Title: The Gilded Age (1870-1900)
Course: Question Banks

Q: The Gilded Age brought many frustrations to American society for both urban and rural populations. How were farmers affected by Gilded Age politics?
- Many people began moving out of the cities and farming land became scarce. (Incorrect. More Americans were moving to urban centers, not to the farming communities of the Midwest.)
- Farmers were not able to keep up with increased demand for their crops. (Incorrect. Demand remained stagnant while productivity increased as farming tools and equipment improved.)
- Politicians improved working conditions in urban areas, leaving farmers unable to hire help. (Incorrect. Both populations were left without regulations and interventions from the federal government. The urban poor continued to be exposed to dangerous working conditions, low pay and unsanitary living conditions.)
- National political parties supported railroad companies which hurt farmers’ profits. (Correct! The Republican congress gave millions of acres and dollars to railroad companies and as they grew in power they began discriminating against small shippers, making it cost-prohibitive for farmers to ship their crops.)
A: National political parties supported railroad companies which hurt farmers’ profits.

Q: The Gilded Age ushered in a new era of politics in America. How did national politics change during the Gilded Age?
- Politicians began to answer more directly to the public's demands. (Incorrect. The lack of clear popular mandates made presidents reluctant to venture beyond the interests of their traditional supporters.)
- The branches in the federal government worked together in support of the common people. (Incorrect. Government was divided during this period and thus most legislation being passed was largely in response to the desires of businessmen and industrialists whose support helped build politicians’ careers.)
- Politicians became much less corrupt than what had been seen before the Gilded Age. (Incorrect. Many politicians participated in graft and bribery, often justifying their actions with the excuse that corruption was too widespread for a successful politician to resist.)
- Politicians began favoring the agendas of their financial supporters. (Correct! Gilded Age presidents were more likely to support various legislators’ and lobbyists’ agendas, as they owed favors to their key financial contributors.)
A: Politicians began favoring the agendas of their financial supporters.

Q: The Gilded Age brought an increase in political patronage. How did political patronage contribute to the political changes seen in the Gilded Age?
- Only people from generational wealth could gain political prominence. (Incorrect. Patronage made it possible for those of humble origins to achieve political success, in contrast with the aristocratic tendency of antebellum politics, most presidents from the Gilded Age were from modest backgrounds.)
- It led to diverse politicians who better represented the urban and rural populations. (Incorrect. As elected officials appointed their friends and supporters they created a government of like-minded people, not diverse leaders, representative of their constituents.)
- The federal government became more efficient as like-minded politicians worked together. (Incorrect. During this time little of much significance was accomplished on the federal level and presidents were generally weak as they spent their time in office repaying political favors and building political relationships.)
- It led to many unqualified people serving in the federal government. (Correct! Political patronage allowed those with political influence to gain powerful positions within the government, regardless of their level of experience. This compounded the inefficiency of the government.)
A: It led to many unqualified people serving in the federal government.

Q: The election of 1876 introduced two new presidential candidates since the current president, Ulysses Grant, had already served the customary two terms. What were a majority of Americans looking for in a presidential candidate?
- They wanted to revive the reconstruction process. (Incorrect. Many people, especially southerners, wanted to see reconstruction end and both parties promised to end it.)
- They wanted a more active and involved federal government. (Incorrect. There was a growing belief in laissez-faire principles as opposed to reforms and government intervention, which many Americans believed contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War, leading even more Americans to accept the nature of an inactive federal government.)
- They wanted to see an end to voter intimidation. (Incorrect. The groups of supporters, such as the Redshirts, that promoted the candidates’ beliefs relied on voter intimidation and most voters accepted this as normal.)
- They wanted reform and an end to corruption. (Correct! Most Americans wanted to see an end to corruption and scandal in politics.)
A: They wanted reform and an end to corruption.

Q: The presidential election of 1876 was brought to a close by the Compromise of 1877. What impact did the Compromise have on the United States?
- It enraged the populace to see such a compromise take place in the open. (Incorrect. There was no public outrage over the compromise as the economic crisis of 1873 meant that many Northerners turned their focus away from the South and toward improving the economy. Both Black civil rights and civil reform took a back seat to the economy.)
- It strengthened reconstruction and protected the rights of Black people. (Incorrect. The compromise allowed the collapse of the radical Reconstruction allowing southern Democrats to end federal intervention and control their own states’ fates in the wake of the end of slavery.)
- The electoral college was established in exchange for ending reconstruction. (Incorrect. The electoral college is part of the U.S. Constitution. Despite winning the popular vote, Tilden lost the election as Hayes gained the electoral college votes he needed to win.)
- It ended reconstruction and Southern Democrats regained power in the South. (Correct! Within a year, Redeemers had retaken control of the political and social fabric of the South.)
A: It ended reconstruction and Southern Democrats regained power in the South.

Q: The presidential election of 1876 poised Samuel J. Tilden against Rutherford B. Hayes in the race for the presidency. How did the candidates appeal to voters?
- They actively campaigned by giving speeches explaining their goals. (Incorrect. True to the campaign style of the day, neither Tilden nor Hayes actively campaigned for office.)
- They emphasized the differences between parties to motivate voters. (Incorrect. The two major political parties had only minor differences and remained largely indistinguishable in their agendas as well as their propensity for questionable tactics and backroom deals.)
- They did not actively campaign as voter turnout was always low. (Incorrect. This era continued to see high voter turnout.)
- They relied upon other groups to support their cause in place of campaigning. (Correct! Democrats relied upon White supremacist terror organizations to intimidate Black people and Republicans while they attempted to vote. Republicans meanwhile, relied upon the bloody shirt campaign, reminding the nation of the terrible human toll of the war against southern confederates who now reappeared in national politics under the mantle of the Democratic Party.)
A: They relied upon other groups to support their cause in place of campaigning.

