19
Page 1 Name:__________________________________________________________ Date:____________ Class:_____ TEST: The Indian Wars, Populism, Big Business, and the Gilded Age Part A: Multiple Choice: Instructions: Choose the option that answers the question or completes the sentence. 1. What type of economy did the Sioux and Cheyenne cultures have? a. Agrarian b. Nomadic c. Industrial d. Matriarchal 2. What animal was massively important for many Native American groups in the West and provided food, clothing, and shelter for their people? a. Wildcats b. Long Horns c. Buffalos d. Beavers 3. Which type of person would most likely hold to the belief of Manifest Destiny in the late 1800s? a. A citizen of the USA moving to the Great Plains b. A Shaman Native American c. A Sioux chief d. A British soldier stationed in Canada 4. Which option below best explains how the introduction of horses and guns by Europeans to Native Americans impacted the cultures of the Native Americans by the late 1800s in the USA? a. Many Native American cultures transitioned from being agrarians to nomads. b. The majority of Native Americans assimilated into European culture to gain the weapons and animals. c. Most Native Americans migrated to Mexico and abandoned the Great Plains. d. All of the above. 5. All of the following were motivations encouraging American citizens to go west in the late 1800s EXCEPT: a. Access to natural resources b. The opportunity to mine for gold c. The opportunity to work in the new factories d. The availability of land Copyright, USHistoryTeachers.com All Rights Reserved.

ushistoryteachers.comushistoryteachers.com/.../08/01-TEST-The-Indian-Wars...th…  · Web viewA British soldier stationed in Canada . Which option below best explains how the introduction

  • Upload
    dinhque

  • View
    214

  • Download
    0

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1

Name:__________________________________________________________ Date:____________ Class:_____

TEST: The Indian Wars, Populism, Big Business, and the Gilded Age

Part A: Multiple Choice: Instructions: Choose the option that answers the question or completes the sentence.

1. What type of economy did the Sioux and Cheyenne cultures have? a. Agrarianb. Nomadicc. Industriald. Matriarchal

2. What animal was massively important for many Native American groups in the West and provided food, clothing, and shelter for their people?

a. Wildcats b. Long Hornsc. Buffalos d. Beavers

3. Which type of person would most likely hold to the belief of Manifest Destiny in the late 1800s?a. A citizen of the USA moving to the Great Plainsb. A Shaman Native Americanc. A Sioux chief d. A British soldier stationed in Canada

4. Which option below best explains how the introduction of horses and guns by Europeans to Native Americans impacted the cultures of the Native Americans by the late 1800s in the USA?

a. Many Native American cultures transitioned from being agrarians to nomads. b. The majority of Native Americans assimilated into European culture to gain the weapons and

animals. c. Most Native Americans migrated to Mexico and abandoned the Great Plains. d. All of the above.

5. All of the following were motivations encouraging American citizens to go west in the late 1800s EXCEPT:

a. Access to natural resourcesb. The opportunity to mine for goldc. The opportunity to work in the new factoriesd. The availability of land

6. At ______________________________, US militia killed 150 people and most of those killed were women and children.

a. the Battle of Antietamb. the Fetterman Massacrec. the Battle of Wounded Knee d. the Massacre at Sand Creek

7. What option below best explains why Sitting Bull refused to sign the Treaty of Fort Laramie? a. He felt that the Native Americans should get to return to the Southern portion of the USA. b. He would not sign it because he felt it interfered with the nomadic way of life. c. He was angry that Fetterman had killed Crazy Horse and wanted to keep fighting. d. He refused because the Treaty forbid the hunting of Buffalo.

Copyright, USHistoryTeachers.com All Rights Reserved.

Page 2

8. Who led the Seventh Calvary at the Battle of Little Big Horn? a. William Fettermanb. Jack Wilsonc. Nelson Miles d. George Custer

9. What conflict was the last major battle of the Indian Wars?a. the Battle of Wounded Knee b. the Battle of Antietamc. the Fetterman Massacred. the Massacre at Sand Creek

10. If you were a supporter of the Populist movement, what occupation did you most likely serve as?a. Bankerb. Farmerc. Conductor d. Lawyer

11. What explanation below explains why Greenbacks began to drop in value after the Civil War? a. Greenbacks could only be exchanged for gold.b. Greenbacks could not be exchanged for gold. c. The railroad millionaires had placed all Greenbacks in powerful banks. d. None of the above.

