Analyze the Economic Challenges to American Farmers & Farmers' Responses to These Challenges in the Mid to Late 1800's -- Post Quiz

Transcription

1 Attachment H Analyze the Economic Challenges to American Farmers & Farmers' Responses to These Challenges in the Mid to Late 1800's -- Post Quiz Low-Complexity Items: 1. Which of the following goals was accomplished by the Homestead Act? a. It provided farmers with good jobs. b. It provided farmers with cheap loans. c. It provided farmers with low tariffs. d. It provided farmers with cheap land. 2. During the period , the number of farms in the United States increased from about 2 million to 5.5 million. What was a basic reason for this increase in the number of farms? a. the irrigation of desert areas in the West b. the generous land policy of the federal government c. the creation of agricultural colleges in the West d. the overcrowded conditions of cities in the Northeast 3. After the Civil War, most American farmers lived in what geographical region? a. in the area west of the Rocky Mountains b. in the area known as the Great Plains c. in the area known as the American South d. in the area of the industrialized Northeast

2 4. What was the name given to African-American farmers from the South who moved to Oklahoma and Kansas in the West? a. Exodusters b. Freedmen c. Scalawags d. Sharecroppers 5. In the late 19th century, American farmers supported which of the following? a. the Granger Movement against the railroads b. the Republican Party against the Populist Party c. the protective tariff against free trade d. the gold standard against the free coinage of silver 6. Which of the following was an issue in the presidential election of 1896? a. the government's tariff policy b. the government's land policy c. the government's money policy d. the government's bank policy 7. Which of the following was an element of the Ocala Demands? a. government warehouses to store crops b. high protective tariff rates c. higher prices for manufactured goods d. government ownership of railroad companies

3 Moderate-Complexity Items: 8. Following the Civil War, what effect did the decline in agricultural prices have upon farmers in the West? a. It helped them by lowering the prices of manufactured goods. b. It helped them by creating greater demand for their crops. c. It hurt them by reducing the money they had to pay back loans. d. It hurt them by increasing the value of their mortgages. 9. Which of the following was the most important invention developed by farmers in the West to increase their productivity? a. barbed wire b. dry farming c. sod houses d. open range 10. Which of the following was the most significant complaint expressed by American farmers following the Civil War? a. strong foreign competition b. high interest rates c. high railroad rates d. low agricultural prices

4 11. Which of the following is a major reason why the Populist Party can be considered a successful third party in U.S. history? a. Its candidate won the presidential election of b. Its members controlled Congress throughout the1890's. c. Its goals were eventually realized by Progressive reformers. d. Its ideas became an important part of the Republican Party platform. 12. In the last third of the 19th century, which of the following was the most controversial issue involving American farmers? a. internal improvements b. labor unions c. immigration restrictions d. cheap money High-Complexity Items: Speakers A, B, C, and D are all discussing the role of a specific political party in the presidential election of Use the speakers' statements below and your knowledge of U.S. history to answer questions Speaker A: Speaker B: Speaker C: "The members of that political party are so radical! Why, they would absolutely do away with capitalism in this country." "No. They merely want more direct participation by the people in their government. Perhaps they are just far ahead of their times!" "Their candidate is a very clever politician. A Democrat, he steals their thunder by embracing their complaints and adopting their best issues. Then they give him their overwhelming support."

5 Speaker D: "It is important to remember that there are factors other than the candidates themselves that often determine the outcome of important elections." 13. To which political party are the speakers referring in their conversation? a. The Republican Party b. The Populist Party c. The Democratic Party d. The Socialist Party 14. The concern of Speaker A about capitalism is based on the fact that this party supported which of the following views? a. the idea of currency supported by bimetallism b. the idea of government ownership of railroad companies c. the idea of a graduated income tax based on wealth d. the idea of the direct election of U.S. senators 15. To which candidate does Speaker C refer to as a "clever politician"? a. William Jennings Bryan b. James Weaver c. William McKinley d. Grover Cleveland 16. The reference by Speaker B to this party being far ahead of its times is supported by which of the following views? a. the party's victory in a presidential election many years later b. the party's victory in the following congressional elections c. the party's lasting influence over future reformers and politicians d. the party's prediction that the United States would soon turn to imperialism

6 17. When Speaker D mentions "factors... that determine elections," he is referring to which of the following? a. the debate over protective tariffs b. the debate over monetary policy c. the debate over falling agricultural prices d. the debate over poor working conditions Use the quotation below and your knowledge of U.S. history to answer questions "Having behind us the producing masses of this nation and the world, supported by the commercial interests, the laboring interests, and the toilers everywhere, we will answer their demand for a gold standard by saying to them: You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold." -- William Jennings Bryan, Democratic Convention Speech, Chicago, July 8, According to the point of view expressed in the quotation, which party supported a gold standard? a. The Republican Party b. The Populist Party c. The Democratic Party d. The Whig Party 19. Which of the following groups would have been most likely to agree with the point of view expressed in the quotation? a. workers b. merchants c. bankers d. farmers

7 20. What is the main idea expressed by the quotation? a. that the gold standard should be opposed by farmers and workers b. that the gold standard would have a positive impact on the economy c. that the gold standard would benefit bankers and merchants d. that the gold standard would increase agricultural prices

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