Q: The Gilded Age is notorious for using the spoils system to appoint government employees rather than the civil service system. Under the civil service system, how does one get a political position?
- By garnering votes for a candidate and receiving an appointed position in return. (Incorrect. This is the spoils system, specifically cronyism, and is used as a reward for working toward victory, and as an incentive to keep working for the party.)
- By being related to the elected official who will be appointing people to jobs. (Incorrect. This is the spoils system, specifically nepotism, and it is used as a reward for working toward victory, and as an incentive to keep working for the party.)
- By giving a large donation to a candidate and getting a job despite being unqualified. (Incorrect. This is an example of the spoils system and it is used as a reward for working toward victory, and as an incentive to keep working for the party.)
- By being well qualified for the job one is hoping to be appointed to. (Correct! Under the civil service system, promoting and hiring government employees is based on their ability to perform a job, rather than on their political connections.)
A: By being well qualified for the job one is hoping to be appointed to.

Q: Many believed that patronage was responsible for the unproductive government of the Gilded Age. How did the practice of patronage contribute to the ineffective government that hallmarked the era?
- Presidents chose people from all political views creating a divided government. (Incorrect. Patronage followed party lines and was used to strengthen party allegiance.)
- It requires a long application process that discourages people from seeking appointments. (Incorrect. Patronage requires no application per se, one must only show support for a candidate. The civil service system requires people to apply and prove their qualifications.)
- Presidents took months finding qualified people to fill positions, accomplishing little in the meantime. (Incorrect. Newly elected presidents appointed their friends and supporters regardless of their qualifications.)
- Presidents were generally weak as they paid many favors and managed relationships. (Correct! During this time presidents were generally weak as they spent their time in office repaying political favors and building political relationships.)
A: Presidents were generally weak as they paid many favors and managed relationships.

Q: President Hayes attempted to end patronage in favor of civil service but was held back from making any sweeping reforms by political infighting. What made the task of ending patronage particularly difficult?
- The Half-Breeds worked against Hayes by preventing any attempt to curb patronage. (Incorrect. The Half-Breeds advocated for some measure of civil service reform.)
- Hayes' wide margin of victory left him with only the Democrat Congress to contend with. (Incorrect. His narrow victory indebted him to the Republican Party operatives who made his victory possible, including leaders of the Stalwarts and Half-Breeds.)
- President Hayes attempted to introduce too ambitious legislation and was criticized by both parties. (Incorrect. Hayes only introduced small-scale reform and did not attempt any large-scale reform.)
- The Stalwarts, frequent users of patronage, did not support Hayes’ bid to end the practice. (Correct! The Stalwarts, a group that made frequent and unapologetic use of the current spoils system, had no sympathy for some of Hayes’ early appeals for civil service reform.)
A: The Stalwarts, frequent users of patronage, did not support Hayes’ bid to end the practice.

Q: Throughout the 1880s and 90s, the U.S. saw many one-term presidents. What was one issue that kept presidents from getting a second nomination?
- Scandal in their personal lives. (Incorrect. Despite having fathered a child out of wedlock, Grover Cleavland was nominated and won the election over scandal-free James G. Blaine.)
- The issue of the gold standard versus bimetallism. (Incorrect. Neither party campaigned on one or the other. Though Republicans typically favored the gold standard, it did not cost any candidates the nomination.)
- The regulation of railroads. (Incorrect. Though Cleveland urged Congress to pass the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 (which helped regulate the railroad) he was still re-nominated by the Democrats in 1888.)
- The issue of civil service vs. patronage. (Correct! Republicans were not happy with Arthurs reforms concerning civil service and chose to nominate James G. Blaine instead.)
A: The issue of civil service vs. patronage.

Q: There were many contentious topics that influenced presidential nominations and elections in the Gilded Age. One of those topics was whether to increase or decrease tariffs. Who supported increased tariffs?
- urban working-class families (Incorrect. Lower tariffs would reduce consumer prices and lower the average American’s cost of living.)
- Democrats (Incorrect. Democrats favored lower tariffs and worked to reduce them.)
- farmers (Incorrect. Domestically produced farm equipment often faced a steep markup with little foreign competition.)
- big business (Correct! Big business desired higher tariffs in order to force Americans to buy their domestically produced goods rather than higher-priced imports. Lower tariffs, on the other hand, would reduce prices and lower the average American’s cost of living.)
A: big business

Q: William is a farmer and is deep in debt. He is trying to decide who he should vote for in the 1888 presidential election. For whom should William cast his vote and why?
- Benjamin Harrison, as a Republican, was known for supporting the working class. (Incorrect. Harrison supported a higher tariff and after Harrison’s victory, the United States witnessed a brief return to higher tariffs.)
- Grover Cleveland, as a Democrat, typically supported big business. (Incorrect. Most Democrats, including Cleveland, did not support the protection of big domestic industries at the expense of average consumers.)
- Benjamin Harrison, as a Republican, was known for supporting big business. (Incorrect. This is true, so William would NOT want to vote for Harrison.)
- Grover Cleveland, he lowered tariffs in his first term. (Correct! Cleveland supported the lowering of tariffs in favor of protecting the working class.)
A: Grover Cleveland, he lowered tariffs in his first term.

Q: John owns a large manufacturing business in New York that deals mainly in exports. Would John be for or against the gold standard? Why?
- John would favor bimetallism, as more circulating currency would trigger inflation. (Incorrect. More currency in circulation will indeed trigger inflation, however, inflation is bad for international businesses who rely on the dollar not fluctuating.)
- John would favor the gold standard because he owes a large debt on his business. (Incorrect. Remaining on the gold standard restricts the amount of currency in circulation. Bimetallism increases the currency triggering inflation. Inflation would be beneficial when it came to John repaying his debts.)
- John would favor bimetallism because more circulating currency means more people can buy his products. (Incorrect. Bimetallism would trigger inflation and would affect the value of the dollar. John would rather the value stay steady since he deals mainly with exporting products.)
- John would favor the gold standard because inflation would hurt his business. (Correct! Generally, businesspersons trading internationally desired a constrained money supply and relatively little fluctuation in the value of a dollar.)
A: John would favor the gold standard because inflation would hurt his business.