12. What explanation below explains why railroad companies were able to charge high prices to farmers to ship their crops in the late 1800s?

a. There was a great deal of competition between various railroad companies. b. The railroad companies had essentially no competition. c. They were able to charge high prices because the railroad companies owned the Grange. d. The railroads foreclosed on many farms and took the farmers’ properties.

13. Who started the Patrons of Husbandry?a. Ralph Patron b. Rutherford B. Hayes c. Oliver Hudson Kelley d. Eugene V. Debs.

14. What famous woman traveled and lectured to others to gain support for the Populist movement? a. Ida B. Wells. b. Mary Elizabeth Lease c. Susan B. Anthony d. Harriet Beecher Stowe

15. All of the following were goals of the Populist Party EXCEPT:a. Create an eight hour work day for common workers. b. Limit immigration into the USA. c. Allow governors of each state to appoint Senators to Congress. d. Increase the money supply in the USA economy.

Copyright, USHistoryTeachers.com All Rights Reserved.

Page 3

16. Politically, most citizens in the South were ___________________ and most citizens in the North were _________________ during the late 1800s.

a. Republicans / Democratsb. Democrats / Populists c. Democrats / Republicans d. Republicans / Libertarians

17. Silverties wanted what economic policy? a. Railroads to reduce the amount of competition present in the market in the late 1800s.b. The use of silver only to back money. c. The removal of railroad companies from the West. d. The use of gold and silver to back money.

18. What explanation below explains why very wealthy individuals supported the gold standard? a. The gold standard kept inflation from drastically increasing. b. Gold was the most abundant precious metal in the USA and was in plentiful supplies in the Midwest. c. Silver very difficult to excavate and created a dangerous environment for miners. d. All of the above.

19. Who gave the famous, “Cross of Gold” speech? a. William McKinley b. Theodore Roosevelt c. William Jennings Bryan d. William Hoard Taft

20. Why did many big business owners support the presidential candidacy of William McKinley? a. He owned many railroad companies b. He supported the gold standard. c. He supported bimetallismd. He was the last presidential candidate that actually served in the Civil War and was a military hero.

21. Andrew Carnegie formed a monopoly in the ______________________ industry. a. Electricb. Steelc. Oild. Textile

22. When a company buys out all of its competitors to be a monopoly, that company is practicing ______________________________ integration.

a. Horizontalb. Vertical c. Industrial d. Monopolistic

23. When company buys out all the suppliers of its product to be a monopoly, that company is practicing ______________________________ integration

a. Horizontalb. Vertical c. Industrial d. Monopolistic

Copyright, USHistoryTeachers.com All Rights Reserved.

Page 4

24. Who used the biological theory of Darwinism to attempt to explain occurrences within the economy?

a. Charles Darwinb. J.P. Morgan c. Thomas Edison d. Herbert Spencer

25. What was the goal of the Sherman Anti-trust Act? a. To increase the power of oil monopolies b. To reduce the amount of pollution occurring in steel factories c. To stop monopolies from forming d. To ensure that the federal government was practicing a “Laissez Faire” approach to economics.

26. Which option correctly defines a strike?a. When workers refuse to work and protest a companyb. When laborers unite their efforts c. When business owners agree to reduce the work day hours each week d. When factories go out of business due to their high prices

27. Who formed the National Labor Union? a. William Sylvis b. Eugene V. Debsc. Karl Marxd. William Haywood

28. How was the Noble Order of Knights of Labor different from the National Labor Union?a. The Noble Order of Knights of Labor did not use the tactic of going on strike in their approach, but

the National Labor Union used this tactic to achieve their goals. b. The National Labor Union did not allow African Americans to join, but the Nobel Order of Knights of

Labor did allow African Americans to join. c. The National Labor Union forced all workers, skilled and unskilled, to join their group; yet, the Noble

Order of Knights of Labor was strictly voluntary. d. The National Labor Union’s members were all female, but the Nobel Order of Knights of Labor only

had male members.

29. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, many big business owners heavily supported the economic system of ______________________, while many common laborers began going against this arrangement and supported the economic system of ___________________.

a. Marxism / Egalitarianismb. Complementarianism / Anarchism c. Humanitarianism / Confucianismd. Capitalism / Socialism

30. What notable historical impact did Pauline Newman accomplish in her desire to support common workers?

a. She started the Ladies Garment Workers Union b. She invented the tactic of the strike c. She united The National Labor Union and the Noble Order of the Knights of Labor into one group,

which was called the Industrial Workers of the World. d. She reached an agreement between business leaders and workers in the incident known as the

Haymarket Affair.

