Question 1

In the case of Plessy v. Ferguson, the Supreme Court asserted that ____________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  states had the authority to impose a poll tax on voters 
B)  the Fifteenth Amendment prohibited the establishment of literacy as a prerequisite for voting 
C)  states could constitutionally enact legislation by which separate-but-equal facilities were required for whites and blacks 
D)  separate schools for blacks were by their very nature unequal and therefore unconstitutional 
A)  states had the authority to impose a poll tax on voters 
B)  the Fifteenth Amendment prohibited the establishment of literacy as a prerequisite for voting 
C)  states could constitutionally enact legislation by which separate-but-equal facilities were required for whites and blacks 
D)  separate schools for blacks were by their very nature unequal and therefore unconstitutional

Question 2

In the 1870s, the southern states began to enact poll taxes with the intent of _________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  raising revenue for public schools 
B)  providing public funds for state political campaigns 
C)  paying off Civil War debts 
D)  reducing the political power of enfranchised African Americans 
A)  raising revenue for public schools 
B)  providing public funds for state political campaigns 
C)  paying off Civil War debts 
D)  reducing the political power of enfranchised African Americans

Question 3

Analyze the 1896 presidential campaign and election, and explain the political and economic impact of the election's outcome on the nation.

Accepted Answer

The 1896 presidential campaign and elect

Question 4

What was a consequence of the discovery of new silver mines in the West in the late nineteenth century?

Accepted Answer

A)  The price of silver increased to a level equal to the price of gold. 
B)  The United States Treasury increased its production of silver coins, causing severe inflation. 
C)  The price of silver on the open market dropped, making it more profitable for silver producers to sell silver to the government at the old sixteen-to-one ratio. 
D)  Silver producers refused to sell silver to the government, which in turn ceased minting silver coins. 
A)  The price of silver increased to a level equal to the price of gold. 
B)  The United States Treasury increased its production of silver coins, causing severe inflation. 
C)  The price of silver on the open market dropped, making it more profitable for silver producers to sell silver to the government at the old sixteen-to-one ratio. 
D)  Silver producers refused to sell silver to the government, which in turn ceased minting silver coins.

Question 5

Which of the following late-nineteenth-century presidents exercised the most vigorous leadership?

Accepted Answer

A)  Blaine 
B)  Cleveland 
C)  Garfield 
D)  Harrison 
A)  Blaine 
B)  Cleveland 
C)  Garfield 
D)  Harrison

Question 6

Jacob S. Coxey _________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  called on the government and employers to recognize the legitimacy of labor unions 
B)  called for public works projects financed by low-interest loans from the federal government to local governments 
C)  advocated the government takeover of the railroads 
D)  advocated tough immigration restrictions 
A)  called on the government and employers to recognize the legitimacy of labor unions 
B)  called for public works projects financed by low-interest loans from the federal government to local governments 
C)  advocated the government takeover of the railroads 
D)  advocated tough immigration restrictions

Question 7

Between which two years did the nation suffer a staggering economic depression?

Accepted Answer

A)  1883 and 1886 
B)  1893 and 1897 
C)  1892 and 1895 
D)  1871 and 1877 
A)  1883 and 1886 
B)  1893 and 1897 
C)  1892 and 1895 
D)  1871 and 1877

Question 8

In Munn v. Illinois, the Supreme Court of the United States ____________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  upheld the principle of state regulation of railroad rates 
B)  outlawed the practice of railroad regulation 
C)  declared state regulation of railroads to be unconstitutional 
D)  upheld ownership and management of the railroads by the federal government 
A)  upheld the principle of state regulation of railroad rates 
B)  outlawed the practice of railroad regulation 
C)  declared state regulation of railroads to be unconstitutional 
D)  upheld ownership and management of the railroads by the federal government

Question 9

What was the main focus of the Populist Party in the 1880s and 1890s?

Accepted Answer

A)  The free and unlimited coinage of silver 
B)  Higher tariffs on farm products 
C)  A national sales tax 
D)  Women's suffrage 
A)  The free and unlimited coinage of silver 
B)  Higher tariffs on farm products 
C)  A national sales tax 
D)  Women's suffrage

Question 10

The "Gilded Age" earned this popular nickname because________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  the government was firmly committed to the gold standard during this time 
B)  the era was characterized by an obsession with riches 
C)  the average American's standard of living rapidly improved 
D)  people from rural areas were lured to the rapidly growing cities for jobs with higher wages 
A)  the government was firmly committed to the gold standard during this time 
B)  the era was characterized by an obsession with riches 
C)  the average American's standard of living rapidly improved 
D)  people from rural areas were lured to the rapidly growing cities for jobs with higher wages

Question 11

Which of the following is true of the Bland-Allison Act and the Sherman Silver Purchase Act?