Q: In addition to the debates surrounding tariffs, patronage, and corruption, many American citizens were concerned about the value of a dollar. Would farmers support an end to the gold standard? Why?
- No, the resulting inflation would devalue their crops. (Incorrect. Inflation would raise crop prices as the purchasing power of the dollar would be reduced.)
- Yes, the increased currency in circulation would cause deflation. (Incorrect. It would actually cause inflation. Additionally, deflation would hurt farmers by increasing the real burden of debt, as farmers repaid loans with dollars worth significantly more than those they had borrowed.)
- No, a constricted money supply would drive up crop prices. (Incorrect. More currency in circulation would drive up crop prices, not restricted currency.)
- Yes, the resulting inflation would make their debts easier to pay. (Correct! Inflation makes currency worth less over time, allowing farmers to essentially pay less money back.)
A: Yes, the resulting inflation would make their debts easier to pay.

Q: Americans of all walks of life had an opinion on whether the U.S. should remain on the gold standard or begin minting silver. Who would prefer to stay on the gold standard and who would prefer coining silver?
- Business owners who traded internationally preferred to coin silver. (Incorrect. Generally, businesspersons trading internationally desired a constrained money supply and relatively little fluctuation in the value of a dollar.)
- Farmers preferred staying on the gold standard. (Incorrect. Farmers would want more currency in circulation as it would drive up crop prices. The gold standard restricted the amount of currency in circulation.)
- Republicans preferred the gold standard to help protect the working class. (Incorrect. Remaining on the gold standard would ultimately hurt working class Americans by increasing debt and making existing debt harder to pay.)
- Bankers preferred to stay on the gold standard. (Correct! The gold standard restricts the amount of currency in circulation causing deflation. Deflation makes the dollar worth more when it is repaid than when it was borrowed.)
A: Bankers preferred to stay on the gold standard.

Q: During the Gilded age farmers began forming alliances with one another. One reason farmers decided to form an alliance was the amount of debt they faced. How did farmers find themselves in so much debt?
- The free coinage of silver. (Incorrect. Farmers wanted silver to be coined as it would lead to inflation and would make debts easier to pay off and raise prices for their crops.)
- Widespread drought throughout the south and Midwest. (Incorrect. While some adverse weather conditions did affect crop yield, farmers were actually overproducing products leading to a lower market value.)
- The federal government's tight control over railroad prices. (Incorrect. Railroads were loosely regulated by the government and charged farmers exorbitant rates to move their crops.)
- Rising tariffs on industrial products. (Correct! Rising tariffs on industrial products made purchased items more expensive, yet tariffs were not being used to keep crop prices artificially high as well. Therefore, farmers were paying inflated prices but not receiving them.)
A: Rising tariffs on industrial products.

Q: The American farming community felt ignored by the federal government and continued to grow more frustrated with the lack of action. What topic, that was unimportant to farmers, were Democrats and Republicans more concerned with?
- coinage of silver (Incorrect. This was an important topic for farmers, they would benefit from abandoning the gold standard.)
- tariffs (Incorrect. This was very important to farmers, protective tariffs caused prices for farm equipment to increase and reciprocal tariffs made crops harder to sell overseas.)
- railroad regulation (Incorrect. The government paid little attention to the prices the railroad charged farmers. This is something the farmers would have liked the government to be focused on.)
- patronage (Correct! Farmers cared little about patronage, they were much more concerned with financial policies such as the gold standard and tariffs.)
A: patronage

Q: As farmers continued to be ignored by the federal government they fell deeper and deeper into debt. How did farmers attempt to change the focus of the federal government?
- By striking against the high railroad prices and using other transportation. (Incorrect. There were few other transportation options and farmers relied heavily on railroads, instead they attempted to get the railroads to lower prices.)
- By selling their crops exclusively overseas to make more money. (Incorrect. This would not have worked as farmers would still need to use the railroad to transport crops to ports. Additionally, reciprocal tariffs in other countries made it more difficult to sell their crops overseas.)
- By returning to subsistence only farming and no longer producing cash crops. (Incorrect. As farmers fell deeper into debt, their response was to increase crop production each year in the hope of earning more money with which to pay back their debt.)
- By forming a coalition and ultimately forming their own political party. (Correct! Farmers began to understand that a collective voice could create significant pressure among political leaders and produce substantive change.)
A: By forming a coalition and ultimately forming their own political party.

Q: The Farmers’ Alliance grew from other organizations in hopes of enacting real change at the national level by creating the Populist Party. Why did the Farmers Alliance choose to create a political party?
- The Farmers Alliance did not have a large enough following. (Incorrect. The Farmers’ Alliance had a very large following and brought together over 2.5 million members, 1.5 million White and 1 million Black.)
- The Farmers Alliance was very unorganized and needed to be restructured. (Incorrect. The Farmers’ Alliance was well organized and even met with other groups to produce the Ocala Demands.)
- Democrats were fading in influence so the Farmers’ Alliance seized the opportunity. (Incorrect. The institutionalized parties were still very strong and the Democrats were ready to swallow Populist frustrations and inaugurate a new era of American politics.)
- Farmers continued to be ignored by the federal government. (Correct! The Farmers’ Alliance chose to create a political party whose representatives could enact real change. If the government would not address the problem, then it was time to change those elected to power.)
A: Farmers continued to be ignored by the federal government.

