Name:____________________________________________________________ Date:__________ Class:_____
Farmers and Populism Part 2
Part A: Short Answer: Instructions: Examine the cartoon, read the background information, and answer the
questions.
Background: During the late 1800s,
the Populist Party realized they were
not achieving success as a single
political party. They changed their
strategy and supported the Democrats
in the Election of 1896, whose
candidate was William Jennings
Bryan. Bryan stressed that, if elected,
he would pursue Populist policies.
Bryan lost to the Republican, William
McKinley. McKinley opposed Populist
ideas. Many felt Bryan’s strong
Populist ideas led to his defeat. In this
political cartoon, the artist depicts
William Jennings Bryan as a snake
that says “POPULIST PARTY” on it.
The snake is devouring the mascot of
the Democrats, a donkey.
1. Who would most likely support William Jennings Bryan, farmers or big business leaders? Why? EXPLAIN.
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2. Does this artist think that the strong Populist stance that Bryan took was good or bad for the Democrat Party?
Why did the artist feel this way? EXPLAIN.
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Part B: Fill in the Blank: Instructions: Choose the word from the word bank that best completes the sentences
below.
Populist, farmers, gold, silver, bimetallism, Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, Gold Bugs, deflation,
inflation, McKinley, Harrison, Bryan, Arthur, abolitionism, Roosevelt
1. The ____________________ Party fought for the economic interests of farmers.
2. Many wealthy people supported gold as the standard to back money and were called
_________________________.
3. If a person wanted gold and silver to back currency, that person supported ________________________.
4. Many big businesses supported the presidential candidacy of ____________________________ in 1896.
5. Most citizens in the North belonged to the _______________________________ Party in the late 1800s.
6. William Jennings _____________________ gave the famous “Cross of Gold” speech.
7. Many wealthy individuals argued that the gold standard stopped ________________________ from
increasing drastically in the late 1800s.
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Answers:
1. Who would most likely support William Jennings Bryan, farmers or big business leaders? Why? EXPLAIN.
Farmers would be more likely to support William Jennings Bryan. The Populist agenda was very
favorable to farmers and Bryan promised to support a Populist agenda if elected. Big business leaders did
not favor the Populist agenda because it sought to diminish their power and increase the power of
farmers.
2. Does this artist think that the strong Populist stance that Bryan took was good or bad for the Democrat Party?
Why did the artist feel this way? EXPLAIN.
The artist appears to believe that Bryan’s strong Populist stance was actually negative for the Democrats,
thus why the snake is devouring the Democratic Party’s mascot. Bryan’s massive support for Populism
caused many big businesses to give their support to McKinley instead of Bryan, which contributed to
Bryan and the Democrats losing the presidential election of 1896.
Part B: Fill in the Blank: Instructions: Choose the word from the word bank that best completes the sentences
below.
Populist, farmers, gold, silver, bimetallism, Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, Gold Bugs, deflation,
inflation, McKinley, Harrison, Bryan, Arthur, abolitionism, Roosevelt
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
The Populist Party fought for the economic interests of farmers.
Many wealthy people supported gold as the standard to back money and were called Gold Bugs.
If a person wanted gold and silver to back currency, that person supported bimetallism.
Many big businesses supported the presidential candidacy of McKinley in 1896.
Most citizens in the North belonged to the Republican Party in the late 1800s.
William Jennings Bryan gave the famous “Cross of Gold” speech.
Many wealthy individuals argued that the gold standard stopped inflation from increasing drastically in the
late 1800s.
Copyright, USHistoryTeachers.com
All Rights Reserved.