American Urban & Agricultural History

Questions and Answers

What was the desire that all Progressives had in common?

pass reform laws

What background did most Progressives come from?

the middle class

What did Progressive city reformers see as the first, most important step toward their goal?

getting rid of the political machines that ran city politics

Who were muckrakers?

reporters who wrote about society's problems Signup and view all the answers

What did the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts focus on unlike other groups?

physical fitness Signup and view all the answers

What hurt machine politicians?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What did settlement houses do?

educate the poor and immigrants Signup and view all the answers

What did workers want more control of?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What major concerns did business owners have about labor unions?

Business owners feared that labor unions would take control of their companies and decrease profits. Signup and view all the answers

What is 'How the Other Half Lives'?

A book of photographs taken by Jacob Riis showing the living and working conditions in New York's slums. Signup and view all the answers

What were bonanza farms?

Large farms in the United States in the late 1800s, primarily growing and selling wheat. Signup and view all the answers

What is the National Grange?

An association for farmers founded in 1867 to improve their economic and political conditions. Signup and view all the answers

What was the Populist Party?

A political party that existed from 1891 to 1908, also known as the People's Party. Signup and view all the answers

Who was William Jennings Bryan?

An American politician who was the Democratic nominee for president in 1896 and 1900. Signup and view all the answers

What were some advantages for farmers?

Railroads ship crops farther and faster. Signup and view all the answers

What were some challenges for farmers?

Farmers must borrow money for equipment. Signup and view all the answers

What does a lien on a farmer's land mean?

It means the farmer owes a portion of their harvest to the lender. Signup and view all the answers

Why did farmers lose political power in the late 1800s?

They were no longer the biggest moneymakers in the economy. Signup and view all the answers

What was the farmers' biggest complaint against railroads?

They charged too much for shipping. Signup and view all the answers

What was the main reason for farmers forming alliances?

To help keep prices low on goods and tools. Signup and view all the answers

What is bimetallism?

The demand for currency backed by gold and silver. Signup and view all the answers

What was significant about the Munn v. Illinois case?

It ruled that granger laws were legal. Signup and view all the answers

What did Eugene Debs advocate for?

He believed in public ownership of the means of production. Signup and view all the answers

What do Progressives aim to address?

Social issues such as poverty, crime, and government corruption. Signup and view all the answers

What role did settlement houses play?

They helped improve the lives of the urban poor. Signup and view all the answers

What was the biggest complaint of farmers about the railroads?

They charged too much for shipping. Signup and view all the answers

What does a recall allow voters to do?

It allows voters to remove an official from office. Signup and view all the answers

How did Progressives differ from Populists?

Progressives sought to improve urban lives. Signup and view all the answers

What was the aim of muckrakers?

To report on societal problems and demand change. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Living Conditions in Urban Areas

"How the Other Half Lives" by Jacob Riis documented poor living conditions in New York City's slums during the 1880s.
Riis' photographs highlighted the struggles faced by impoverished families in tenements.

Agriculture and Economic Trends

Bonanza Farms emerged in the late 1800s, specializing in large-scale wheat production, fueled by advances in farm machinery, cheap land, and efficient railways.
Farmers generally faced both positive impacts from railroads—such as faster crop shipping and increased land availability—and negative outcomes, including debt and reliance on cash crops.

Farmer Advocacy and Political Movements

The National Grange, formed in 1867, aimed to improve the economic welfare and political influence of farming families.
The Populist Party (People's Party) represented ordinary people’s interests, particularly farmers and factory laborers, from 1891 to 1908.

Key Political Figures

William Jennings Bryan was a prominent politician, notably losing presidential elections in 1896 and 1900 but advocating for populist causes including bimetallism—encouraging currency backed by both gold and silver.

Economic Challenges for Farmers

Farmers often struggled with debt due to the need to purchase tools and seeds, leading to a cycle of financial dependency on merchants.
Increased farm production eventually resulted in overproduction, driving down crop prices as supply exceeded demand.

Sharecroppers faced challenges as landowners claimed a significant portion of their produce before it could be planted.
Merchants would extend credit, but higher prices and interest rates exacerbated farmers' debt burdens.

Regional Dependency on Railroads

The Plains, Southwest, and West regions were particularly reliant on railroads for crop shipment due to their distance from major population centers.

Farmer Alliances and their Impact

Farmers organized into cooperatives to standardize sale prices and bolster collective bargaining power against unfavorable economic conditions.
The Grange movement notably fostered political change, achieving landmark victories like the Supreme Court case Munn v. Illinois which upheld Granger laws.

Populism and Progressive Movement

Progressives sought to address urban social problems, emphasizing reforms to counteract issues like poverty and government corruption, contributing to a growing awareness of workers’ rights.
While the Populist movement focused on agriculture, many idealistic Progressives emerged from the middle class and were predominantly urban dwellers.

Labor Movements and Unionization

Eugene Debs, a key labor leader, advocated for workers' rights and helped establish the Industrial Workers of the World.
The International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU), founded in 1900, significantly improved working conditions for women in the clothing industry.

Direct Political Involvement

Initiatives such as referendums, recalls, and secret ballots aimed to empower citizens politically and reduce corruption in elections.
The Seventeenth Amendment altered U.S. Senate selection, allowing for direct election by the people instead of state legislatures.

Settlement houses served as community centers for educating impoverished urban residents and assisting them with social services and advocacy.
Jane Addams, a pioneer in the settlement house movement, received the Nobel Peace Prize for her humanitarian efforts.

Muckraking Journalism

Muckrakers like Lincoln Steffens aimed to expose societal issues, inspiring public demand for reforms through investigative reporting.

Class and Regional Conflicts

Tensions existed between northern and southern farmers regarding protective tariffs, reflecting broader economic divides.
Racial dynamics within alliances complicated efforts for solidarity among farmers of different regions and backgrounds.

Societal Changes and Youth Programs

Organizations like the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts emphasized physical fitness and self-sufficiency, teaching essential life skills to youth.

Working Conditions and Rights

Workers sought greater control over their pay, work conditions, and hours, challenging the authority of business owners who feared loss of control due to rising labor unions.

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Description

Explore the living conditions in urban areas as documented by Jacob Riis in his work 'How the Other Half Lives'. Understand the emergence of Bonanza Farms and the political movements aimed at improving the lives of farmers, including the National Grange and the Populist Party.