Q: Before the Populist Party was officially established, farmers began with smaller organizations. What was the function of one of these organizations known as the Grange?
- To create a push for women’s suffrage at the national level. (Incorrect. Although the alliance movement, which had 250,000 women join, featured prominent roles for women and gave them the ability to vote and stand for office within the organization it was not the main function of the Grange.)
- To publish a list of demands that would benefit all farmers. (Incorrect. This was known as the Ocala Demands and was agreed upon by the Southern Farmers’ Alliance, its affiliate the Colored Farmers’ Alliance, and the Farmers’ Mutual Benefit Association.)
- To advocate for Black Americans to help themselves. (Incorrect. This is the Colored Alliance, the largest Black organization in the U.S. that originally advocated for self-help but soon understood the benefits of political organization and a unified voice.)
- To create a farmer cooperative to obtain better prices. (Correct! Patrons of Husbandry, known as the Grange, aimed to create farmers’ cooperatives in which they could pool resources allowing them to self-regulate production as well as collectively obtain better rates from railroad companies and other businesses.)
A: To create a farmer cooperative to obtain better prices.

Q: In 1891, the Farmers’ Alliance decided if the government would not address the problem, then it was time to change those elected to power and formed the Populist Party. How did the Populist Party approach the 1892 election?
- They met with the Democrat nominee and created a new platform. (Incorrect. The Democrat Party did absorb many Populist ideals early in the 20th century but the Democrats selected their own candidate for the 1892 election.)
- They selected many congressional candidates but no presidential candidate. (Incorrect. The Greenback Party, a precursor to the Populist Party, had already elected several congressmen but they still wanted to see more change.)
- They took no action, instead deciding to build a strong following before selecting a candidate. (Incorrect. The Farmers’ Alliance and therefore the Populist Party already had a large base of supporters and they wanted change as soon as possible.)
- They wrote the Omaha Platform and selected a presidential candidate. (Correct! They wrote the Omaha Platform to more fully explain to all Americans the goals of the new party and at the close of the convention, the party nominated former Union general James B. Weaver as its presidential candidate.)
A: They wrote the Omaha Platform and selected a presidential candidate.

Q: The Depression of 1893 led to millions of Americans becoming unemployed. Workers tried various techniques to find work or keep their original jobs. Many attempted this by joining Coxey’s Army. What was the goal of Coxey’s Army?
- To stop the use of all Pullman railroad train cars in response to a mass layoff. (Incorrect. The use of Pullman rail cars and layoffs at the Pullman Company contributed to the depression but it was not related to Coxey’s Army.)
- To demand the government intervene in the Pullman strike so they could resume work. (Incorrect. Strikes at the Pullman Company were in fact a contributing factor to the depression but they had nothing to do with Coxey’s Army.)
- To demand the government back the actions of the American Railroad Union. (Incorrect. The American Railway Union was a player in the major events of the depression but had nothing to do with Coxey’s Army.)
- To encourage the government to enact a public works program. (Correct! In the spring of 1894, businessman Jacob Coxey led a march of unemployed Ohioans from Cincinnati to Washington, DC, where leaders of the group urged Congress to pass public works legislation for the federal government to hire unemployed workers to build roads and other public projects.)
A: To encourage the government to enact a public works program.

Q: Soon after Grover Cleveland returned to the White House the country began to slide into a severe economic depression. How did the railroad industry help worsen the Depression of 1893?
- Railroad employees led a strike against Pullman cars, leading to mass layoffs at Pullman. (Incorrect. The railroad required fewer cars to be produced so workers were laid off from the Pullman Company, causing Pullman employees to strike.)
- People stopped using the railroad in support of farmers and railroads began to fail. (Incorrect. The plight of the farmers continued to be ignored, there was no boycott of the railroads by Americans.)
- The government backed the American Railway Union so the railroad worker strike continued. (Incorrect. The federal government did not support the American Railway Union but rather had the head of the Union arrested and tried.)
- Investors had been speculating on railroad futures but the growth was built on a bubble. (Correct! Banks and investors fed the growth of the railroads with investments in industry and related businesses. When the railroads began to fail due to expenses outpacing returns on their construction, the supporting businesses, from banks to steel mills, also failed.)
A: Investors had been speculating on railroad futures but the growth was built on a bubble.

Q: The Depression of 1893 affected not only the railroad, many other industries were also hard hit. How did the depression affect industrial America as a whole?
- Labor unions throughout industrial America were strengthened. (Incorrect. If anything, the Pullman strike showed how limited labor union activism could be without legal protections.)
- The federal government began subsidizing industrial companies to lessen the depression. (Incorrect. An unresponsive government interested largely in patronage and the spoils system in order to maintain its power was in no position to help the American people face this challenge.)
- Industries like steel experienced many layoffs but industries like coal remained unaffected. (Incorrect. Several strikes also punctuated the growing depression, including a number of violent uprisings in the coal regions of Ohio and Pennsylvania.)
- Unemployment skyrocketed leaving 3 million Americans without a job. (Correct! The closure of railroad companies led to a ripple effect in the economy where workers from steel mill laborers to bankers lost their jobs.)
A: Unemployment skyrocketed leaving 3 million Americans without a job.

Q: In 1896, the century’s final presidential campaign took place and pitted William McKinly against William Jennings Bryan. What effect did Bryan’s campaign have on future politics in America?
- The Democrats and Republicans overpowered the Populist candidate thus securing the two-party system. (Incorrect. Bryan ran as a Democrat and the Populist Party backed him; there was no separate Populist candidate.)
- Voters made it clear, by way of the ballot box, they wanted the government to begin minting silver. (Incorrect. McKinley, who believed in the gold standard, won the election over Bryan who supported bimetallism.)
- His success in the election fatally weakened the Populist Party and cemented the two-party system in America. (Incorrect. Bryan did not see success in the election o f1896 however his campaign did help lay the groundwork for the coming progressive movement.)
- Reformist roots were put down and a majority of populist policies would become laws over the next century. (Correct! The agrarian revolt established the roots of later reform, and the majority of policies outlined within the Omaha Platform would eventually be put into law. The Populist vision laid the intellectual groundwork for the coming progressive movement.)
A: Reformist roots were put down and a majority of populist policies would become laws over the next century.

