Lesson Answer Key Populists Read Reading
HST303B/304B: U.S. History | Unit 1 | Lesson 4: Populists
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. spoils system
C. corruption
__B___ rewarding friends and allies with government jobs and contracts
__C___ dishonest proceedings like bribery and “kickbacks”
__A___ little or no regulation of business and industry
2. Name three problems small farmers experienced in the late 1800s.
•
•
•
3.
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.
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.
Each year the farmers fell into greater indebtedness to the merchants.
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HST303B/304B: U.S. History | Unit 1 | Lesson 4: Populists
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?
The Populist Party started some of the reforms that later entered mainstream politics. However, it sought
to restore America to the economic practices that existed in 1850 rather than look forward to economic
and industrial expansion. In the end, it was absorbed by the Democratic Party.
© 2009 K12 Inc. All rights reserved.
Copying or distributing without K12’s written consent is prohibited.
Page 2 of 2
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. spoils system
C. corruption
__B___ rewarding friends and allies with government jobs and contracts
__C___ dishonest proceedings like bribery and “kickbacks”
__A___ little or no regulation of business and industry
2. Name three problems small farmers experienced in the late 1800s.
•
•
•
3.
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.
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.
Each year the farmers fell into greater indebtedness to the merchants.
© 2009 K12 Inc. All rights reserved.
Copying or distributing without K12’s written consent is prohibited.
Page 1 of 2
HST303B/304B: U.S. History | Unit 1 | Lesson 4: Populists
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?
The Populist Party started some of the reforms that later entered mainstream politics. However, it sought
to restore America to the economic practices that existed in 1850 rather than look forward to economic
and industrial expansion. In the end, it was absorbed by the Democratic Party.
© 2009 K12 Inc. All rights reserved.
Copying or distributing without K12’s written consent is prohibited.
Page 2 of 2