1. Chapter 17: Gilded Age Political and Economic Challenges
Mr. Snyder
11th Grade U.S. History 1 1 1 1

2. Section 1: American Politics in the late 19th century
Balance of Power Creates ______________________
Party __________________ was divided
No _________________ gained by either party in ____________________.
Neither ____________ held power for more than two years.
Made it tough for ___________________ to pass laws
______________________ was widespread
Many high level officials accepted ____________ 2 2 2 2

3. Presidents of this era, were very weak when compared to Lincoln.
Rutherford B ________________ won by a majority vote from Congress
Benjamin ______________________ lost popular vote, but won electoral vote.
Chester A. ______________ became president after James _____________________was assassinated then ________________ to win his party's nomination in a re-election campaign.
Only President to display presidential power was ______________ ________________________
Served from and then 3 3 3 3

4. The Spoils System Dominates the Government
____________________________ – Awarded government ______________ to people who were loyal to the political party that was elected.
a. jobs awarded at __________, ________, and ___________________ levels
b. allowed for many _____________________ people to be given very important jobs
Phrase that sums up spoils system was: “It’s not ______ you know, it’s _______ you know” 4 4 4 4

5. Civil Service Reform
____________ _____________System – System that includes state and federal jobs aimed at ___________ the most _________________ people for government jobs.
____________________ on what you knew, ___________ than who you knew.
Many Presidents wanted reform to the spoils system, but couldn't gain any _________________
Parties fought any attempts to get rid of the _________________ ____________
often backed candidates based on their ability to be _________________ ex: Chester A. Arthur after death of James Garfield
________________ ultimately signed _________ that reformed spoils system in huge way 5 5 5 5

6. ___________________ _________ Service Act – (1883) _______________________ a Civil Service __________________ which created a civil service exam.
Anyone who wanted govt. job now had to _________ _______________ and have their scores compared to others interested in the job.
-one's political ____________________ alone could no longer earn him/her a __________ ___________ _______ 6 6 6 6

7. Section II: Economic Issues
America debated over two main issues involving the economy in the late 1800s
_______________ – ______________ on __________________ goods
High ______________________ tariff-large _______ on goods intended to ___________ American businesses that sell goods abroad
Gold __________________ – The government uses gold as the basis of the nation's ____________________ 7 7 7 7

8. Americans Debate the Tariff Issue
New _______________ served two main purposes:
-_______________ for govt. & protection of U.S. ___________________.
In the Gilded Age, each _______________ viewed tariffs differently
a. Republicans- ___________ ________________would allow industries to grow and create new ____________________ _______.
b. Democrats – higher tariffs raise the cost of _____________________ goods and make it more __________________ to ________ goods overseas. 8 8 8 8

9. Conflicts over Monetary Policy
-During the Civil War, there was inflation
-_____________ were high, supply was _____________, ________________ was low
-________________ money that was not in high circulation were called _____________________________
-value of greenbacks was low
____________ __________– (1873) Allowed the U.S. government to make both ________ and ________________coins.
Known as _________________________
-________________ were in favor of bimetallism, businesses favored a ___________ ________________ 9 9 9 9

10. Conflicts over Monetary Policy Contd.
-bimetallism would increase _________________’ ________________ but decrease the debt they owed
-Businesses feared that ______________ would reduce their profits because they relied on a high value of the ____________________ to sell goods overseas
-Most ________________________ favored the Gold Standard, and most __________________________ favored bimetallism 10 10 10 10

11. Ch. 17 Section 3: Farmers and Populism11 11

12. Economic problems during the Gilded Age
high __________________ tariffs led to rising prices and high debts for farmers
their goods sold for small ________________
______________ coinage v. __________coinage
gold was less available for farmers than silver
two factions that represented each side of _______________________ policy debate emerged in 1896 election
____________________ v. ______________________in 1896 Election
Gold Bugs=pro Gold ___________________
Silverites=_____________________/free silver 12 12

13. Birth of Populism
_____________________ was born out of the nightmare that was once the “American Dream” for America's __________________.
In the late 1800s, farmers faced ____________ debts, ________ prices for goods, and high _______________
Populism became known as the ___________________ ___________________
A ______________ political party to represent farmers 13 13

