Urbanization and Populism

Flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture on Urbanization and Populism, including urban growth, political developments, the agrarian revolt, and the crisis of the 1890s.

When did the majority of the American population first become classified as living in urban areas?

1920

What were the two primary sources of urban growth in the United States between 1860 and 1900?

Internal migration (rural dwellers, black migrants from the South) and immigration.

Approximately how many immigrants came to the United States between 1860 and 1900?

Nearly 14 million

What were three major problems faced by urban America in the late 19th century?

Overcrowding, inadequate housing (tenement structures), and widespread disease (cholera, typhus).

What transportation innovations developed in urban centers in the late 19th century?

Rail lines and subways.

What was the average popular vote margin separating the two parties in the five presidential elections between 1876 and 1892?

Only 1.5%

What were perhaps the only two key issues that dominated the political landscape during the period of American political malaise from the 1870s to the 1890s?

Patronage and tariffs.

What significant act was passed during the James Garfield-Chester Arthur administration in 1883 to reform the civil service?

The Pendleton Act of 1883.

Who was President Grover Cleveland's political philosophy regarding government support for the people?

He was committed to economy in government, believing 'though the people support the Government, the Government should not support the people.'

What consequence did the Republican passage of the McKinley Tariff Act in 1890 have for the Democratic party?

It caused a massive Democrat majority in the House of Representatives in the 1890 off-season elections.

What were some major economic difficulties faced by farmers from the 1870s to the 1890s?

Falling prices for crops (e.g., wheat), dependence on external markets, agriculture's declining share of national income, high freight rates, high credit rates, and high tariffs.

What was the name of the organization formed in 1867 that claimed 800,000 members by 1875 and was a precursor to Populism?

The Grangers (or Grange organization).

What were some key demands of the Populist Party in the early 1890s?

Government ownership of railroads and communications, provision of government-controlled postal banks, a new social morality, and destruction of monopoly power.

What major economic event, combined with a global depression, crippled the American economy in 1893?

The Panic of 1893.

What was the central issue of the 'Silver Controversy' in the late 19th century?

Whether paper currency should be redeemed in gold or silver, with proponents of expansionary coinage policy wanting to spur growth by maintaining silver coinage.

Who was the Republican candidate for President in the 1896 election, and what was his platform regarding silver monetization?

William McKinley, whose platform opposed silver monetization without an international agreement.

Who delivered the famous 'Cross of Gold' speech at the 1896 Democratic convention, leading to his nomination?

William Jennings Bryan.

Who won the Presidential election of 1896?

William McKinley.

What were some reasons for the decline of Populism after the 1896 election?

Gradual easing of the economic depression, labor movement losing its militancy, increased farm prices due to crop failures in Europe, and a massive increase in gold supplies allowing for increased currency.