Copyright, USHistoryTeachers.com All Rights Reserved.

Page 5

31. Mark Twain called the era during United States history from the 1870s to the 1890s the _____________ Age.

a. Corrupt b. Antebellum c. Colonial d. Gilded

32. Which option below functioned as the second in the chain of command in the political machines? a. The Local Prescient Workersb. The Big Business Leaders c. The Ward Bossesd. The Contractors

33. Which option below correctly defines the term “kickback”? a. When a leader is provided unlawful, financial gain from a city project b. When a mayor serves as the “city boss”c. When a leader is only reelected because a significant number of immigrants voted from him or her d. When a mayor helps out his or her citizens through supporting improvement in housing, increasing

safety measures in factories, and providing other services

34. Which option below correctly defines the term “graft”? a. The process in which political machines no longer depend on precinct workers. b. The notion that mayors should be allowed to hire qualified workers. c. The attempt of politicians to when various districts in a region to gain reelection. d. The use of political power for personal gain.

35. Which leader below is typically remembered as a mayor who did not use his office for selfish gain? a. William Tweedb. Roscoe Conkling c. Benedict Arnoldd. None of the Above

36. __________________________ is a system in which government jobs can be awarded to anyone regardless of qualifications.

a. Social Darwinism b. Antinomianism c. Propaganda d. Patronage

37. Where did Rutherford B. Hayes stand on the issue of the Spoils of System? a. He opposed hiring people who were not qualified for their position. b. He successfully argued that, since he was President, he should be able to hire whomever he wished

to hire. c. He tried to stay neutral in terms of the Spoils System to ensure Democrats supported his presidency

against Samuel Tilden. d. He claimed that the President should be able to participate in the Spoils System, but that mayors

should not have the same power.

Copyright, USHistoryTeachers.com All Rights Reserved.

Page 6

38. Which word below describes the political position of Chester Arthur that he held to in the election of 1880?

a. Stalwart b. Traitor c. Reformerd. Deserter

39. Why did Charles Guiteau assassinate President Garfield?a. Garfield was a corrupt city boss. b. Garfield was a Reformer and Guiteau wanted a Stalwart to be President. c. Guiteau felt that imperialism, which America was practicing heavily in the late 1800s, was an

immoral system and he was trying to start a revolution against imperialistic policies. d. He was supposed to be the vice presidential candidate, but Garfield chose Arthur instead.

40. What was President Cleveland’s position on tariffs? a. He supported higher tariffs to protect American businesses.b. He only wanted tariffs to be in place against France because of their hostile control over Vietnam. c. He supported raising tariffs only if the USA banned the income tax forever. d. He supported reducing tariffs to lower prices for consumers.

Part B: Open Response: Instructions: Choose TWO questions from the three options below and answer the questions.

1. What were the Indian Wars? How did they end? Within your answer, you must use all of the following terms and explain their significance for the Indian Wars:

Manifest Destiny, Sitting Bull, George Custer, Battle of Wounded Knee, and Massacre at Sandcreek. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Why did Populists have tension and conflict with railroad companies and with banks? What were some political

Copyright, USHistoryTeachers.com All Rights Reserved.

Page 7

and economic goals of the Populist Movement? Within your answer, you must use all of these terms and explain their significance for the Populist movement: Oliver Hudson Kelley, Greenbacks, Silverites, Goldbugs, and William Jennings Bryan. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What were the “political machines” of the late 1800s? What did the “political machines” attempt to achieve? Were the “political machines” good, bad, or both for society? Within your answer, you must use all of the following terms: Graft, Kickback, William “Boss” Tweed, Roscoe Conkling, precinct, and immigrants.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ANSWERS: TEST: The Indian Wars, Populism, Big Business, and the Gilded Age Copyright, USHistoryTeachers.com All Rights Reserved.

Page 8

Part A: Multiple Choice: Instructions: Choose the option that answers the question or completes the sentence.

1. What type of economy did the Sioux and Cheyenne cultures have? a. Agrarianb. Nomadicc. Industriald. Matriarchal

2. What animal was massively important for many Native American groups in the West and provided food, clothing, and shelter for their people?

a. Wildcats b. Long Hornsc. Buffalos d. Beavers

3. Which type of person would most likely hold to the belief of Manifest Destiny in the late 1800s?a. A citizen of the USA moving to the Great Plainsb. A Shaman Native Americanc. A Sioux chief d. A British soldier stationed in Canada

4. Which option below best explains how the introduction of horses and guns by Europeans to Native Americans impacted the cultures of the Native Americans by the late 1800s in the USA?

a. Many Native American cultures transitioned from being agrarians to nomads. b. The majority of Native Americans assimilated into European culture to gain the weapons and

animals. c. Most Native Americans migrated to Mexico and abandoned the Great Plains. d. All of the above.

