers
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We mean to make things over, we are tired of toil for naught, With but bare enough to live upon, and never an hour for thought; We want to feel the sunshine, and we want to smell the flowers, We are sure that God has will'd it, and we mean to have eight hours. We're summoning our forces from the shipyard, shop and mill, Chorus. Eight hours for work, eight hours for rest, eight hours for what we will! Eight hours for work, eight hours for rest, eight hours for what we will! — I.G. Blanchard, "Eight Hours," 1878 In the 1890s, which political party incorporated the chief concern expressed in this song into its platform? 1. Know-Nothing 2. Populist 3. Whig 4. Bull Moose Explanation: Among the many groups supporting the Populist Movement and Party of the 1890's were factory workers and many unionized laborers. The eight-hour day movement was a central demand of many unions and labor organizations of this era, it was incorporated into the sympathies of the Populist Party Platform (The Omaha Platform) of 1892.
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What was a major effect of the Agricultural Revolution in the United States during the late 1800s? 1. Unemployed factory workers could find jobs in agriculture. 2. Food supplies were increased to feed urban dwellers. 3. The size of farms decreased. 4. United States farm exports decreased.
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Although the Populist Party failed to elect its candidates to the Presidency, some of the Party's aims were later achieved by the 1. adoption of the gold standard 2. elimination of racial segregation laws in the South 3. creation of a graduated income tax and the direct election of Senators 4. establishment of higher protective tariffs on manufactured goods Explanation: The Populist Party advocated for a graduated income tax and the direct election of senators (both ideas became popular among the larger 2 political parties and resulted in Constitutional amendments establishing them). The Progressive Party advocated for regulations of businesses and civil service reform (both ideas became reforms of the government, involving such ideas as antitrust legislation and civil service exams).
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In the late 1800s, the Granger movement tried to improve conditions for farmers by 1. lowering the rate of inflation 2. strengthening the gold standard 3. forcing railroads to lower their rates 4. making labor unions stronger
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The Farmer is the Man When the farmer comes to town With his wagon broken down, Oh, the farmer is the man Who feeds them all. . . . The farmer is the man, The farmer is the man, Lives on credit till the fall; Then they take him by the hand And they lead him from the land, And the middleman's the man Who gets it all. . . . — American folk song Which political party focused most of its efforts on the problem identified in this song? 1. Bull Moose 2. Free Soil 3. Populist 4. Progressive
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The Populist Party was important in United States history because it 1. succeeded in electing two presidential candidates 2. won control of many state governments 3. proposed ideas that later became law 4. achieved suffrage for African Americans
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In the second half of the 19th century, agriculture in the United States was transformed most by the 1. increase in prices paid for farm products 2. decline in the population growth rate of the United States 3. decline in demand for agricultural products 4. increase in the use of farm machinery
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The Interstate Commerce Act and the Sherman Antitrust Act were passed by Congress to 1. increase safety in the workplace 2. promote fair hiring practices 3. improve working conditions 4. protect the interests of small businesses
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What common problem did farmers of the 1890s and farmers of the 1920s face? 1. failure to plant enough crops to meet local needs 2. government overregulation of farming 3. low tariffs on crops 4. overproduction compared to consumer demand
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