Populism, Reform, and Gilded Age Terms

Vocabulary flashcards covering key people, movements, events, and concepts from the notes on Mary Lease, prohibition, populism, and late 19th-century reform movements.

Mary Lease

Leader in the Populist/People's Party who spoke for farmers; linked to the prohibition movement and aggressive political reform messaging.

Prohibition movement

Effort to ban alcohol; linked with women's activism and groups like the WCTU.

People's Party (Populists)

A reform party representing farmers and laborers; advocated free coinage of silver, progressive income tax, railroad regulation, direct election of U.S. Senators, and postal savings banks.

Panic of 1873

Major economic downturn sparked by railroad investment and bank failures; led to recession and debates over currency.

Free Silver / Free coinage of silver

Policy to expand the money supply by coinage of silver alongside gold, supported by farmers and Populists to ease debt burdens.

Grange

Social/educational organization for farmers that promoted cooperative buying and selling and farm reform.

Cooperatives

Farmers’ groups that bought and sold collectively to reduce fees and middlemen.

Suffragist

Advocate for women's right to vote.

Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU)

Women-led organization promoting temperance; advocated women’s suffrage and social reform.

Homestead Act

Legislation granting land to settlers to encourage farming and westward expansion.

Western irrigation

Public or government control of water distribution in the West to curb private monopolies and ensure supply.

Farmers' Alliance

Agrarian reform organization addressing issues of small farmers; precursor to the Populist Party; emphasized political action.

Direct election of U.S. Senators

Reform proposal to elect Senators by popular vote rather than state legislatures.

Railroad regulation

Efforts to control railroad monopolies and set fair rates.

Henry George

Reform-minded economist associated with populist ideas; promoted broad economic reform and anti-monopoly sentiment.

Panic of 1893

Severe economic collapse following railroad and bank failures; widespread unemployment and market instability.

Chinese Equal Rights League

Organization founded to oppose discriminatory laws against Chinese Americans and defend civil rights.

Secret Ballot

Voting method that preserves voter privacy on a printed ballot to prevent coercion.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Supreme Court ruling that upheld racial segregation under 'separate but equal' doctrine.

American Federation of Labor (AFL)

National federation of skilled-worker unions founded in 1886.

Pullman Strike (1894)

Nationwide railroad strike led by the American Railway Union; federal troops intervened to end it.

Socialist Party of America

Political party founded in 1901 led by Eugene V. Debs, promoting worker solidarity and anti-war perspectives.

Eugene V. Debs

Labor organizer and leader of the Socialist Party who ran for president and advocated socialist reforms.

Union Party

Reformist political coalition linked with populist reformers like Mary Lease and Henry George; promoted monetary and political reforms.