14. Falling Prices and Rising Debt
: prices for _________________ plummeted due to high _____________ and the Gold _____________________
-By late ____________, it cost farmers more to _______________ their crops than they earned by selling them.
-Cost of ________________ continued to climb due to new machinery, cost of seed & livestock
-Many farmers went into ____________ and couldn't pay it back.
-Most lost their _________ and became _________________ farmers. 14 14

15. Big Business Hurts Farmers
-Farmers ________________ banks for ______________________, and ___________________ for unfair prices.
-felt that entire _______________ had turned back on them
-Govt. cared more about farmers before Second ____________________ Revolution.
-More focus on industry than concerns of farmers in early _____________ century 15 15

16. Farmers Organize and Seek Change
__________________ – Organization of farmers that sought to:
1. _____________________ farmers on new _____________________________
2. call for new ________________________ that __________________________ farmers from ___________________ business practices.
Several states passed laws in 1870’s restricting ______________________ charge for ____________________ fees and _________________ storage. These became known as “Grange Laws”
The Grange pressured the federal govt. to create Interstate Commerce Commission (______________). 16 16

17. Answer these questions in your notebooks.
Review questions
Answer these questions in your notebooks.
1. How did big business contribute to the issues faced by farmers?
2. What were the nicknames of the two sides in gold v. silver monetary debate?
3. Who did a high protective tariff favor and who did it hurt and why?
4. Why did many farmers lose their property? 17

18. Farmers’ Alliance Lead the Protest
As the Grange faded after the creation of the ICC, other farmer's rights groups emerged.
formed ______________________ to _________ their products in __________________ quantities
created “__________ __________________” to provide low interest loans to farmers
________________________ companies who cheated farmers 18 18

19. The Populist Party Demands Reform
__________________ Party –A non-major party who focused on specific interests
Focused on the issues of ______________
Mostly in the ________,______ and ___________ U.S.
Created to _____________ politicians that held the same concerns as farmers. 19 19

20. Populists' Goals
Called for the ______________of ___________ to combat ______ prices.
To combat high costs, they wanted _____________________ ownership of railroads.
Elect a Populist Party member as ____________________ of the U.S. and ________________________ candidates
Convince ____________ workers that they were fighting the same people and should work together.
Populists’ ___________________________ included:
Populist Presidential candidate, James Weaver, got 1 million votes in _________.
3 _____________________, 5 __________________, & 10 Congressmen were elected in 1894. 20 20

21. Economic Crisis and Populism’s Decline
The _____________ of __________________occurred after the Northern Pacific and Union Pacific _______________________failed
________________ prices dropped very low
3 million _________________ at the time
____________________ chose to support Democratic candidate ________________Jennings ____________ in _______________
Bryan adopted campaign of __________________________ 21 21

22. “Cross of Gold” Speech
William Jennings Bryan made speech during the 1896 Democratic Convention known as __________ of _________________ speech
“You shall not _________________ man upon a cross of gold”
a direct attack at Republican William ___________________ position in favor of the _________standard
speech rallied thousands behind the ____________________________ effort 22 22

23. Bryan and the Election of 1896
_________________ held very similar beliefs as most Populists.
wanted to fight for the ______________________man, including farmers.
He lost back to back elections v. William McKinley in 1896 and ____________
As a result, the Populist Party faded from _____________________.
___________________supported Bryan
_________________supported ____________________ 23 23

24. Populism’s Legacy ________________ that remained in place:
-____________________ ______________ tax,
railroad regulation
more ______________ monetary system that included both ____________ and _______________ coinage
_____________ Party candidates now had an example of third party _______________________success. 24 24

25. Short answer review questions
Answer these questions in completes sentences in your notebooks.
1. Do you think the Populist Party accomplished its goals? Why or why not?
In your answer, be sure to discuss the impact of William Jennings Bryan’s “Cross of Gold” speech
2. What is the purpose of third political parties in America? Use the Populist Party to support your answer 25