Q: In 1896, presidential candidates William McKinley and William Jennings Bryan engaged in a contest that would shape future voting patterns. How did the campaign of 1896 shape future voting patterns?
- People were not interested in the campaign and a steady decline in voter participation began. (Incorrect. The election of 1896 drew out millions of voters as it addressed topics that were very important to them.)
- People in cities cast the majority of votes for Bryan, setting a trend of urban Democrat supporters. (Incorrect. Rural people were much more likely to vote for Bryan as he supported the populist ideas that were introduced by the farmers of the Midwest. Some city dwellers did not vote Democrat, especially those who did not like Bryan’s religious campaign style.)
- The Democrat nominee won, ushering in several years of strong support for the Democrats. (Incorrect. Republican William McKinley’s win began an era of Republican dominance that would last for nearly four decades.)
- It created a divide between urban, industrialized cities and the rural, agrarian communities. (Correct! There was a stark divide between rural states and the industry rich states. The 1896 election marked the decisive triumph of the nation’s urban interests such as banking, manufacturing and industry, over its agrarian past. Bryan was the last candidate to run by appealing exclusively to the country’s rural population.)
A: It created a divide between urban, industrialized cities and the rural, agrarian communities.

Q: In 1896, William Jennings Bryan campaigned for president against William McKinley. Despite his loss, why was Bryan’s campaign important?
- It buried the Populist Party and all of the party’s policies and ideals. (Incorrect. While the populist party itself never regained the momentum and support it once had, the Populist vision laid the groundwork for the coming progressive movement.)
- It strengthened the three-party system as Bryan ran as a Populist. (Incorrect. William Bryan ran as a Democrat but the Populist Party backed him as the best candidate.)
- It showed that rural Americans did not have a voice in national politics. (Incorrect. Voters turned out in huge numbers, both in support and in opposition of Bryan. Even though Bryan lost the election, rural residents voted by the millions.)
- It brought once fringe Populist Party ideas into one of the two major political parties. (Correct! The agrarian revolt established the roots of later reform, and the majority of policies outlined within the Omaha Platform would eventually be put into law. The Populist vision laid the intellectual groundwork for the coming progressive movement.)
A: It brought once fringe Populist Party ideas into one of the two major political parties.

Q: Modernization and industrialization in the Gilded Age changed both northern and southern society. How did industrialization create a shift in the types of jobs people in the South worked?
- Agriculture remained a mainstay and industrialization made only a small impact. (Incorrect. While agriculture, cotton in particular, remained the mainstay of the region’s economy, these new industries pulled thousands of workers from rural areas into cities.)
- New industrial jobs led to racial integration as people of all kinds moved into wage work. (Incorrect. New factory jobs were racially segregated. Better-paying jobs were reserved for White people, while the most dangerous, labor-intensive, dirtiest, and lowest-paying positions were relegated to Black people.)
- Black Americans could only find work in domestic positions as agricultural work disappeared. (Incorrect. Agriculture, cotton in particular, remained the mainstay. Many Black men found work in factories, Black women, however, were shut out of most industries and found employment most often as domestic help for White families.)
- New industries allowed subsistence farmers to move into wage work. (Correct! Industries offered opportunities for rural poor who could no longer sustain themselves through subsistence farming. Men, women, and children all moved into wage work.)
A: New industries allowed subsistence farmers to move into wage work.

Q: Industrialization and urbanization changed the way the north and south interacted with one another. What change made the south more accessible to the north, both economically and socially?
- The end of Reconstruction meant more businesses could relocate to the south. (Incorrect. Reconstruction and the end of it had little to do with economic expansion and it could be argued that the end of Reconstruction set the south even further back socially.)
- Integrated work places attracted more northern businesses to the south. (Incorrect. Factory jobs were racially segregated as better-paying jobs were reserved for White people and the most dangerous, labor-intensive, dirtiest, and lowest-paying positions were relegated to Black people. Additionally, racial discrimination and violence were not limited to the South.)
- Agriculture sharply declined in the south, making room for new industries. (Incorrect. Agriculture, cotton in particular, remained the mainstay of the region’s economy.)
- The south changed the size of the railroad tracks they used. (Correct! The shift in railroad gauge drastically expanded the economic and social links connecting North and South.)
A: The south changed the size of the railroad tracks they used.

Q: Elijah and his family were sharecroppers in Georgia in the 1880s. The family decides it is best for them to move to Atlanta. What is one reason the family may have decided to make this move?
- The family was tired of the racism they witnessed in rural Georgia and knew the city would be better. (Incorrect. Factory jobs were often segregated, Black women were shut out from factory jobs, wages were low and Black people were pushed to the out-laying areas of large cities.)
- Agricultural jobs were on the decline and the family needed new ways to earn a living. (Incorrect. Cotton and tobacco continued to be an important part of the southern economy. However, subsistence farmers and sharecroppers found it harder and harder to make a living from farming alone.)
- The cities had nicer homes and communities compared to what could be found in the country. (Incorrect. Mill villages that grew up alongside factories were Whites-only, and Black families were pushed to the outer perimeter of the settlements which were often not as nice or well-connected as the main villages.)
- The new factories in the cities provided more opportunities for the whole family to work. (Correct! Black males could go to work in factories while Black women could work as domestic servants for White families who worked at the factories.)
A: The new factories in the cities provided more opportunities for the whole family to work.