5. All of the following were motivations encouraging American citizens to go west in the late 1800s EXCEPT:

a. Access to natural resourcesb. The opportunity to mine for goldc. The opportunity to work in the new factoriesd. The availability of land

6. At ______________________________, US militia killed 150 people and most of those killed were women and children.

a. the Battle of Antietamb. the Fetterman Massacrec. the Battle of Wounded Knee d. the Massacre at Sand Creek

7. What option below best explains why Sitting Bull refused to sign the Treaty of Fort Laramie? a. He felt that the Native Americans should get to return to the Southern portion of the USA. b. He would not sign it because he felt it interfered with the nomadic way of life. c. He was angry that Fetterman had killed Crazy Horse and wanted to keep fighting. d. He refused because the Treaty forbid the hunting of Buffalo.

8. Who led the Seventh Calvary at the Battle of Little Big Horn?

Copyright, USHistoryTeachers.com All Rights Reserved.

Page 9

a. William Fettermanb. Jack Wilsonc. Nelson Miles d. George Custer

9. What conflict was the last major battle of the Indian Wars?a. the Battle of Wounded Knee b. the Battle of Antietamc. the Fetterman Massacred. the Massacre at Sand Creek

10. If you were a supporter of the Populist movement, what occupation did you most likely serve as?e. Bankerf. Farmerg. Conductor h. Lawyer

11. What explanation below explains why Greenbacks began to drop in value after the Civil War? a. Greenbacks could only be exchanged for gold.b. Greenbacks could not be exchanged for gold. c. The railroad millionaires had placed all Greenbacks in powerful banks. d. None of the above.

12. What explanation below explains why railroad companies were able to charge high prices to farmers to ship their crops in the late 1800s?

a. There was a great deal of competition between various railroad companies. b. The railroad companies had essentially no competition. c. They were able to charge high prices because the railroad companies owned the Grange. d. The railroads foreclosed on many farms and took the farmers’ properties.

13. Who started the Patrons of Husbandry?a. Ralph Patron b. Rutherford B. Hayes c. Oliver Hudson Kelley d. Eugene V. Debs.

14. What famous woman traveled and lectured to others to gain support for the Populist movement? a. Ida B. Wells. b. Mary Elizabeth Lease c. Susan B. Anthony d. Harriet Beecher Stowe

15. All of the following were goals of the Populist Party EXCEPT:a. Create an eight hour work day for common workers. b. Limit immigration into the USA. c. Allow governors of each state to appoint Senators to Congress. d. Increase the money supply in the USA economy.

Copyright, USHistoryTeachers.com All Rights Reserved.

Page 10

16. Politically, most citizens in the South were ___________________ and most citizens in the North were _________________ during the late 1800s.

a. Republicans / Democratsb. Democrats / Populists c. Democrats / Republicans d. Republicans / Libertarians

17. Silverties wanted what economic policy? a. Railroads to reduce the amount of competition present in the market in the late 1800s.b. The use of silver only to back money. c. The removal of railroad companies from the West. d. The use of gold and silver to back money.

18. What explanation below explains why very wealthy individuals supported the gold standard? a. The gold standard kept inflation from drastically increasing. b. Gold was the most abundant precious metal in the USA and was in plentiful supplies in the Midwest. c. Silver very difficult to excavate and created a dangerous environment for miners. d. All of the above.

19. Who gave the famous, “Cross of Gold” speech? a. William McKinley b. Theodore Roosevelt c. William Jennings Bryan d. William Hoard Taft

20. Why did many big business owners support the presidential candidacy of William McKinley? a. He owned many railroad companies b. He supported the gold standard. c. He supported bimetallismd. He was the last presidential candidate that actually served in the Civil War and was a military hero.

21. Andrew Carnegie formed a monopoly in the ______________________ industry. a. Electricb. Steelc. Oild. Textile

22. When a company buys out all of its competitors to be a monopoly, that company is practicing ______________________________ integration.

a. Horizontalb. Vertical c. Industrial d. Monopolistic

23. When company buys out all the suppliers of its product to be a monopoly, that company is practicing ______________________________ integration

a. Horizontalb. Vertical c. Industrial d. Monopolistic

Copyright, USHistoryTeachers.com All Rights Reserved.

