Urbanization and Populism Lecture Review

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to urbanization, political challenges, the agrarian revolt, and the economic crisis of the 1890s in the United States.

Urbanization

A phenomenon experienced by industrializing nations, characterized by an increasing percentage of the population living in cities and towns.

Internal Migration (Urban Growth)

The movement of rural dwellers to urban areas to take advantage of economic opportunities, including Black migrants moving from the rural South to the urban North.

Tenement Structures

Inadequate and often unsanitary housing common in overcrowded urban areas, posing dangers to residents.

Mass Consumption

A trend in urban America driven by income growth and white-collar sector development, leading to advancements like ready-made clothing, changes in food preparation, and the rise of department stores.

American Political Malaise

A period in the 1870s, 1880s, and 1890s characterized by a stagnant political system with rigid party loyalties, marginal platform differences, and a lack of reform despite significant societal changes.

Patronage

A key political issue in the late 19th century involving the distribution of government jobs and favors in exchange for political support.

Tariffs

Taxes on imported goods, which was a dominant political issue in the late 19th century and a chief complaint of farmers.

Pendleton Act of 1883

The first comprehensive attempt to reform the civil service, reserving about 15% of government jobs for competitive examination and banning forced donations to political campaigns.

McKinley Tariff Act (1890)

A high protective tariff passed by Republicans that significantly impacted the political landscape by causing a massive Democrat majority in the House of Representatives.

Agrarian Revolt

A period from the 1870s to the 1890s when farmers experienced great difficulties due to falling crop prices, high freight rates, high credit rates, and high tariffs.

Grangers

An organization formed in 1867 as part of the agrarian revolt, which reached 800,000 members by 1875 and initiated political efforts to regulate railway rates.

Alliances

Regional farmer organizations, like the Southern Alliance, that developed cooperatives, banks, and processing plants to gain farmer autonomy and participated in a national convention at Ocala in 1890.

Populist Party

An agricultural protest movement that coalesced in the early 1890s, appealing to small-scale farmers and advocating for government ownership of railroads and communications, and government-controlled postal banks.

Panic of 1893

A severe economic depression triggered by railroad and bank failures in the United States, combined with a global depression, leading to widespread bankruptcies, unemployment, and collapsing agricultural prices.

Silver Controversy

A bitter political debate in the late 19th century over the redemption of paper currency in gold or silver specie, with proponents of expansionary coinage wanting to spur growth by maintaining silver coinage.

William Jennings Bryan

A prominent Democrat in the 1896 presidential election who advocated a pro-silver platform, delivered the famous 'Cross of Gold' speech, and was nominated by both the Democrats and Populists.

William McKinley

The Republican candidate who won the 1896 presidential election, campaigning on a platform that opposed silver monetization without an international agreement.