Q: Lynching is a mob killing of someone, oftentimes for a crime they cannot be proved to have committed. Lynching became an often-used way for White mobs to take the law into their own hands. How was lynching viewed by many White southerners?
- It was tolerated but not encouraged. (Incorrect. A number of prominent southerners openly supported lynching, arguing that it was a necessary evil to punish Black rapists and deter others. Lynching was frequently justified by appealing to the virtue of White womanhood, and portraying these violent deeds as honorable acts of protection.)
- It was illegal and was done in secret. (Incorrect. Lynching was not illegal and not done in secret. Thousands of people were known to attend a lynching.)
- As a heinous act that was punishable by law. (Incorrect. Although lynching is indeed a heinous act it was not punishable by law. Activists worked to pass an anti-lynching bill but it was fiercely opposed by southern congressmen and unable to win enough northern champions. The proposed bill was never enacted.)
- As a spectacle and an event worth attending. (Correct! Lynchings could become carnivals, public spectacles attended by thousands of eager spectators. Rail lines ran special cars to accommodate the rush of participants. Vendors sold goods and keepsakes. Perpetrators posed for photos and collected mementos.)
A: As a spectacle and an event worth attending.

Q: In the late 1800s White terrorist organizations began to form in an attempt to establish their “White supremacy.” They targeted Black people who were simply exercising their given civil rights. What was the main goal of the Red Shirts, one of the terrorist organizations?
- To glorify the Confederacy and maintain the social customs of the south. (Incorrect. This was a movement known as the “Lost Cause” that glorified the Confederacy and romanticized the Old South. They hoped to preserve a pro-Confederate past by building Confederate monuments and celebrating Confederate veterans.)
- They systematically passed laws to segregate Black Americans. (Incorrect. This is the Jim Crow system, which consisted of a legal and cultural framework in the South that separated races and rendered Black Americans as second-class citizens.)
- To confront post-Reconstruction uncertainties by rebuilding the South’s economy. (Incorrect. This was the goal of New South boosters who hoped to confront post-Reconstruction uncertainties by rebuilding the South’s economy and convincing the nation that the South could be more than an economically backward, race-obsessed backwater.)
- To remove Black people from political offices and participation. (Correct! Red Shirt groups were paramilitary organizations dedicated to eradicating Black political participation through violence and intimidation. They launched a self-described “White supremacy campaign” of violence and intimidation against Black voters and officeholders during the 1898 state elections in North Carolina.)
A: To remove Black people from political offices and participation.

Q: John lived in Tennessee throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s. What changes did John witness during this time?
- The repeal of the 15th Amendment, resulting in the disenfranchisement of Black males. (Incorrect. The Fifteenth Amendment was never repealed but southern states passed laws requiring voters to pass literacy tests and pay poll taxes effectively denying Black men the franchise.)
- The introduction passage of federal anti-lynching legislation. (Incorrect. In 1918, Representative Leonidas Dyer of Missouri introduced federal anti-lynching legislation that would have made local counties where lynchings took place legally liable for such killings, but the proposed bill was never enacted.)
- The decline of the culture associated with the Old South. (Incorrect. Cultural ideals of the Old South were kept alive by the Lost Cause movement which harkened back to a mythic imagined past inhabited by contented and loyal enslaved people, benevolent and generous masters, chivalric and honorable men, and pure and faithful southern belles.)
- The introduction of Jim Crow laws beginning with segregated coaches. (Correct! This was the beginning of a new Jim Crow South where southern states and municipalities enforced racial segregation in public places including schools, stores, theaters, restaurants, and bathrooms.)
A: The introduction of Jim Crow laws beginning with segregated coaches.

Q: Charles Darwin was a British naturalist who, in 1859, made the case that species develop and evolve through natural selection. Darwin and other natural scientists applied this theory to plants and animals. Some scientists also began applying it to human society. Who was an advocate for the ideas of Darwin to be applied to the social order of the Victorian age?
- Darwin himself meant for his theory to be applied socially. (Incorrect. Darwin himself would have rejected as a gross misreading of his scientific discoveries,)
- Those remained poor during the Gilded Age. (Incorrect. Those who did not generate wealth were considered the weakest of society and not fit to survive.)
- Those who supported public assistance for the poor. (Incorrect. Social Darwinism was used to justify extraordinary wealth and dismiss any obligation to the less fortunate.)
- Those who amassed great wealth in the Gilded Age. (Correct! Drew great praise from those who made their wealth at this time. Gilded Age industrial elites, such as steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, inventor Thomas Edison, and Standard Oil’s John D. Rockefeller, were among Spencer’s prominent followers.)
A: Those who amassed great wealth in the Gilded Age.

Q: Social Darwinism had many supporters and critics. One of the most prominent sponsors of the idea was sociologist and biologist, Herbert Spencer. What did Spencer say about those who did not thrive under social Darwinism?
- They should receive public welfare and private charity. (Incorrect. Social Darwinism was used by the extraordinarily wealthy to dismiss any obligation to the less fortunate in the form of public or private welfare.)
- That wealth inequality needed to be tolerated in order for some to achieve wealth. (Incorrect. The inequality of outcomes was to be not merely tolerated but encouraged and celebrated. It signified the progress of species and societies.)
- The fact that they did not have an even starting line must be accounted for. (Incorrect. Critics of this theory pointed out that those who did not succeed often did not have the same opportunities or equal playing field as those who did. This however was ignored by those who supported social Darwinism like Spencer.)
- Those who did not achieve wealth on their own would overall weaken society. (Correct! Spencer popularized the phrase <em>survival of the fittest<em> and said the fittest would demonstrate their superiority through economic success, while state welfare and private charity would lead to social degeneration and would encourage the survival of the weak.)
A: Those who did not achieve wealth on their own would overall weaken society.