Page 11

24. Who used the biological theory of Darwinism to attempt to explain occurrences within the economy?

a. Charles Darwinb. J.P. Morgan c. Thomas Edison d. Herbert Spencer

25. What was the goal of the Sherman Anti-trust Act? a. To increase the power of oil monopolies b. To reduce the amount of pollution occurring in steel factories c. To stop monopolies from forming d. To ensure that the federal government was practicing a “Laissez Faire” approach to economics.

26. Which option correctly defines a strike?e. When workers refuse to work and protest a companyf. When laborers unite their efforts g. When business owners agree to reduce the work day hours each week h. When factories go out of business due to their high prices

27. Who formed the National Labor Union? a. William Sylvis b. Eugene V. Debsc. Karl Marxd. William Haywood

28. How was the Noble Order of Knights of Labor different from the National Labor Union?a. The Noble Order of Knights of Labor did not use the tactic of going on strike in their approach, but

the National Labor Union used this tactic to achieve their goals. b. The National Labor Union did not allow African Americans to join, but the Nobel Order of Knights of

Labor did allow African Americans to join. c. The National Labor Union forced all workers, skilled and unskilled, to join their group; yet, the Noble

Order of Knights of Labor was strictly voluntary. d. The National Labor Union’s members were all female, but the Nobel Order of Knights of Labor only

had male members.

29. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, many big business owners heavily supported the economic system of ______________________, while many common laborers began going against this arrangement and supported the economic system of ___________________.

a. Marxism / Egalitarianismb. Complementarianism / Anarchism c. Humanitarianism / Confucianismd. Capitalism / Socialism

30. What notable historical impact did Pauline Newman accomplish in her desire to support common workers?

a. She started the Ladies Garment Workers Union b. She invented the tactic of the strike c. She united The National Labor Union and the Noble Order of the Knights of Labor into one group,

which was called the Industrial Workers of the World. d. She reached an agreement between business leaders and workers in the incident known as the

Haymarket Affair.

Copyright, USHistoryTeachers.com All Rights Reserved.

Page 12

31. Mark Twain called the era during United States history from the 1870s to the 1890s the _____________ Age.

e. Corrupt f. Antebellum g. Colonial h. Gilded

32. Which option below functioned as the second in the chain of command in the political machines? e. The Local Prescient Workersf. The Big Business Leaders g. The Ward Bossesh. The Contractors

33. Which option below correctly defines the term “kickback”? a. When a leader is provided unlawful, financial gain from a city project b. When a mayor serves as the “city boss”c. When a leader is only reelected because a significant number of immigrants voted from him or her d. When a mayor helps out his or her citizens through supporting improvement in housing, increasing

safety measures in factories, and providing other services

34. Which option below correctly defines the term “graft”? a. The process in which political machines no longer depend on precinct workers. b. The notion that mayors should be allowed to hire qualified workers. c. The attempt of politicians to when various districts in a region to gain reelection. d. The use of political power for personal gain.

35. Which leader below is typically remembered as a mayor who did not use his office for selfish gain? a. William Tweedb. Roscoe Conkling c. Benedict Arnoldd. None of the Above

36. __________________________ is a system in which government jobs can be awarded to anyone regardless of qualifications.

a. Social Darwinism b. Antinomianism c. Propaganda d. Patronage

37. Where did Rutherford B. Hayes stand on the issue of the Spoils of System? a. He opposed hiring people who were not qualified for their position. b. He successfully argued that, since he was President, he should be able to hire whomever he wished

to hire. c. He tried to stay neutral in terms of the Spoils System to ensure Democrats supported his presidency

against Samuel Tilden. d. He claimed that the President should be able to participate in the Spoils System, but that mayors

should not have the same power.

Copyright, USHistoryTeachers.com All Rights Reserved.

Page 13

38. Which word below describes the political position of Chester Arthur that he held to in the election of 1880?

a. Stalwart b. Traitor c. Reformerd. Deserter

39. Why did Charles Guiteau assassinate President Garfield?a. Garfield was a corrupt city boss. b. Garfield was a Reformer and Guiteau wanted a Stalwart to be President. c. Guiteau felt that imperialism, which America was practicing heavily in the late 1800s, was an

immoral system and he was trying to start a revolution against imperialistic policies. d. He was supposed to be the vice presidential candidate, but Garfield chose Arthur instead.

