Political Realignments 1876-1901

What issue most clearly separated Gilded Age Democrats from Republicans?

A. Expansion of the navy

B. Foreign alliances

C. Tariff policy

D. Immigration quotas

C. Tariff policy

Which party supported a small, limited federal government during the Gilded Age?

A. Progressives

B. Democrats

C. Populists

D. Immigration quotas

B. Democrats

Which group formed the backbone of Democratic support?

A. White southerners and immigrants

B. Progressives

C. Northern industrialists

D. Western miners

A. White southerners and immigrants

Which region consistently voted Republican during the Gilded Age?

A. Deep South

B. Pacific Coast

C. Southwest

D. New England and the North

D. New England and the North

What major issue dominated the election of 1880?

A. Free silver

B. Civil service reform and patronage

C. Imperialism

D. Railroad nationalization

B. Civil service reform and patronage

What event shaped public opinion after Garfield’s election in 1880?

A. His tariff policies

B. His foreign policy failures

C. His assassination by a disappointed office seeker

D. His support for free silver

C. His assassination by a disappointed office seeker

Which president unexpectedly became a reformer after Garfield’s death?

A. Chester A. Arthur

B. Benjamin Harrison

C. Grover Cleveland

D. William McKinley

A. Chester A. Arthur

What major reform did the Pendleton Act (1883) introduce?

A. Free silver coinage

B. Merit‑based civil service exams

C. Railroad nationalization

D. Direct election of senators

B. Merit‑based civil service exams

What issue helped Grover Cleveland win the election of 1884?

A. Support for high tariffs

B. Expansion of the navy

C. Support for free silver

D. Opposition to corruption and waste

D. Opposition to corruption and waste

Why was the election of 1888 significant?

A. It ended the gold standard

B. It introduced women’s suffrage

C. Cleveland won the popular vote but lost the electoral vote

D. It destroyed the Populist Party

C. Cleveland won the popular vote but lost the electoral vote

What issue defined Benjamin Harrison’s presidency after the 1888 election?

A. High federal spending and major economic laws

B. Low tariffs

C. Free silver

D. Anti‑imperialism

A. High federal spending and major economic laws

What major economic crisis dominated the election of 1892?

A. Panic of 1873

B. Panic of 1893

C. Panic of 1907

D. Great Depression

B. Panic of 1893

What made the Populist Party’s 1892 campaign historically important?

A. They won the presidency

B. They carried several western states and won over a million votes

C. They replaced the Democratic Party

D. They ended the tariff debate

B. They carried several western states and won over a million votes

What issue split the Democratic Party during Cleveland’s second term?

A. Free silver vs. gold standard

B. Tariffs

C. Imperialism

D. Civil rights

A. Free silver vs. gold standard

What event damaged Cleveland’s popularity before the 1896 election?

A. His support for free silver

B. His handling of the Pullman Strike

C. His foreign policy failures

D. His support for the Populists

B. His handling of the Pullman Strike

What was the central issue of the 1896 election?

A. Imperialism

B. Immigration

C. Railroad regulation

D. Gold vs. silver money

D. Gold vs. silver money

What was William Jennings Bryan’s most famous campaign message?

A. “Cross of Gold” speech supporting free silver

B. “A tariff for prosperity”

C. “A chicken in every pot”

D. “Remember the Maine”

A. “Cross of Gold” speech supporting free silver

What strategy defined McKinley’s 1896 campaign?

A. Nationwide speaking tour

B. Front‑porch campaign with organized messaging

C. Secret alliance with Populists

D. Attacking civil service reform

B. Front‑porch campaign with organized messaging

Why did McKinley win the 1896 election?

A. Support from farmers

B. Support from urban workers and business interests

C. Support from Populists

D. Support from southern Democrats

B. Support from urban workers and business interests

What long‑term political effect did the 1896 election have?

A. Rise of Populist dominance

B. Collapse of the presidency

C. End of the gold standard

D. Republican control of national politics for decades

D. Republican control of national politics for decades

What issue dominated the election of 1900?

A. Free silver

B. Civil rights

C. Economic recovery and imperialism

D. Railroad nationalization

C. Economic recovery and imperialism

What did McKinley’s reelection in 1900 confirm?

A. Support for free silver

B. Collapse of Republican power

C. Public approval of economic recovery and stability

D. Decline of presidential authority

C. Public approval of economic recovery and stability

What law required the Treasury to buy 4.5 million ounces of silver monthly?

A. Sherman Silver Purchase Act

B. Bland‑Allison Act

C. McKinley Tariff

D. Interstate Commerce Act

A. Sherman Silver Purchase Act

What was a major complaint of farmers in the late 1800s?

A. Too much money in circulation

B. High railroad shipping rates

C. Low tariffs

D. Government overregulation

B. High railroad shipping rates

What did the Ocala Platform demand regarding money?

A. Gold‑only currency

B. Increased money supply through silver

C. Elimination of paper money

D. Higher interest rates

B. Increased money supply through silver

What did Coxey’s Army demand in 1894?

A. Free silver

B. Railroad nationalization

C. Lower tariffs

D. Federal jobs programs for the unemployed

D. Federal jobs programs for the unemployed

What did the Pullman Strike reveal about the federal government?

A. It supported labor unions

B. It sided with big business

C. It refused to intervene in strikes

D. It supported free silver

B. It sided with big business

What literary movement reflected the harsh realities of the era?

A. Realism and Naturalism

B. Romanticism

C. Gothic fiction

D. Symbolism

A. Realism and Naturalism

What did the Gold Standard Act of 1900 accomplish?

A. Ended gold currency

B. Reintroduced silver coinage

C. Officially committed the U.S. to gold‑only money

D. Created a national bank

C. Officially committed the U.S. to gold‑only money

What long‑term effect did Populist ideas have?

A. They disappeared completely

B. Many became Progressive Era reforms

C. They weakened federal power

D. They strengthened laissez‑faire policies

B. Many became Progressive Era reforms