Accepted Answer

A)  By putting more money into circulation, they laid to rest demands for inflating the currency. 
B)  They expanded the money supply so much and caused so much inflation that even farmers began to protest. 
C)  They did not pump enough new money into circulation to satisfy debtors and left the impression that the government favored creditors. 
D)  They ran contrary to the political trend of the day in that both were straightforward, uncompromising pieces of legislation. 
A)  By putting more money into circulation, they laid to rest demands for inflating the currency. 
B)  They expanded the money supply so much and caused so much inflation that even farmers began to protest. 
C)  They did not pump enough new money into circulation to satisfy debtors and left the impression that the government favored creditors. 
D)  They ran contrary to the political trend of the day in that both were straightforward, uncompromising pieces of legislation.

Question 12

Congress's decision to provide generous pensions to former Union soldiers and their widows is an example of __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  the benefits associated with revenues from new income-tax measures enacted in the 1880s and 1890s 
B)  the government assuming responsibility to provide a safety net for the disadvantaged in society 
C)  an interest group using emotions associated with the Civil War for the financial gain of its members 
D)  an attempt by the southern Democrats who sponsored the legislation to heal the wounds of the Civil War 
A)  the benefits associated with revenues from new income-tax measures enacted in the 1880s and 1890s 
B)  the government assuming responsibility to provide a safety net for the disadvantaged in society 
C)  an interest group using emotions associated with the Civil War for the financial gain of its members 
D)  an attempt by the southern Democrats who sponsored the legislation to heal the wounds of the Civil War

Question 13

Which of the following is true of the attempts between 1870 and 1910 to legalize women's suffrage on a state-by-state basis?

Accepted Answer

A)  All states had granted women the right to vote in state elections by 1910. 
B)  None of these attempts were successful. 
C)  Attempts in the South and West were less successful than those in the Northeast. 
D)  Although these attempts met with limited success, they laid the groundwork for the future by training a corps of female leaders. 
A)  All states had granted women the right to vote in state elections by 1910. 
B)  None of these attempts were successful. 
C)  Attempts in the South and West were less successful than those in the Northeast. 
D)  Although these attempts met with limited success, they laid the groundwork for the future by training a corps of female leaders.

Question 14

Under the subtreasury plan, the Farmers' Alliances proposed that the federal government _____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  coin all the silver mined in the West 
B)  make loans to farmers against their stored crops 
C)  finance purchases of farmland and equipment 
D)  regulate the supply and availability of credit 
A)  coin all the silver mined in the West 
B)  make loans to farmers against their stored crops 
C)  finance purchases of farmland and equipment 
D)  regulate the supply and availability of credit

Question 15

Which candidate for president tempered his assault on high tariffs when running for reelection?

Accepted Answer

A)  Cleveland 
B)  Debs 
C)  Harrison 
D)  Bryan 
A)  Cleveland 
B)  Debs 
C)  Harrison 
D)  Bryan

Question 16

Which of the following is true of party politics in the Gilded Age?

Accepted Answer

A)  Allegiance to national parties and their candidates were usually evenly divided. 
B)  The Republican party dominated Congress throughout the period. 
C)  Popular-vote landslides characterized the presidential elections of the period. 
D)  The party that controlled the presidency usually controlled Congress. 
A)  Allegiance to national parties and their candidates were usually evenly divided. 
B)  The Republican party dominated Congress throughout the period. 
C)  Popular-vote landslides characterized the presidential elections of the period. 
D)  The party that controlled the presidency usually controlled Congress.

Question 17

The two political parties in the Gilded Age __________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  differed greatly in leadership and organization 
B)  worked diligently to heal the sectional divisions left from the Civil War and Reconstruction 
C)  catered to the interests of ethnic minorities rather than to the middle-class majority 
D)  were both split from within by factional quarrels 
A)  differed greatly in leadership and organization 
B)  worked diligently to heal the sectional divisions left from the Civil War and Reconstruction 
C)  catered to the interests of ethnic minorities rather than to the middle-class majority 
D)  were both split from within by factional quarrels

Question 18

Which of the following statements accurately describes political campaigns and elections during the Gilded Age?

