U.S. History / Unit 5: Industrialization, Immigration and the Gilded Age
5.7 Gilded Age Politics and the Populists
Notes
- National politics was close and often corrupt. After a disappointed office seeker assassinated President Garfield (1881), Congress passed the Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883), requiring exams for some federal jobs.
- Farmers faced falling crop prices, high railroad rates and debt. They organized the Grange and Farmers' Alliances.
- The Interstate Commerce Act (1887) began federal regulation of railroads.
- The Populist (People's) Party (Omaha Platform, 1892) called for government ownership of railroads, a graduated income tax, direct election of senators and free coinage of silver to increase the money supply.
- In 1896, Democrat William Jennings Bryan gave his "Cross of Gold" speech for silver but lost to Republican William McKinley.
- Many Populist ideas later became law, such as the income tax (16th Amendment) and direct election of senators (17th).
Practice
The Pendleton Act of 1883 was passed to:
Garfield's assassination by a disappointed office seeker fueled civil service reform.
Why did many farmers support the free coinage of silver?
Inflation helps debtors because they repay loans with cheaper dollars.
Which Populist goal later became part of the Constitution?
The 16th Amendment (1913) allowed a federal income tax.
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