Q: William is a successful, wealthy, self-made businessman who is also an avid supporter of social Darwinism. Why would William continue to perpetuate the ideas of social Darwinism?
- Under social Darwinism William’s philanthropic efforts to help the poor are recognized. (Incorrect. Social Darwinism was used by the extraordinarily wealthy to dismiss any obligation to the less fortunate in the form of public or private welfare.)
- William believes in racial equality which is also supported by social Darwinism. (Incorrect. At the societal level, social Darwinism was used as a philosophical rationalization for imperialist, colonialist, and racist policies, sustaining belief in Anglo-Saxon or Aryan cultural and biological superiority.)
- William is a Socialist and social Darwinism supports Socialist principles. (Incorrect. Social Darwinism supported laissez-faire capitalism, meaning little interference in the economic affairs of society which is quite different from socialism.)
- Under social Darwinism William is seen as industrious, temperate and frugal. (Correct! Those who were financially successful were seen to possess traits that made them stronger than those who did not achieve wealth and status.)
A: Under social Darwinism William is seen as industrious, temperate and frugal.

Q: Many authors and artists attempted to help Americans understand their changing society as the nineteenth century rolled into the twentieth century. How did Kate Chopin help women challenge the Victorian perception of a woman’s role?
- She authored a book, set in the future, where women were equal to men. (Incorrect. Edward Bellemy published a book called, <em>Looking Backward<em> that was set in the future and described many new ideas including the equality of women.)
- She captured the spirit of the working woman through her paintings of urban life. (Incorrect. Visual artists often depicted the urban lifestyle that was quickly gripping the United States at the turn of the century. However, Kate Chopin was not one of these artists.)
- She was a realist who believed the education of women would improve society. (Incorrect. John Dewey believed education could have a role in reforming and improving American society. He did not specifically mention the education of women.)
- She introduced topics such as malaise, desperation, and desire. (Correct! <em>The Awakening<em>, tells the story of a woman struggling with the constraints of marriage who ultimately seeks her own fulfillment over the needs of her family. It also flouted nineteenth-century conventions by looking at the protagonist’s struggles with the traditional role expected of women.)
A: She introduced topics such as malaise, desperation, and desire.

Q: Many authors offered explanations, ideas, and theories on why American society was changing and how it could be reformed, changed, or embraced. One theory was that of pragmatism. What is the idea of pragmatism?
- A broad set of ideas that sought to explain the changes taking place in America. (Incorrect. This is realism and is a collection of theories and ideas that sought to understand the underlying changes in the United States during the late nineteenth century.)
- The idea that education for all is important to understanding the changing world. (Incorrect. This is a theory promoted by instrumentalist John Dewey, who believed that education was key to the search for the truth about ideals and institutions)
- That a return to nature was the only way to improve and reform American society. (Incorrect. This is closer to the theory of naturalism that states that the laws of nature and the natural world were the only relevant laws governing humanity.)
- Americans needed to experiment and find the truth for themselves rather than rely on faith. (Correct! Pragmatism is a doctrine which held that Americans needed to experiment and find the truth behind underlying institutions, religions, and ideas in American life, rather than accepting them on faith.)
A: Americans needed to experiment and find the truth for themselves rather than rely on faith.

Q: Many authors and artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries including Kate Chopin, Paul Laurence Dunbar, and Rebecca Harding Davis, were instrumental in providing context to a changing world. Why was Paul Laurence Dunbar so important?
- He was one of the only authors who wrote specifically for Black readers. (Incorrect. Dunbar wrote for audiences in both standard English and Black dialect, he delighted all readers with his rich portrayals of the successes and struggles associated with Black American life.)
- He criticized the industrialization of America, blaming modern problems on the industrial age. (Incorrect. Many authors of this time period were critical of industrialization but Dunbar was not one of them.)
- He painted urban landscapes, helping find beauty in the new urban lifestyle. (Incorrect. Dunbar was an author, not an artist. Some artists, however, were interested in depicting the urban lifestyle that was quickly gripping the United States at the turn of the century, finding beauty worth immortalizing within these new urban landscapes.)
- He gave readers a look into a world that may be otherwise unfamiliar to them. (Correct! Dunbar’s writing highlighted parts of the American experience that were not well understood by the dominant demographic of the country. He provided readers with insights into a world that was not necessarily familiar to them and also gave hidden communities a sense of voice.)
A: He gave readers a look into a world that may be otherwise unfamiliar to them.

Q: In 1934 the Federal Housing Administration subsidized builders, who were mass-producing entire subdivisions, with the requirement that none of the homes be sold to Black people. Is denying Black Americans the opportunity to buy a home an example of systemic racism?
- No, because the policy was reversed in 1968 by the Fair Housing Act and Black people can now buy homes. (Incorrect. Even though the policy was reversed in 1968, it is an example of systemic racism. For those families who could have afforded a house in the 1930s and 40s, homes are no longer affordable. They were unable to gain all the equity that homeowners gained between 1934 and 1968 thus affecting future generations through many areas of life.)
- Yes, because the Federal Housing Administration applied this regulation irregularly, allowing Black people to buy homes in some suburbs. (Incorrect. Not selling homes to Black Americans became embedded in policies and practices throughout the United States. Housing discrimination became part or local, state, and federal policies. This practice being embedded in the system is an indicator of systemic racism.)
- No, because the ability to buy a home does not affect other parts of one’s life such as education and healthcare. (Incorrect. The equity built from owning property can send children to college, help take care of grandparents, fund additional investments and create generational wealth.)
- Yes, Black individuals and families who were prevented from investing in a home were unable to build wealth, thus affecting many aspects of life. (Correct! Black families that were prohibited from buying homes in the suburbs by the Federal Housing Administration, gained none of the equity appreciation that White people gained. White families were able to use that equity to send their children to college, invest and gain more equity.)
A: Yes, Black individuals and families who were prevented from investing in a home were unable to build wealth, thus affecting many aspects of life.