40. What was President Cleveland’s position on tariffs? a. He supported higher tariffs to protect American businesses.b. He only wanted tariffs to be in place against France because of their hostile control over Vietnam. c. He supported raising tariffs only if the USA banned the income tax forever. d. He supported reducing tariffs to lower prices for consumers.

Part B: Open Response: Instructions: Choose TWO questions from the three options below and answer the questions.

1. What were the Indian Wars? How did they end? Within your answer, you must use all of the following terms and explain their significance for the Indian Wars:

Manifest Destiny, Sitting Bull, George Custer, Battle of Wounded Knee, and Massacre at Sandcreek. The Indian Wars were a series of skirmishes in the late 1800s between the government of the USA and various Native American groups in the Great Plains and other regions in the West. The belief of Manifest Destiny was that God wanted the USA to expand west. Many Americans migrated west in hopes of many economic opportunities, such as access to precious met als and cheap land. Yet, there were many Native American groups in the Great Plains and other areas that were nomadic and hunted buffalo and other animals. This created conflicts with the Native Americans. Native American leaders, like Sitting Bull, encouraged resistance against the USA. George Custer and his Seventh Cavalry faced off against a Native American resistance at the Battle of Little Big Horn. Custer died in this conflict. At the Massacre at Sandcreek , the USA killed 150 people, mostly women and children. However, at the Battle of Wounded Knee in South Dakota, 300 Sioux were killed by the Seventh Cavalry previously led by Custer. The Indian Wars essentially ceased after the Battle of Wounded Knee.

2. Why did Populists have tension and conflict with railroad companies and with banks? What were some political and economic goals of the Populist Movement? Within your answer, you must use all of these terms and explain their significance for the Populist movement: Oliver Hudson Kelley, Greenbacks, Silverites, Goldbugs, and William Jennings Bryan. Populists were mainly farmers who were upset with banks and railroad companies. Banks were

Copyright, USHistoryTeachers.com All Rights Reserved.

Page 14

foreclosing on farms and confiscating the properties of many farmers. Railroad companies, who had little competition, were charging high rates to ship farm products. The Populists attempted to unite together to create economic change. Oliver Hudson Kelley started the Patrons of Husbandry as a Populist group to petition for change. A problem that had occurred in this era was that a type of currency, Greenbacks , were being phased out of use. The wealthy in the USA wanted to ensure inflation did not occur at a high rate and only wanted gold to back currency. They were called Goldbugs . Farmers and other common people wanted silver and gold to back currency to encourage inflation. Inflated money would mean the farmers would pay back less value on their loans. This desire for gold and silver to back money was called bimetallism and supporters of the system were called Silverites . William Jennings Bryan ran for the Democratic Party on a Populist Platform, but did not win the presidency. The Populists also had the goal of getting the government to further regulate the railroad industry to set prices and pursue other regulations. The movement was successful in getting Populist goals achieved, such as more government regulation of the railroad industry. Yet, the movement never achieved the political status of the Democrats or Republicans. However, the Populists goals were embraced by the Democrats Party in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

3. What were the “political machines” of the late 1800s? What did the “political machines” attempt to achieve? Were the “political machines” good, bad, or both for society? Within your answer, you must use all of the following terms: Graft, Kickback, William “Boss” Tweed, Roscoe Conkling, precinct, and immigrants.

The term “Political Machine” simply referred to groups who offered services to voters and businesses for political power and reelection. This is the structure of the political machine: (1st) The City Boss ruled the city as mayor (2nd) Ward Bosses secured votes for the city mayor in large regions (3rd) Local Precinct Workers secured votes

in smaller districts. Often, City Boss mayors gave favors to citizens in exchange for the power to stay in office. The goal was to get elected to maintain power. This was not necessarily a negative structure. Yet, it depended on the leader. Some leaders used their power corruptly and some used their power to help citizens. For instance, some political leaders practiced graft, using their office for their own gain. William “Boss” Tweed took a kickback, illegally receiving money for a contracting job, in his office and used the “political machine” for immoral purposes. Yet, Roscoe Conkling and other bosses used their office to build hospitals, invest in orphanages, and to pursue other good endeavors. Many bosses, regardless of whether or not they were ethical, wanted the votes of immigrants . Many immigrants had moved to the USA and were valuable in elections. In fact, many bosses themselves were immigrants or the descendants of immigrants.

Copyright, USHistoryTeachers.com All Rights Reserved.