Question 1

Instructions: Identify the following. Be as specific as possible, and include names, dates, and relevant facts as appropriate. Be sure to explain the significance of the person or term. Grange, Oliver H. Kelley

Accepted Answer

The Grange, also known as the Patrons of Husbandry, was a social and educational organization for farmers that was founded in 1867 by Oliver H. Kelley. The Grange aimed to provide a sense of community and support for farmers, as well as to advocate for their interests in the face of economic and political challenges.

Oliver H. Kelley, a farmer and government clerk, was the founder of the Grange. He was inspired to create the organization after observing the isolation and struggles of rural farmers. The Grange provided a platform for farmers to come together, share knowledge, and collectively address issues such as unfair pricing and transportation costs.

The significance of the Grange and Oliver H. Kelley lies in their role in advocating for the rights and interests of farmers during a time of rapid industrialization and economic change in the United States. The organization also played a key role in promoting agricultural education and cooperative efforts among farmers. The Grange's influence extended to the passage of legislation that regulated railroad rates and protected farmers from unfair business practices. Overall, the Grange and Oliver H. Kelley were instrumental in empowering and uniting farmers during a critical period in American history.

Question 2

Instructions: Identify the following. Be as specific as possible, and include names, dates, and relevant facts as appropriate. Be sure to explain the significance of the person or term. Subtreasury Plan

Accepted Answer

The Subtreasury Plan was a proposal put forth by the Populist Party in the late 19th century, specifically in the 1890s. The plan called for the establishment of government-owned warehouses, or "subtreasuries," where farmers could store their crops and receive low-interest loans using the crops as collateral. This was intended to provide relief for farmers who were struggling with low crop prices and high interest rates on loans from private banks.

The significance of the Subtreasury Plan lies in its role as a key component of the Populist Party's platform, which aimed to address the economic hardships faced by farmers and rural communities. The plan reflected the party's commitment to advocating for the interests of the agrarian population and challenging the dominance of big business and financial institutions. While the Subtreasury Plan was not ultimately implemented, it remains an important part of the history of agrarian and populist movements in the United States.

Question 3

Instructions: Identify the following. Be as specific as possible, and include names, dates, and relevant facts as appropriate. Be sure to explain the significance of the person or term. Populist party

Accepted Answer

The Populist Party, also known as the People's Party, was a political party in the United States that emerged in the early 1890s. It represented a coalition of agrarian interests, particularly in the South and Midwest, who were dissatisfied with the economic conditions and sought to advocate for the rights and needs of farmers, laborers, and miners against the perceived interests of big business, banks, and railroads.

Significant Dates and Events:
- The party was formally organized in 1892.
- It held its first national convention in Omaha, Nebraska, in July of that year, where it adopted a platform known as the Omaha Platform.

Key Elements of the Omaha Platform:
- The free coinage of silver at a ratio of 16 to 1 with gold, which they believed would increase the money supply and assist indebted farmers.
- The establishment of a sub-treasury system to allow farmers to store their crops until they could get fair prices.
- The direct election of U.S. Senators, which was not the practice at the time.
- The implementation of a graduated income tax.
- The regulation, if not the outright nationalization, of the railroads, telegraph, and telephone systems to ensure fair rates and services.
- The introduction of initiatives and referendums to allow the public to bypass political institutions they saw as corrupt or unresponsive.

Significance:
The Populist Party was significant because it represented the first major effort to create a third-party movement centered around the needs of rural America at a time when the country was undergoing rapid industrialization and urbanization. The party's advocacy for the free coinage of silver became a central issue in the 1896 presidential election, where the Democratic Party, led by William Jennings Bryan, adopted many of the Populist Party's positions. Although Bryan lost the election to Republican William McKinley, the Populist movement demonstrated the potential power of agrarian interests in American politics.

The Populist Party's influence waned after the 1896 election, but many of its ideas, such as the direct election of Senators (later realized with the 17th Amendment in 1913) and progressive taxation, would eventually be adopted into law. The party's legacy lies in its role in pushing American politics towards addressing the needs and concerns of the working class and small farmers, and in laying the groundwork for future progressive reforms.

Question 4

Instructions: Identify the following. Be as specific as possible, and include names, dates, and relevant facts as appropriate. Be sure to explain the significance of the person or term. Greenback party

Accepted Answer