Q: When Black students and White students commit similar infractions, Black students are suspended and expelled three times more often than White students. What slavery era belief contributes to this systemic racism?
- That Black children were less intelligent. (Incorrect. This is definitely a slavery era belief that is not true. However, it does not contribute to increased suspension and expulsion.)
- That Black children were more likely to disrespect authority figures. (Incorrect. This is not a slavery era belief.)
- That Black children were more likely to skip school. (Incorrect. This is not true and not a slavery era belief as Black children were not allowed to attend school while enslaved.)
- That Black children were inherently more violent. (Correct! Historically, in America, Black boys and men have been depicted as aggressive, and violent needing to be controlled and tamed. This contributes to Black children being expelled for minor offenses that White children are excused from.)
A: That Black children were inherently more violent.

Q: In 2019 a study showed that Black patients were 40% less likely to receive medication for acute pain than White patients. How is this statistic an example of systemic racism?
- Some individual medical doctors are racist toward Black patients. (Incorrect. While this is true, this would be an example of internalized racism.)
- Black patients are less likely to ask for pain management medications. (Incorrect. Black patients are just as likely to ask for pain medication but 40% less likely to receive it.)
- Black patients are less likely to have medical insurance that covers pain management. (Incorrect. While huge disparities do exist between health insurance available to White and Black people, it is not the main factor in why Black patients do not receive the pain medication they ask for.)
- Many medical doctors believe Black people feel less pain. (Correct! Over half of all medical students believe Black people experience less pain than White people because of what they are taught in medical school. This belief comes from flawed slavery era experiments such as those conducted by a physician who regularly tortured an enslaved Black man, creating blisters all over his body in an effort to prove Black skin went deeper than white skin. Stereotypes, like that of “the strong Black woman”, and systemic racism also play a role in doctors assuming Black individuals are being overly dramatic and more likely to engage in drug seeking behavior.)
A: Many medical doctors believe Black people feel less pain.

Q: After reading the excerpts from Ida B. Wells, we can see parallels between nineteenth century treatment and the present-day treatment of Black Americans. Wells writes, “No matter that our laws presume every man innocent until he is proved guilty; no matter that it leaves a certain class of individuals completely at the mercy of another class; … no matter that mobs make a farce of the law and a mockery of justice…” What current events can this passage be related to?
- The number of racially motivated mass shootings taking place at schools, places of worship and other public spaces. (Incorrect. While many of these shootings have racist motives, they are not examples of systemic racism but rather internalized and/or intrapersonal racism.)
- The fact that people with Black sounding names are significantly less likely to be called for an interview than those with White sounding names. (Incorrect. This is a type of racism, but it does not relate to the excerpt from Wells. This example would also fall under institutionalized or internalized racism.)
- The statistic that Black infant mortality rates are more than double those of White infant mortality rates. (Incorrect. This is an example of systemic racism in the United States, but it does not relate the excerpt from Wells quoted above.)
- The killing of Black people by police officers and citizens before there are formal charges or a trial. (Correct! There are numerous examples of Black people being killed by law enforcement and citizens before they are arrested, charged, or tried by a jury of their peers.)
A: The killing of Black people by police officers and citizens before there are formal charges or a trial.

Q: Dominik is doing research for a research project assigned by his U.S. History teacher. He comes across an old map showing sections of cities that have been redlined. Dominik finds out that certain suburbs were off-limits to Black families hoping to buy a home because the Federal Housing Administration feared the presence of Black homeowners would drive down property values of the whole neighborhood.He begins to better understand systemic racism. How does Dominik define systemic racism?
- The actions of a few realtors who would not sell to Black families. (Incorrect. This would be a way to describe internalized and interpersonal racism.)
- The use of facts and data to implement racist laws for the protection of White people. (Incorrect. Much of the “facts and data” used to support racist laws was flawed or outright made up. In this case, because Black people were willing to pay more for homes in the suburbs, property value would have increased if more Black families were able to buy homes.)
- Using the theory, “separate but equal” to create a system of segregated housing subdivisions. (Incorrect. This is not systemic racism. Additionally, separate but equal was very rarely actually equal. The areas in which Black people could buy homes were often near industrial complexes, major roads, and waste collection sites.)
- The codification and embedding of racist laws that still affect the lives of Black people today. (Correct! Redlining was a practice that made its way into local, state, and federal housing laws. These laws, although reversed in 1968, still affect how Black people buy homes and accumulate wealth to this day.)
A: The codification and embedding of racist laws that still affect the lives of Black people today.

Q: Angela is looking for present-day primary sources she can connect back to a primary source written in 1900 by Ida B Wells. Angela found this comparison photograph and believes it demonstrates systemic racism by showing that the way in which information is presented can change how it is received by the consumer. How does this excerpt from the 1900 Wells text, “…to prove the negro a moral monster and unworthy of the respect and sympathy of the civilized world.”, relate directly to this photograph?
- Both the White men and Black men have their photographs displayed so this is not a good example of systemic racism in the present-day media. (Incorrect. The difference in the types of photographs used for the White men and the Black men makes a difference in how the suspects are received by the reader.)
- The information is presented fairly and accurately with no racism found. Only a racist reader would interpret this as systemic racism. (Incorrect. The types of photographs the author chose to present of each group of men show systemic racism.)
- This is just one example of bad reporting, statistically, crime is reported equally regardless of the suspect’s race. (Incorrect. This is not one isolated example. You could easily find many more examples in the news media that are very similar to this one.)
- The White men are shown in their wrestling photos making them seem more innocent. The Black men appear in mug shots, making them seem older and less innocent. (Correct! The headline and mug shots make the Black men look like guilty criminals unworthy of sympathy while the pictures chosen of the White men present them as innocent university students.)
A: The White men are shown in their wrestling photos making them seem more innocent. The Black men appear in mug shots, making them seem older and less innocent.