Answer Key Chapter Politics in the Gilded Age, 1870-1900

Answer Key Chapter: Politics in the Gilded Age, 1870-1900 1. Mark Twain’s Gilded Age is a reference to ________. A. conditions in the South in the pre-Civil War era B. the corrupt politics of the post-Civil War era C. the populist movement D. the Republican Party 2. How did the Great Compromise of 1877 influence the election? A. It allowed a bilateral government agreement. B. It gave new power to northern Republicans. C. It encouraged southern states to support Hayes. D. It gave the federal government new powers. 3. What accounted for the relative weakness of the federal government during this era? 4. A Mugwump is ________. A. a supporter of the spoils system B. a liberal Democrat C. a former member of the Republican Party D. a moderate Stalwart 5. Which president made significant steps towards civil service reform? A. Chester A. Arthur B. Benjamin Harrison C. Grover Cleveland D. Roscoe Conkling 6. Why were U.S. presidents (with few exceptions) so adamant about protecting the spoils system of patronage during the late nineteenth century? 7. Which of the following was not a vehicle for the farmers’ protest? A. the Mugwumps B. the Grange C. the Farmers’ Alliance D. the People’s Party 8. Which of the following contributed directly to the plight of farmers? A. machine politics B. labor unions C. overproduction D. inadequate supply 9. What were women’s roles within the Farmer’s Alliance? 10. How were members of Coxey’s Army received when they arrived in Washington? A. They were given an audience with the president. B. They were given an audience with members of Congress. C. They were ignored. D. They were arrested. 11. Which of the following does not represent one of the ways in which William Jennings Bryan appealed to Populists? A. He came from farm country. B. He supported free silver. C. He supported the subtreasury system. D. He advocated for higher tariffs. Critical Thinking Questions 12. How does the term “Gilded Age” characterize American society in the late nineteenth century? In what ways is this characterization accurate or inaccurate? 13. With farmers still representing a significant segment of American society, why did government officials—Democrats and Republicans alike—prove unwilling to help find solutions to farmers’ problems? 14. Upon reflection, did the Populist Party make a wise decision in choosing to support the Democratic Party’s candidate in the 1896 presidential election? Why or why not? 15. Despite its relative weakness during this period, the federal government made several efforts to provide a measure of relief for struggling Americans. What were these initiatives? In what ways were they more or less successful. Answer Key 1. B. the corrupt politics of the post-Civil War era 2. C. It encouraged southern states to support Hayes. 3. The relative weakness of the federal government during this era was largely due to the dominance of laissez-faire economic policies and limited federal intervention in social and economic issues. 4. C. a former member of the Republican Party 5. A. Chester A. Arthur 6. U.S. presidents were adamant about protecting the spoils system of patronage because it was a powerful tool for rewarding political allies and maintaining party loyalty. 7. A. the Mugwumps 8. C. overproduction 9. Women within the Farmer's Alliance played various roles, including organizing educational and social events, advocating for agricultural reforms, and participating in political activism. 10. D. They were arrested. 11. D. He advocated for higher tariffs. Critical Thinking Questions 12. The term "Gilded Age" characterizes American society in the late nineteenth century as being marked by surface prosperity and industrial growth, while concealing underlying social, economic, and political problems such as corruption, inequality, and exploitation. This characterization is accurate in capturing the era's material wealth and social disparities, but it overlooks the struggles faced by many Americans, particularly farmers and industrial workers. 13. Government officials were unwilling to address farmers' problems largely due to their close ties to business interests and their adherence to laissez-faire economic policies, which favored minimal government intervention in the economy. Additionally, farmers lacked strong political representation and faced opposition from powerful corporate interests. 14. The Populist Party's decision to support the Democratic Party's candidate in the 1896 presidential election, William Jennings Bryan, was controversial. Some argued that it was a strategic move to align with a major party to advance their agenda, while others criticized it as compromising their principles for political expediency. The outcome of the election, with Bryan's defeat, suggests that the decision may not have been wise in achieving their goals. 15. The federal government made efforts to provide relief for struggling Americans through initiatives such as the Interstate Commerce Act, which regulated railroads, and the Sherman Antitrust Act, which aimed to curb monopolistic practices. However, these initiatives were only partially successful in addressing economic inequalities and were often undermined by limited enforcement and legal challenges.