The American Nation A History of the United States, Combined Volume (14th Edition)

Chapter Review 553

Review Questions

1.The introduction to this chapter suggests that
Americans from 1877 to 1896 were as enthralled
with politics as Americans are today with American
Idol. And yet the chapter contends that the major
parties took similar positions on the major issues.
What explains the high voter turnouts of the era?
2.How did the urban bosses respond to the chal-
lenges confronting the cities?
3.How did the decisions of the Supreme Court
aggravate race relations and give rise to political

protest? What strategies did African American lead-

ers consider in response to increased segregation?

4.Why did such a seemingly dull issue as currency

reform generate such passion, culminating in

William Jennings Bryan’s crusade against “a

cross of gold” in 1896? Why did the Populists

fail to win the support of northern labor, and

thus the election?

5.How has populism fared among historians? How

is populism regarded by politicians today? Why?

Read and Review

Chapter 20

Pendleton Civil Service Act,

p. 537

Harrison and Morton

Campaign Ad, p. 537

Plessy v. Ferguson, 1896, p. 538

The People’s Party

Platform,p. 543

McKinley and Hobart

Campaign Poster, p. 549

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Research and Explore

Mary Elizabeth Lease, the

Populist Crusader, p. 543

William Jennings Bryan,

Cross of GoldSpeech, p. 546

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Reinforce what you learned in this chapter by studying the many documents,

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