Accepted Answer

A)  Campaigns tended to be dull and unentertaining. 
B)  The electorate felt no loyalty to individual politicians. 
C)  An apathetic public saw political campaigns as a waste of time and money. 
D)  Interest in elections and voting was remarkably high. 
A)  Campaigns tended to be dull and unentertaining. 
B)  The electorate felt no loyalty to individual politicians. 
C)  An apathetic public saw political campaigns as a waste of time and money. 
D)  Interest in elections and voting was remarkably high.

Question 19

Examine the issue of tariff rates during the late nineteenth century. What stand was taken by the Republicans, by the Democrats, and by the Populists on this issue? Why? Identify the major pieces of tariff legislation of the period, and explain the consequences of each.

Accepted Answer

During the late nineteenth century, the

Question 20

Which of the following factors contributed to Harrison's victory in the 1888 presidential election?

Accepted Answer

A)  Cleveland's stand in favor of the free coinage of silver 
B)  Harrison's opposition to the Pendleton Civil Service Act 
C)  Bribery and multiple voting in Indiana and New York 
D)  The charge that Cleveland had committed adultery 
A)  Cleveland's stand in favor of the free coinage of silver 
B)  Harrison's opposition to the Pendleton Civil Service Act 
C)  Bribery and multiple voting in Indiana and New York 
D)  The charge that Cleveland had committed adultery

Exam 17: Gilded Age Politics, 1877-1900

In the case of Plessy v. Ferguson, the Supreme Court asserted that ____________________.

In the 1870s, the southern states began to enact poll taxes with the intent of _________________.

Analyze the 1896 presidential campaign and election, and explain the political and economic impact of the election's outcome on the nation.

What was a consequence of the discovery of new silver mines in the West in the late nineteenth century?

Which of the following late-nineteenth-century presidents exercised the most vigorous leadership?

Jacob S. Coxey _________________.

Between which two years did the nation suffer a staggering economic depression?

In Munn v. Illinois, the Supreme Court of the United States ____________________.

What was the main focus of the Populist Party in the 1880s and 1890s?

The "Gilded Age" earned this popular nickname because________________.

Which of the following is true of the Bland-Allison Act and the Sherman Silver Purchase Act?

Congress's decision to provide generous pensions to former Union soldiers and their widows is an example of __________.

Which of the following is true of the attempts between 1870 and 1910 to legalize women's suffrage on a state-by-state basis?

Under the subtreasury plan, the Farmers' Alliances proposed that the federal government _____________.

Which candidate for president tempered his assault on high tariffs when running for reelection?

Which of the following is true of party politics in the Gilded Age?

The two political parties in the Gilded Age __________________.

Which of the following statements accurately describes political campaigns and elections during the Gilded Age?

Examine the issue of tariff rates during the late nineteenth century. What stand was taken by the Republicans, by the Democrats, and by the Populists on this issue? Why? Identify the major pieces of tariff legislation of the period, and explain the consequences of each.

Which of the following factors contributed to Harrison's victory in the 1888 presidential election?

Three Old Worlds Create a New, 1492-1600

Europeans Colonize North America, 1600-1650

North America in the Atlantic World, 1650-1720

Becoming America, 1720-1760

The Ends of Empire, 1754-1774

American Revolutions, 1775-1783

Forging a Nation, 1783-1800

Defining the Nation, 1801-1823

The Rise of the South, 1815-1860

The Restless North, 1815-1860

The Contested West, 1815-1860

Politics and the Fate of the Union, 1824-1859

Transforming Fire: The Civil War, 1860-1865

Reconstruction: an Unfinished Revolution, 1865-1877

The Ecology of the West and South, 1865-1900

Building Factories, Building Cities, 1877-1900

The Progressive ERA, 1895-1920

The Quest for Empire, 1865-1914

Americans in the Great War, 1914-1920

The New ERA, 1920-1929

The Great Depression and the New Deal, 1929-1939

The Second World War at Home and Abroad, 1939-1945

The Cold War and American Globalism, 1945-1961

America at Midcentury, 1945-1960

The Tumultuous Sixties, 1960-1968

A Pivotal ERA, 1969-1980

Conservatism Revived, 1980-1992

Into the Global Millennium: America Since 1992

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